B I A X X X I V - juillet/décembre 2006 8II - MUSÉES Museums in Egypt are entering a new era. New institutions are being constructed, and there is a change from the concept of museums as storage facilities to modern museums with educational and cultural messages. In conjunction with this development, associations for "Friends" of various museums, including the Islamic Museum, Coptic Museum, and the Cairo Museum, have been organised. For the first time, each of these museums also has educational programmes that teach archaeology and art to both adults and children. We are building a number of new national museums. There will be national museums at Suhâg and Suez; two others will be opened next month at Rashîd and al-’Arîsh. A national museum has already been opened in Alexandria. Specialised museums are also being built, such as the Textile Museum in Old Cairo, scheduled to open soon. The Akhenaten Museum in Minyâ, the Mosaic Museum in Alexandria, the Portrait Museum in Fayyôm, and the Coin Museum at the Citadel are other examples of this type of museum. Site museums are yet another category. A beautiful site museum at Saqqâra, the Imhotep Museum, was opened recently by Mrs Mubârak. Soon a site museum to be known as the Crocodile Museum will be opening at the temple of Kom Umbô. The great museums of Egypt are also being renovated as part of our overall plan. The Coptic Museum recently reopened, and the Islamic Museum will open in May of next year. In Alexandria, the Jewellery Museum will open this year, while the Graeco-Roman Museum will be completed in two years. In Cairo there is also a plan to have three unique museums. The first will be the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which will be built in the shadow of the pyramids. The construction of this museum will begin in 2007. Its design has already been chosen through an international competition: the architect is Chinese and lives in Dublin. This museum will be finished in approximately five years. Its main attraction will be the artefacts from the golden king Tutankhamun. The museum will also display the solar boat, now at Gîza, and about 100,000 other objects. There will be auditoriums and conference areas, and also a centre for learning. An IMAX theatre will also be built near the GEM. (Zâhî Hawwâs, "Dig days: Egyptian museums", Al-Ahram Weekly du 1er novembre 2006. Voir également Ashraf Mufîd, « 700 millions de L.E. pour créer et développer 16 musées archéologiques dans les gouvernorats », al-Ahrâm du 17 décembre). - En bref Le directeur général du Musée Égyptien, Dr Wafâ’ al-Siddîq, a révélé qu’un catalogue remanié du musée est actuellement sous presse. Cette nouvelle réédition a fait l’objet d’un contrat entre le CSA et une maison d’édition allemande, qui assurera son impression et sa diffusion à l’étranger. (Lô’ay Mahmôd Sa’ïd, « Musées et Antiquités », al-Qâhira du 18 juillet 2006). - - La multinationale Lego Group a offert à la salle consacrée aux enfants au Musée Égyptien quelques jouets, des tables et des chaises. (Lô’ay Mahmôd M U S É E S B I A X X X I V - juillet/décembre 2006 8Sa’ïd, « Musées et Antiquités », alQâhira du 18 juillet 2006). - - Un musée a été créé pour abriter quarante crocodiles momifiés, longs de 0,5 à 4,5 mètres, ayant été trouvé à l’intérieur du temple de Kom Umbô. Le musée expose également des instruments de médecine utilisés par les anciens Égyptiens. Le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Zâhî Hawwâs, a déclaré que la zone entourant le temple a été réaménagée. Des entrepôts archéologiques, des places de parking, des bazars ainsi qu’une salle de projection de films documentaires sur les antiquités de la région ont été créés. (Muhammad Mandôr, « Premier musée des crocodiles à Kom Umbô », Uktubar du 23 juillet 2006). - - Les visiteurs du Musée Égyptien sont contraints de se dévêtir d’une façon notoire à cause de la panne du système de climatisation, hormis la salle de Toutankhamon. La chaleur s’y est intensifiée davantage, depuis la fermeture de la fenêtre du toit du musée à la suite du vol survenu il y a quelques années. Les employés du Musée Égyptien ont souligné que les recettes engrangées par leur musée durant un seul jour suffisent largement pour climatiser toutes les salles ! (« La bourse des nouvelles », Ruz al-Yôsuf du 12 aoôt 2006). - - The Minister of Culture has assigned a Higher Committee to select a number of gold and silver coins and antiquities that go back to the time of Muhammad ’Alî and Sultan Husayn Kâmil under the Ottoman Empire, which will be exhibited in Egyptian museums. ("Coins and antiquities", The Egyptian Gazette du 18 aoôt 2006). - - Après trois années d’interruption des travaux pour manque de crédits financiers, le musée archéologique de Kafr al-Shaykh s’est transformé en un terrain vague désolé. Pourtant, sa pierre de fondation a été déposée par le ministre de la Culture, Fârôq Husnî, en 1996. Deux ans plus tard, les travaux de construction ont démarré pour un montant de 8 millions de livres égyptiennes. Aujourd’hui, le bâtiment en béton se dresse dans un état consternant. (Magdî Abô al-’Aynayn, « Le musée archéologique de Kafr alShaykh s’est transformé en un terrain vague », al-Masrî al-Yawm du 10 septembre 2006). - - Une psychopathe âgée de 4ans a tenté de s’introduire dans le Musée Égyptien en cachant dans son sac à main un revolver et trois cartouches. La Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités a réussi à maîtriser cette personne fortement agitée dont on ignore les motivations. L’enquête suit son cours. (’Umar Hasânayn, « Une névrosée armée dans le musée », alMasrî al-Yawm du 10 septembre 