Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Egypt)
{{Short description|Government ministry of Egypt}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Arab Republic of Egypt
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
|nativename =
|nativename_a =
|nativename_r =
|logo = Coat of arms of Egypt (Official).svg
|logo_width = 150px
|logo_caption = Emblem of Egypt
|jurisdiction = Government of Egypt
|headquarters = Zamalek, Cairo
|coordinates =
|chief1_name = Ahmed Issa
|chief1_position = Minister
|chief2_name =
|chief2_position =
|chief3_name =
|chief3_position =
|parent_agency =
|child1_agency = Antiquities Repatriation
|child2_agency =
|website = [https://mota.gov.eg/ar/ mota.gov.eg]
|seal=|formed=|employees=|budget=|chief4_name=|chief4_position=|chief5_name=|chief5_position=|chief6_name=|chief6_position=|chief7_name=|chief7_position=|chief8_name=|chief8_position=|chief9_name=|chief9_position=|parent_department=
}}
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ({{Langx|ar|وزارة السياحة والآثار|translit=Wizārat al-Siyāḥah wa-al-Āthār}}) is the Egyptian government organization which serves to protect and preserve the heritage and ancient history of Egypt. In December 2019 it was merged into the Ministry of Tourism with Khaled al-Anani retaining his function.{{cite web |url=https://egyptindependent.com/profile-khaled-al-anan-the-first-minister-of-antiquities-and-tourism/ |title=Profile – Khaled al-Anany, the first Minister of Antiquities and Tourism |website=Egypt Independent |date=23 December 2019 }} He was replaced by Ahmed Issa as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities in a cabinet reshuffle on 13 August 2022.
History
It was formed from the Supreme Council of Antiquities in 2011{{cite web |title=A Brief History of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA): 1858 to present |website=SCA Egypt |url=http://www.sca-egypt.org/eng/sca_history.htm |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017043511/http://www.sca-egypt.org/eng/SCA_History.htm |archive-date=17 October 2016 |url-status=dead}} during the presidency of Hosni Mubarak to deal with the security and theft of Egyptian antiquities.
Grave robbers have been looting ancient Egyptian tombs nearly continuously for well over 4 thousand years.{{cite magazine |last = Mueller |first = Tom |date = June 2016 |title = How tomb raiders are stealing our history |magazine = National Geographic Magazine |url = https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/06/looting-ancient-blood-antiquities/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160513152820/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/06/looting-ancient-blood-antiquities/|url-status = dead|archive-date = May 13, 2016}} The Ministry of Antiquities works to get the items restored back to Egypt, whenever possible. Over the years, thousands of stolen antiquities have made their way back to Egypt. For instance, in late 2016, the ministry recovered and repatriated two of four Islamic era lamps which had been stolen in 2015.{{cite news|last1=El-Aref|first1=Nevine|title=Egypt antiquities ministry receives two stolen Islamic-era lamps from UAE|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/253156/Heritage/Islamic/Egypt-antiquities-ministry-receives-two-stolen-Isl.aspx|agency=ahram online|date=15 December 2016}} In 2018, a carving in the shape of Osiris which had been hidden in furniture and shipped to Kuwait was repatriated to Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities.{{cite news |last1=El-Aref |first1=Nevine |title=Egypt receives coffin lid seized at Kuwait International Airport |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/313118/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egypt-receives-coffin-lid-seized-at-Kuwait-Interna.aspx |accessdate=16 October 2018 |work=Ahram Online |date=10 October 2018}}
In 2023, the ministry prohibited a group of archaeologists from the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Netherlands from conducting excavations in Saqqara after the museum unveiled an exhibit about ancient Egyptian music that Egyptian authorities criticized for its Afrocentric depictions of certain figures, claiming it was historical negationism.{{Cite web |last=Ebrahim |first=Nadeen |date=2023-06-07 |title=Egypt bans Dutch archaeology team from Saqqara due to museum's 'Afrocentric' exhibition |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/egypt-bans-archaeology-team-mime-scli-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}
Projects
From 2009 to 2014, the ministry worked with the Getty Conservation Institute on the management and conservation of the tomb of Tutankhamun.{{cite web |title=Conservation and Management of the Tomb of Tutankhamen |url=http://www.getty.edu/conservation/our_projects/field_projects/tut/overview.html |website=Getty |accessdate=16 October 2018}}
Past ministers
- Zahi Hawass 31 January 2011 – 3 March 2011[http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/03/zahi-hawass-resigns/1 Egyptology: Zahi Hawass confirms resignation], Dan Vergano, USA Today, March 5, 2011[http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/7069/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Hawass-loyalists-call-for-him-to-stay-on.aspx Hawass loyalists call for him to stay on], Nevine El Aref ,Ahram Online, March 6, 2011[http://www.drhawass.com/blog/why-dr-hawass-resigned Why Dr. Hawass Resigned] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202224008/http://www.drhawass.com/blog/why-dr-hawass-resigned |date=2014-12-02 }}, Zahi Hawass blog, March 6, 2011
- Mamdouh Eldamaty June 2014{{cite news|url=http://thecairopost.com/news/115224/news/breaking-new-government-swear-in|title=BREAKING: New government swears in|date=17 June 2014|accessdate=22 June 2014|work=Cairo Post}}{{cite news|url=http://www.madamasr.com/news/%E2%80%8Begypts-new-cabinet-what-changed-and-what-didnt|title=Egypt's new Cabinet: What changed and what didn't?|date=19 September 2015|accessdate=19 September 2015|work=Mada Masr}} - March 2016{{cite news|title=Who's who: Meet Egypt's 10 new ministers in Sherif Ismail's cabinet|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/195704/Egypt/Politics-/Whos-who-Meet-Egypts--new-ministers-in-Sherif-Isma.aspx|accessdate=23 March 2016|agency=Ahram Online|date=23 March 2016}}
- Khaled al-Anani 23 March 2016{{cite news|title=Who's who: Meet Egypt's 10 new ministers in Sherif Ismail's cabinet|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/195704/Egypt/Politics-/Whos-who-Meet-Egypts--new-ministers-in-Sherif-Isma.aspx|agency=Ahram Online|date=March 23, 2016}} - 13 August 2022
Duties and goals
In 2016, the minister, Khaled El-Anany, stated his primary focus would be on solving the budget deficit of the ministry, given that many projects were stalled for lack of funding.{{cite news|last1=El-Aref|first1=Nevine|title=New Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany vows to tackle budget gaps: Interview|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/195726/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/New-Minister-of-Antiquities-Khaled-ElEnany-vows-to.aspx|work=ahram online|date=23 Mar 2016}}
See also
{{portal|Egypt}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://egymonuments.gov.eg/ Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' Official website]
- [https://www.facebook.com/tourismandantiq/ Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Facebook]
- [http://egypt.gov.eg/english/guide/directory.aspx Egypt's Cabinet Database]
{{Egyptian ministries}}
{{authority control}}