FRANCE-EGYPT/EXHIBITION Submerged ancient Egyptian treasures go on display in Paris

Record ID: 141732

  • Title: FRANCE-EGYPT/EXHIBITION Submerged ancient Egyptian treasures go on display in Paris
  • Date: 4th September 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 2, 2015) (REUTERS) EXHIBITION POSTER CRANE ERECTING STATUE ON STREET EGYPTIAN STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH ARCHAEOLOGIST, FRANK GODDIO, SAYING: "The submerged objects were of course those which surrounded the celebration of the mystery, which means the objects that belonged to the temple, the big temple monolithic chapel, the temple's furniture, but also the objects that were used in the celebrations of this particular worship, this ritual, which was the celebration of Osiris mysteries. They are instruments, bronze ladles, gold phials, gold containers, silvers containers that were used, everything was very codified." EGYPTIAN STATUES FRENCH ARCHAEOLOGIST, FRANK GODDIO, TALKING TO EXHIBITION DESIGNERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH ARCHAEOLOGIST, FRANK GODDIO, SAYING: "The cities were submerged because of natural calamities, earthquakes, big tides, collapsing of ground, which made it possible that sea could cover those sites and when we discovered an object, that object was re-covered by sediments and therefore has partially been protected by the sea." VARIOUS OF EGYPTIAN STATUES (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE ARAB WORLD, JACK LANG, SAYING: "Absolutely, I think that showing the Arab world as one which conceals treasures of humanity is indeed a good thing to all those who helplessly witness the destruction of people and of worldly treasures. A large exhibition of ancient archaeology like this, indirectly, serves as a message and preserves these treasures of humanity." VARIOUS OF EGYPTIAN STATUES (SOUNDBITE) (French) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL DEPARTMENT FOR UNDERWATER ANTIQUITIES, MOHAMMED ABDELMAGUID, SAYING: "We want to show on the contrary that we can give importance to what we call our cultural heritage. What people always forget shouldn't be forgotten at all. We bring all this here so the Arab world can wake up once again, can stand up against what is going on now in the Arab world and hoping all this will stop soon." VARIOUS OF EGYPTIAN STATUES OF OSIRIS
  • Embargoed: 19th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABMF19X9N36S7WSW2T7WY2RPYA
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Ancient Egyptian artefacts including statues and objects which were found in 2002 in the sunken Egyptian city of Thonis-Heracleion are set to go on display on Tuesday (September 8) at an exhibition at the Arab World Institute in Paris.
    Some of the objects - including the statue of a pharaoh King and Queen, displayed at the entrance of the Institute, date back to the Ptolemaic Kingdom (305 BC - 30 BC).
    Thonis-Heracleion (the Egyptian and Greek names of the city) had huge religious significance.
    French archaeologist Frank Goddio discovered the city of Thonis-Heracleion when he was director of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM).
    "The submerged objects were of course those which surrounded the celebration of the mystery, which means the objects that belonged to the temple, the big temple monolithic chapel, the temple's furniture, but also the objects that were used in the celebrations of this particular worship, this ritual, which was the celebration of Osiris mysteries. They are instruments, bronze ladles, gold phials, gold containers, silvers containers that were used, everything was very codified," said Goddio.
    The city of Thonis-Heracleion was probably founded in the 8th century BC.
    In ancient times it was the obligatory port of entry to Egypt for all ships coming from the Greek world and thus, especially before the foundation of Alexandria in 331 BC, it knew glorious times.
    Then, together with another city, Canope, where other artefacts were found, it was submerged n the 8th century AD.
    "The cities were submerged because of natural calamities, earthquakes, big tides, collapsing of ground, which made it possible that sea could cover those sites and when we discovered an object, that object was covered by sediments and therefore has partially been protected by the sea," Goddio said.
    The President of the Institute of the Arab World, Jack Lang said the exhibition shows a different picture of the Arab world.
    "I think that showing the Arab world as one which conceals treasures of humanity is indeed a good thing to all those who helplessly witness the destruction of people and of worldly treasures. A large exhibition of ancient archaeology like this, indirectly, serves as a message and preserves these treasures of humanity," Lang said.
    The director of Central Department of Underwater Antiquities, Egyptian archaeologist Mohammed Abdelmaguid, worked with Goddio on the submerged sites since 1992. He reiterated Jack Lang's idea saying that the timing of the exhibition is also important with the destruction of antiquities by Islamic State militants.
    "We want to show on the contrary that we can give importance to what we call our cultural heritage. What people always forget shouldn't be forgotten at all. We bring all this here so the Arab world can wake up once again, can stand up against what is going on now in the Arab world and hoping all this will stop soon," Abdelmaguid said.
    The exhibition hosted by the Arab World Institute will show a total of 250 artefacts found underwater as well as 43 objects from the museums of Il Cairo and Alexandria, some of which leave Egypt for the first time.
    The exhibition will last until the end of January.
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