2006). - - Le comité d’inspection du palais Sa’ïd Halîm, situé dans la rue Champollion au Caire, a rejeté la proposition de le transformer en un musée de l’histoire du Caire. Néanmoins, une procédure d’expropriation est en cours, afin de protéger le palais. (Lô’ay Mahmôd Sa’ïd, « Musées et Antiquités », al-Qâhira du 12 septembre 2006). - - Le Centre international du développement et de l’immigration a offert au Musée copte des ordinateurs, des imprimantes et des scanners. Ce Centre allemand a également financé un stage de formation pour les conservateurs du musée. (Lô’ay Mahmôd M U S É E S B I A X X X I V - juillet/décembre 2006 8Sa’ïd, « Musées et Antiquités », alQâhira du 12 septembre 2006). - - Les travaux de développement et d’élargissement du Musée national d’Alexandrie soulèvent une grave crise, suite à la décision du ministre de la Culture, Fârôq Husnî, d’exproprier et d’annexer une maison attenante au musée. Les occupants de cette maison ont intenté plusieurs procès contre le ministre devant le tribunal de première instance d’Alexandrie. Les propriétaires de ce bâtiment depuis 1995 ont subitement pris connaissance en juin dernier du décret ministériel d’expropriation pour utilité publique sans aucune négociation préalable. (Samâh ’Attiya, « Crise en Alexandrie à cause du développement du Musée national », Uktubar du 1er octobre 2006). - - The Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) plans the first Desert Museum on an area of 4,000 metres in the Oasis of al-Dâkhla in the New Valley Governorate. The LE5 million museum will trace the role of oases throughout the Egyptian history. Artefacts, including pre-historic items, will be displayed at the museum. (Hassan Saadallah, "Desert museum", The Egyptian Gazette du 17 octobre 2006). - - Zâhî Hawwâs, the Secretary- General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), has ordered the closure of the Cheops Boat Museum for five days, staring from yesterday. The funerary boat, one of the keys finds made in the 20th century, is the focus of restoration work, according to a press statement from SCA. ("Cheops museum", The Egyptian Gazette du 20 octobre 2006. Voir également Mahmôd Shâkir, « Fermeture du musée de la Barque de Chéops pour restauration », al-Wafd du 20 octobre). - - Le ministre de la Culture, Fârôq Husnî, inaugure dans quelques jours le musée archéologique de Rosette à l’issue de sa restauration. Il a fallu quatre millions de livres égyptiennes pour restaurer sa collection et le doter d’équipements ultramodernes et d’un jardin muséologique. Le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Zâhî Hawwâs, a souligné que ce musée - véritable vitrine pour l’architecture islamique - est l’unique musée de la ville. Le projet de restauration lancé à Rosette en 2002 s’est soldé par la restauration de dix maisons historiques. Ce projet de 25 millions de livres égyptiennes englobera la restauration des mosquées et des bains antiques, ainsi que la création d’un centre pour l’artisanat. (Ashraf Mufîd, « Inauguration du musée archéologique de Rosette lors d’une grande cérémonie », al-Ahrâm du 25 octobre 2006). - - Le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Zâhî Hawwâs, a décidé de permettre aux groupes touristiques qui le souhaitent de visiter le Musée Égyptien trois heures après les horaires officiels de fermeture. Pour ce faire, les agences de voyages devront s’acquitter à chaque fois de la somme de 7 800 livres égyptiennes. (« Hawwâs corrige une mauvaise décision », Akhbâr al-Yawm du 28 octobre 2006). - - Le ministre de la Culture, Fârôq Husnî, prévoit d’inaugurer début janvier 2007 le musée des Bijoux royaux en Alexandrie, à l’issue des travaux de restauration et de développement. Ce projet, dont le coôt s’élève à 20 millions de livres égyptiennes, a duré près de 30 mois. Le bâtiment, qui remonte à l’époque du Khédive Ismâ’ïl, a été M U S É E S B I A X X X I V - juillet/décembre 2006 8restauré. Les salles d’expositions, qui abritent la collection privée des bijoux de la famille de Muhammad ’Alî, ont été réaménagées. Un nouveau système d’éclairage électronique, qui se déclenche automatiquement au passage du visiteur, a été mis en place. Le musée a été équipé d’un système de sécurité ultramoderne et de vidéosurveillance à l’intérieur comme à l’extérieur. (Walîd Mâgid, « Inauguration du musée des Bijoux royaux en janvier », al-Wafd du 7 novembre 2006). - - 85 % de la première phase des travaux de construction du musée Akhenaton à Minyâ vient de s’achever. Il s’agit du bâtiment principal du musée d’une superficie de 5 000 m2 et d’une hauteur de 45 m, ainsi que des salles d’exposition, de la bibliothèque et de l’école de restauration d’une superficie de 150 m2. Le gouverneur de Minyâ, major général Fu’âd Sa’d al-Dîn, a effectué une visite d’inspection du chantier. Il a révélé que le montant des deux premières phases de construction s’élève à 80 millions de livres égyptiennes. Le musée occupe un terrain de 25 feddan-s sur la rive Est du Nil. Le gouverneur a appelé l’entreprise de BTP à respecter les délais d’achèvement de cette première phase des travaux prévus pour le mois de mars 2007. (Sâmî Kâmil, « Réalisation de la première phase des travaux du musée d’Akhenaton à Minyâ », al-Akhbâr du 8 novembre 2006. Voir également Sa’ïd Nâfi’, « Réalisation de 85 % de la première phase des travaux du musée d’Akhenaton », alMasrî al-Yawm du 15 octobre). - - Le président du Département de financement du CSA a annoncé l’achèvement de la restauration de cinq amphores en céramique et d’un sarcophage en schiste entreposés dans le musée de Mallawî à Minyâ. (Lô’ay Mahmôd Sa’ïd, « Musées et Antiquités », al-Qâhira du 14 novembre 2006). - - Le directeur du Musée Égyptien, Dr Wafâ’ al-Siddîq, a révélé que la seconde salle des momies royales, inaugurée il y a trois mois, enregistre des recettes quotidiennes d’une valeur de cent mille livres égyptiennes. (« La bourse des nouvelles », Ruz al-Yôsuf du 25 novembre 2006). - - Le directeur général de l’administration des scellés, Usâma alQahtânî, a annoncé que 350 scellés entreposés dans le sous-sol du Musée Égyptien ont été répertoriés jusqu’à présent. Ils ont été enregistrés d’une façon scientifique et restaurés en attendant de les transférer vers les nouveaux entrepôts muséologiques. (Lô’ay Mahmôd Sa’ïd, « Musées et Antiquités », al-Qâhira du 19 décembre 2006). - - Le directeur de l’administration architecturale, Fâkhir Subhî, a annoncé la mise en place d’un projet visant à baisser le niveau des eaux souterraines sous le musée de Kom Ôshîm dans le Fayyôm et celui de Mallawî à Minyâ. (Lô’ay Mahmôd Sa’ïd, « Musées et Antiquités », al-Qâhira du 19 décembre 2006). - - Alexandrie M u s é e s o u s - m a r i Setting up an offshore, submarine archaeological site anywhere is not an easy task, let alone in a city with the water pollution problems of Alexandria. Yet the remarkable discoveries made by M U S É E S B I A X X X I V - juillet/décembre 2006 9underwater archaeologists over the last decade justify further serious efforts for what would be Egypt’s first ever offshore underwater museum. The site and form gives cause for conjecture. Should it be in Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour, the Sisila area, or Abô Qîr Bay? What will it look like? Should it resemble the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney or the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology at the spectacular Uluburun Wreck in Turkey, or the Musée de la Marine in Paris? All these display a collection of sunken shipwrecks, flora and fauna. These questions and more were raised at an international workshop held last week in Alexandria to discuss the feasibility of constructing such a museum. On the table were a projected ground plan, an architectural design and a programme to study the environmental conditions of Alexandria’s Mediterranean Sea and its state of marine pollution, the socio-economic problems related to the success of the underwater archaeological museum project and urban impacts. The workshop was held under the umbrella of UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture at the Alexandria Art Creativity Centre, where a multidisciplinary team of 28 international and Egyptian experts were gathered. On the eve of the workshop participants were taken on a field visit to Alexandria’s underwater archaeological sites, and listened to a presentation by Egyptian authorities on the current situation and recent activities carried out in the Eastern Harbour and around the Qâytbây Fort. This is also one of the suggested locations for the submarine museum. The workshop was very well organised by the Cultural Development Fund (CDF). The opening session began with a short documentary relating Alexandria’s ancient history from its inception by Alexander the Great up to modern times. Culture Minister Fârôq Husnî’s speech, delivered by Zâhî Hawwâs, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), revealed that the aim of the workshop was not only to study the possibility of building the world’s first ever underwater archaeological museum in Alexandria, but is also to set up international principles as a model or a pilot project for any country which wanted its own submarine museum. Singapore, China and Greece are on top of the list. For his part, Hawwâs described the initiative as a "beautiful dream" for Alexandria. He told the assembled experts that he had decided four years before to stop removing all ancient objects from the seabed with the exception of coins, jewellery and small artefacts that were vulnerable to looting. "Hence, it is about time to think about an underwater museum to make such magnificent monuments accessible and visible to all," he said. Françoise RIVIER, UNESCO’s assistant director, reviewed UNESCO’s efforts to protect and preserve the Alexandria monuments, especially the underwater sites. He also referred to previous attempts to establish an underwater museum between 1994 and 2001, the year UNESCO issued its convention on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage. RIVIER outlined the problems surrounding the establishment of such a museum. Among the most serious issues was the sewage output into the sea, which obscured underwater visibility and led to a disturbing increase in pollution. However Biyalî Husnî al-Biyalî, a consultant for the water and drainage company, said that the Alexandria governorate had already closed the three main sewerage tunnels with outlets in the archaeological area. The closure was permanent, and they were only opened upon the governor’s direct orders when it was considered necessary to let out rainwater on stormy days. "For the last three years the tunnels have not been opened at all," alBiyalî pointed out. Al-Biyalî told AlAhram Weekly that a new project aimed at upgrading Alexandria’s sewage M U S É E S B I A X X X I V - juillet/décembre 2006 9system was now under comprehensive study in order to find a way of separating the rainwater drainage system from the city’s waste water system, which would be diverted to a sewage station in the desert near King Maryôt. "The on-land treated waste water will be used for cultivating woodland areas southwest of Alexandria," he said, adding that this project was scheduled to be implemented in three phases in cooperation with international experts and the International Monetary Fund. "Establishing an offshore submarine museum in Alexandria is Egypt’s obligation to protect its submerge antiquities," professor Alî Radwân, head of the General Union of Arab Archaeologists, told the Weekly. He suggests the museum might be built on two levels, the first on shore where the collection emerged from the seabed, and now on exhibition in Berlin, will be put on show. The second level could be a floating museum stretching out into the seabed through a U-Boat or a glass submarine that takes visitors on a tour of Alexandria’s submerged ancient sites, the remains of which are scattered about the Eastern Harbour, the Qâytbây Fort, Sisila and Abô Qîr Bay. "Such a submarine would be Egypt’s open water museum," commented Radwân, who fears that building a fixed plexi-glass tunnel underwater could have serious repercussions. First, it could represent a threat to the safety of visitors in the case of seismic disturbance or any other natural disaster. Second, it would be a very expensive project, which would cost the Ministry of Culture and the SCA a fortune to insure in respect of the safety precautionary measures, as well as for the required technology and the high level of annual maintenance. Third, it would give visitors access to one archaeological zone but prevent them from seeing others. Radwân explained that if the museum was built in the Eastern Harbour, where there were remains of the ancient capital of the Ptolemies with its paved roads, jetties, sphinxes and columns of temples and palaces, visitors would be unable to admire the site of Alexandria’s ancient lighthouse at Qâytbây or the sunken Napoleonic fleet in Abô Qîr Bay. Alexandria’s archaeological museums director Ibrâhîm Darwîsh believes that the site that really deserves a submarine museum is the Eastern Harbour, where the ancient city of Alexandria stood. He told the Weekly that, as an archaeologist, he could not draw a design for the underwater museum but could only provide a detailed map of the sunken monuments to the team of architects who will be responsible for the building. Ayman ’Abd al-Mun’im, head of the CDF and a director of the convention, said the workshop was organised as a result of a bilateral meeting which took place 16 months ago between the minister of culture and RIVIER, who agreed on the need to protect Alexandria’s underwater treasure from the threats it was facing such as damage, exploitation and the trade in objects found in wrecks. ’Abd alMun’im said all the experts, both foreign and Egyptian, agreed that the proper place for the museum was the Eastern Harbour, since it was the most suitable and simply the best location. This was not only because it was in a closed bay where the movement of waves was controlled, but also because it told the history of a unique civilisation in a now submerged city that once held sway over much of the ancient world. On the seabed lay the Ptolemaic royal quarter with its temples, palaces and paved roads. Queen Cleopatra’s Palace and Antirhodos Island, located in the central port between Qâytbây fortress to the north, the Sisila area on the east, and Mahattat al-Raml to the south, were also located there. ’Abd al-Mun’im explained that the projected museum would be one of the world’s modern wonders. It would be on three floors, the first one an onshore M U S É E S B I A X X X I V - juillet/décembre 2006 9building exhibiting the previously submerged objects from all over Alexandria, not only the Eastern Harbour, as well as any further items that might be discovered in the future and could not be left in situ. The second would contain important items from the sea that might be installed in their original environment and exhibited in aquariums. The third level would be a plexi-glass, underwater tunnel providing a unique window on the sunken capital of the Ptolemies. "This level would stretch only a few kilometres along the seabed, or round one area of the sunken city, in an attempt to provide us with a first experience by which we could judge the success of the technology and, if there are any disadvantages, avoid repeating them in further extensions," ’Abd al-Mun’im said. The suggestion of setting up a floating museum by providing a glass boat or submarine was rejected by the workshop members on the grounds that it would represent a threat to the sunken treasures, ’Abd alMun’im said. All the experts agreed that such a boat might alter the topography of the sunken city while it was manoeuvring underwater. "That’s why boats and yachts are forbidden to sail inside the bay of the Eastern Harbour, because their engines could hit a sunken block," he said. The workshop also highlighted the need to reduce the amount of wreck diving in the bay. Diving would only be allowed under the total supervision of the SCA. During the four-day workshop, professors from the Faculty of Science at Cairo and Alexandria universities displayed the results of their fully detailed inspection study of the sea water levels in the Eastern Harbour bay, the water wind speed and all activities within the bay. They said that over the last two decades the bay had been badly exploited, such as the filling of a part of the harbour’s shore. That was why, ’Abd al-Mun’im told the Weekly, the workshop had recommended putting on hold all maritime activities, development and investments within the harbour until the conclusion of the museum’s feasibility studies and the completion of the master plan of the harbour site as a whole. "The museum, in my opinion, will rescue the harbour and will put an end to its legendary problems," ’Abd al-Mun’im pointed out. He added that when the museum was completed the authorities would always be keen to maintain the purity of the water. The Ministry of Culture has now set up an executive team to follow up the execution of the workshop recommendations and take all necessary measures to put the project’s feasibility studies into action step by step. This 18-month study will be financed by the revenue of Egypt’s Sunken Treasure exhibition now in Berlin and later to move to France. "The museum will be Alexandria’s 21st-century landmark," ’Abd al-Mun’im says. (Nevine EL-AREF, "Under the waves", Al-Ahram Weekly du 13 juillet 2006. Voir également Hassan Saadallah, "Workshop on sunken antiquities in Alex", The Egyptian Gazette du 4 juillet ; Fathiyya al-Dakhâkhnî, « ’Alî Radwân s’oppose à la construction d’un musée sous l’eau en Alexandrie à cause des séismes », alMasrî al-Yawm du 5 juillet ; Islâm ’Afîfî, « 43 experts internationaux choisient le meilleur site pour un musée archéologique sous-marin », Akhbâr alYawm du 8 juillet ; Ahmad Fu’âd, « Un musée sous-marin en Alexandrie ouvre le dossier des antiquités submergées », al-Ahrâm du 10 juillet ; Muna Ragab, « Création en Alexandrie d’un nouveau musée pour exposer les antiquités submergées », al-Ahrâm du 13 décembre). - - M u s é e g r é c o - r o m a i La décision du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités (CSA) de fermer le Musée gréco-romain pour y entreprendre des travaux de restauration a causé une perte des recettes mensuelles estimées à 300 mille livres égyptiennes. Plus grave M U S É E S B I A X X X I V - juillet/décembre 2006 9encore : cette décision de fermeture advient à un moment inopportun. Surtout que le CSA ne dispose ni d’un projet clair pour restaurer le Musée gréco-romain, ni d’un plan pour transférer sa collection en attendant la fin des travaux. (Muhammad Raslân, « Les pièces du Musée gréco-romain sont menacées de dégradations », alMusawwar du 11 aoôt 2006). - - M u s é e d e l a M a r i e À cause de la mauvaise planification du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités (CSA), Tous les musées d’Alexandrie sont actuellement fermés au public à l’exception du Musée national. Depuis des années, le musée des Bijoux a été fermé pour restauration. À son tour, le Musée gréco-romain, l’un des fleurons d’Alexandrie, a été clos pour une restauration qui habituellement durera une dizaine d’années. Il ne reste plus que le musée de la Marine, qui n’a même pas été inauguré depuis 1986. Il s’agit d’un musée thématique destiné à exposer toutes les Antiquités marines, ainsi que les pièces sous-marines récemment renflouées. Le bâtiment appartenait autrefois à l’émir Yôsuf Kamâl, un des membres de la famille de Muhammad ’Alî. Nationalisé par la Révolution de 1952, le bâtiment a été transformé par décret présidentiel 172/1986 en un musée de la Marine. Le directeur général de ce musée, Su’âd Rushdî, déplore que ce musée ait joué de malchance à cause du manque de crédits, malgré l’élaboration de plusieurs scénarios muséologiques. Le plan d’origine visait à en faire un musée retraçant l’histoire de la marine égyptienne depuis l’époque pharaonique jusqu’à nos jours. Les préparatifs allaient bon train et le musée a failli voir le jour au début des années quatre-vingt-dix. Toutefois, le début du repêchage des Antiquités submergées a conduit à modifier le scénario muséologique du musée afin qu’il puisse exposer toutes ces découvertes impressionnantes, notamment la flotte de BONAPARTE et les fouilles de la mer Rouge et de l’île Sa’dâna qui remontent à l’époque islamique. Après cette initiative avortée, il y a eu un grand vide. Su’âd Rushdî précise que depuis sa nomination en 2003 à la tête de ce musée, elle a procédé à l’enregistrement et à la photographie des neuf milles pièces archéologiques entreposées dans les magasins, notamment la flotte de BONAPARTE et les vestiges du navire échoué à Sa’dâna. Elle a même élaboré un nouveau scénario muséologique permettant une ouverture rapide du musée. (Husâm Abd al-Qâdir, « Les mystères de la fermeture du musée de la Marine depuis 20 ans ! », Uktubar du 2 juillet 2006). - - M u s é e d e l a f a c u l t é d e L e t t r e s d ’ A l e x a d r i e Le président de l’Université d’Ale

b i a x x x i v - juillet/decembre 2006 8ii - musees museums in egypt are entering a new era. new institutions are being constructed, and there is a change from the concept of museums as storage facilities to modern museums with educational and cultural messages. in conjunction with this development, associations for "friends" of various museums, including the islamic museum, coptic museum, and the cairo museum, have been organised. for the first time, each of these museums also has educational programmes that teach archaeology and art to both adults and children. we are building a number of new national museums. there will be national museums at suhag and suez; two others will be opened next month at rashid and al-'arish. a national museum has already been opened in alexandria. specialised museums are also being built, such as the textile museum in old cairo, scheduled to open soon. the akhenaten museum in minya, the mosaic museum in alexandria, the portrait museum in fayyum, and the coin museum at the citadel are other examples of this type of museum. site museums are yet another category. a beautiful site museum at saqqara, the imhotep museum, was opened recently by mrs mubarak. soon a site museum to be known as the crocodile museum will be opening at the temple of kom umbu. the great museums of egypt are also being renovated as part of our overall plan. the coptic museum recently reopened, and the islamic museum will open in may of next year. in alexandria, the jewellery museum will open this year, while the graeco-roman museum will be completed in two years. in cairo there is also a plan to have three unique museums. the first will be the grand egyptian museum (gem), which will be built in the shadow of the pyramids. the construction of this museum will begin in 2007. its design has already been chosen through an international competition: the architect is chinese and lives in dublin. this museum will be finished in approximately five years. its main attraction will be the artefacts from the golden king tutankhamun. the museum will also display the solar boat, now at giza, and about 100,000 other objects. there will be auditoriums and conference areas, and also a centre for learning. an imax theatre will also be built near the gem. (zahi hawwas, "dig days: egyptian museums", al-ahram weekly du 1er novembre 2006. voir egalement ashraf mufid, "700 millions de l.e. pour creer et developper 16 musees archeologiques dans les gouvernorats", al-ahram du 17 decembre). - en bref le directeur general du musee egyptien, dr wafa' al-siddiq, a revele qu'un catalogue remanie du musee est actuellement sous presse. cette nouvelle reedition a fait l'objet d'un contrat entre le csa et une maison d'edition allemande, qui assurera son impression et sa diffusion a l'etranger. (lu'ay mahmud sa'id, "musees et antiquites", al-qahira du 18 juillet 2006). - - la multinationale lego group a offert a la salle consacree aux enfants au musee egyptien quelques jouets, des tables et des chaises. (lu'ay mahmud m u s e e s b i a x x x i v - juillet/decembre 2006 8sa'id, "musees et antiquites", alqahira du 18 juillet 2006). - - un musee a ete cree pour abriter quarante crocodiles momifies, longs de 0,5 a 4,5 metres, ayant ete trouve a l'interieur du temple de kom umbu. le musee expose egalement des instruments de medecine utilises par les anciens egyptiens. le secretaire general du csa, dr zahi hawwas, a declare que la zone entourant le temple a ete reamenagee. des entrepots archeologiques, des places de parking, des bazars ainsi qu'une salle de projection de films documentaires sur les antiquites de la region ont ete crees. (muhammad mandur, "premier musee des crocodiles a kom umbu", uktubar du 23 juillet 2006). - - les visiteurs du musee egyptien sont contraints de se devetir d'une facon notoire a cause de la panne du systeme de climatisation, hormis la salle de toutankhamon. la chaleur s'y est intensifiee davantage, depuis la fermeture de la fenetre du toit du musee a la suite du vol survenu il y a quelques annees. les employes du musee egyptien ont souligne que les recettes engrangees par leur musee durant un seul jour suffisent largement pour climatiser toutes les salles! ("la bourse des nouvelles", ruz al-yusuf du 12 aout 2006). - - the minister of culture has assigned a higher committee to select a number of gold and silver coins and antiquities that go back to the time of muhammad 'ali and sultan husayn kamil under the ottoman empire, which will be exhibited in egyptian museums. ("coins and antiquities", the egyptian gazette du 18 aout 2006). - - apres trois annees d'interruption des travaux pour manque de credits financiers, le musee archeologique de kafr al-shaykh s'est transforme en un terrain vague desole. pourtant, sa pierre de fondation a ete deposee par le ministre de la culture, faruq husni, en 1996. deux ans plus tard, les travaux de construction ont demarre pour un montant de 8 millions de livres egyptiennes. aujourd'hui, le batiment en beton se dresse dans un etat consternant. (magdi abu al-'aynayn, "le musee archeologique de kafr alshaykh s'est transforme en un terrain vague", al-masri al-yawm du 10 septembre 2006). - - une psychopathe agee de 4ans a tente de s'introduire dans le musee egyptien en cachant dans son sac a main un revolver et trois cartouches. la police du tourisme et des antiquites a reussi a maitriser cette personne fortement agitee dont on ignore les motivations. l'enquete suit son cours. ('umar hasanayn, "une nevrosee armee dans le musee", almasri al-yawm du 10 septembre 2006). - - le comite d'inspection du palais sa'id halim, situe dans la rue champollion au caire, a rejete la proposition de le transformer en un musee de l'histoire du caire. neanmoins, une procedure d'expropriation est en cours, afin de proteger le palais. (lu'ay mahmud sa'id, "musees et antiquites", al-qahira du 12 septembre 2006). - - le centre international du developpement et de l'immigration a offert au musee copte des ordinateurs, des imprimantes et des scanners. ce centre allemand a egalement finance un stage de formation pour les conservateurs du musee. (lu'ay mahmud m u s e e s b i a x x x i v - juillet/decembre 2006 8sa'id, "musees et antiquites", alqahira du 12 septembre 2006). - - les travaux de developpement et d'elargissement du musee national d'alexandrie soulevent une grave crise, suite a la decision du ministre de la culture, faruq husni, d'exproprier et d'annexer une maison attenante au musee. les occupants de cette maison ont intente plusieurs proces contre le ministre devant le tribunal de premiere instance d'alexandrie. les proprietaires de ce batiment depuis 1995 ont subitement pris connaissance en juin dernier du decret ministeriel d'expropriation pour utilite publique sans aucune negociation prealable. (samah 'attiya, "crise en alexandrie a cause du developpement du musee national", uktubar du 1er octobre 2006). - - the supreme council of antiquities (sca) plans the first desert museum on an area of 4,000 metres in the oasis of al-dakhla in the new valley governorate. the le5 million museum will trace the role of oases throughout the egyptian history. artefacts, including pre-historic items, will be displayed at the museum. (hassan saadallah, "desert museum", the egyptian gazette du 17 octobre 2006). - - zahi hawwas, the secretary- general of the supreme council of antiquities (sca), has ordered the closure of the cheops boat museum for five days, staring from yesterday. the funerary boat, one of the keys finds made in the 20th century, is the focus of restoration work, according to a press statement from sca. ("cheops museum", the egyptian gazette du 20 octobre 2006. voir egalement mahmud shakir, "fermeture du musee de la barque de cheops pour restauration", al-wafd du 20 octobre). - - le ministre de la culture, faruq husni, inaugure dans quelques jours le musee archeologique de rosette a l'issue de sa restauration. il a fallu quatre millions de livres egyptiennes pour restaurer sa collection et le doter d'equipements ultramodernes et d'un jardin museologique. le secretaire general du csa, dr zahi hawwas, a souligne que ce musee - veritable vitrine pour l'architecture islamique - est l'unique musee de la ville. le projet de restauration lance a rosette en 2002 s'est solde par la restauration de dix maisons historiques. ce projet de 25 millions de livres egyptiennes englobera la restauration des mosquees et des bains antiques, ainsi que la creation d'un centre pour l'artisanat. (ashraf mufid, "inauguration du musee archeologique de rosette lors d'une grande ceremonie", al-ahram du 25 octobre 2006). - - le secretaire general du csa, dr zahi hawwas, a decide de permettre aux groupes touristiques qui le souhaitent de visiter le musee egyptien trois heures apres les horaires officiels de fermeture. pour ce faire, les agences de voyages devront s'acquitter a chaque fois de la somme de 7 800 livres egyptiennes. ("hawwas corrige une mauvaise decision", akhbar al-yawm du 28 octobre 2006). - - le ministre de la culture, faruq husni, prevoit d'inaugurer debut janvier 2007 le musee des bijoux royaux en alexandrie, a l'issue des travaux de restauration et de developpement. ce projet, dont le cout s'eleve a 20 millions de livres egyptiennes, a dure pres de 30 mois. le batiment, qui remonte a l'epoque du khedive isma'il, a ete m u s e e s b i a x x x i v - juillet/decembre 2006 8restaure. les salles d'expositions, qui abritent la collection privee des bijoux de la famille de muhammad 'ali, ont ete reamenagees. un nouveau systeme d'eclairage electronique, qui se declenche automatiquement au passage du visiteur, a ete mis en place. le musee a ete equipe d'un systeme de securite ultramoderne et de videosurveillance a l'interieur comme a l'exterieur. (walid magid, "inauguration du musee des bijoux royaux en janvier", al-wafd du 7 novembre 2006). - - 85 % de la premiere phase des travaux de construction du musee akhenaton a minya vient de s'achever. il s'agit du batiment principal du musee d'une superficie de 5 000 m2 et d'une hauteur de 45 m, ainsi que des salles d'exposition, de la bibliotheque et de l'ecole de restauration d'une superficie de 150 m2. le gouverneur de minya, major general fu'ad sa'd al-din, a effectue une visite d'inspection du chantier. il a revele que le montant des deux premieres phases de construction s'eleve a 80 millions de livres egyptiennes. le musee occupe un terrain de 25 feddan-s sur la rive est du nil. le gouverneur a appele l'entreprise de btp a respecter les delais d'achevement de cette premiere phase des travaux prevus pour le mois de mars 2007. (sami kamil, "realisation de la premiere phase des travaux du musee d'akhenaton a minya", al-akhbar du 8 novembre 2006. voir egalement sa'id nafi', "realisation de 85 % de la premiere phase des travaux du musee d'akhenaton", almasri al-yawm du 15 octobre). - - le president du departement de financement du csa a annonce l'achevement de la restauration de cinq amphores en ceramique et d'un sarcophage en schiste entreposes dans le musee de mallawi a minya. (lu'ay mahmud sa'id, "musees et antiquites", al-qahira du 14 novembre 2006). - - le directeur du musee egyptien, dr wafa' al-siddiq, a revele que la seconde salle des momies royales, inauguree il y a trois mois, enregistre des recettes quotidiennes d'une valeur de cent mille livres egyptiennes. ("la bourse des nouvelles", ruz al-yusuf du 25 novembre 2006). - - le directeur general de l'administration des scelles, usama alqahtani, a annonce que 350 scelles entreposes dans le sous-sol du musee egyptien ont ete repertories jusqu'a present. ils ont ete enregistres d'une facon scientifique et restaures en attendant de les transferer vers les nouveaux entrepots museologiques. (lu'ay mahmud sa'id, "musees et antiquites", al-qahira du 19 decembre 2006). - - le directeur de l'administration architecturale, fakhir subhi, a annonce la mise en place d'un projet visant a baisser le niveau des eaux souterraines sous le musee de kom ushim dans le fayyum et celui de mallawi a minya. (lu'ay mahmud sa'id, "musees et antiquites", al-qahira du 19 decembre 2006). - - alexandrie m u s e e s o u s - m a r i setting up an offshore, submarine archaeological site anywhere is not an easy task, let alone in a city with the water pollution problems of alexandria. yet the remarkable discoveries made by m u s e e s b i a x x x i v - juillet/decembre 2006 9underwater archaeologists over the last decade justify further serious efforts for what would be egypt's first ever offshore underwater museum. the site and form gives cause for conjecture. should it be in alexandria's eastern harbour, the sisila area, or abu qir bay? what will it look like? should it resemble the australian national maritime museum in sydney or the bodrum museum of underwater archaeology at the spectacular uluburun wreck in turkey, or the musee de la marine in paris? all these display a collection of sunken shipwrecks, flora and fauna. these questions and more were raised at an international workshop held last week in alexandria to discuss the feasibility of constructing such a museum. on the table were a projected ground plan, an architectural design and a programme to study the environmental conditions of alexandria's mediterranean sea and its state of marine pollution, the socio-economic problems related to the success of the underwater archaeological museum project and urban impacts. the workshop was held under the umbrella of unesco and the ministry of culture at the alexandria art creativity centre, where a multidisciplinary team of 28 international and egyptian experts were gathered. on the eve of the workshop participants were taken on a field visit to alexandria's underwater archaeological sites, and listened to a presentation by egyptian authorities on the current situation and recent activities carried out in the eastern harbour and around the qaytbay fort. this is also one of the suggested locations for the submarine museum. the workshop was very well organised by the cultural development fund (cdf). the opening session began with a short documentary relating alexandria's ancient history from its inception by alexander the great up to modern times. culture minister faruq husni's speech, delivered by zahi hawwas, secretary-general of the supreme council of antiquities (sca), revealed that the aim of the workshop was not only to study the possibility of building the world's first ever underwater archaeological museum in alexandria, but is also to set up international principles as a model or a pilot project for any country which wanted its own submarine museum. singapore, china and greece are on top of the list. for his part, hawwas described the initiative as a "beautiful dream" for alexandria. he told the assembled experts that he had decided four years before to stop removing all ancient objects from the seabed with the exception of coins, jewellery and small artefacts that were vulnerable to looting. "hence, it is about time to think about an underwater museum to make such magnificent monuments accessible and visible to all," he said. francoise rivier, unesco's assistant director, reviewed unesco's efforts to protect and preserve the alexandria monuments, especially the underwater sites. he also referred to previous attempts to establish an underwater museum between 1994 and 2001, the year unesco issued its convention on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage. rivier outlined the problems surrounding the establishment of such a museum. among the most serious issues was the sewage output into the sea, which obscured underwater visibility and led to a disturbing increase in pollution. however biyali husni al-biyali, a consultant for the water and drainage company, said that the alexandria governorate had already closed the three main sewerage tunnels with outlets in the archaeological area. the closure was permanent, and they were only opened upon the governor's direct orders when it was considered necessary to let out rainwater on stormy days. "for the last three years the tunnels have not been opened at all," albiyali pointed out. al-biyali told alahram weekly that a new project aimed at upgrading alexandria's sewage m u s e e s b i a x x x i v - juillet/decembre 2006 9system was now under comprehensive study in order to find a way of separating the rainwater drainage system from the city's waste water system, which would be diverted to a sewage station in the desert near king maryut. "the on-land treated waste water will be used for cultivating woodland areas southwest of alexandria," he said, adding that this project was scheduled to be implemented in three phases in cooperation with international experts and the international monetary fund. "establishing an offshore submarine museum in alexandria is egypt's obligation to protect its submerge antiquities," professor ali radwan, head of the general union of arab archaeologists, told the weekly. he suggests the museum might be built on two levels, the first on shore where the collection emerged from the seabed, and now on exhibition in berlin, will be put on show. the second level could be a floating museum stretching out into the seabed through a u-boat or a glass submarine that takes visitors on a tour of alexandria's submerged ancient sites, the remains of which are scattered about the eastern harbour, the qaytbay fort, sisila and abu qir bay. "such a submarine would be egypt's open water museum," commented radwan, who fears that building a fixed plexi-glass tunnel underwater could have serious repercussions. first, it could represent a threat to the safety of visitors in the case of seismic disturbance or any other natural disaster. second, it would be a very expensive project, which would cost the ministry of culture and the sca a fortune to insure in respect of the safety precautionary measures, as well as for the required technology and the high level of annual maintenance. third, it would give visitors access to one archaeological zone but prevent them from seeing others. radwan explained that if the museum was built in the eastern harbour, where there were remains of the ancient capital of the ptolemies with its paved roads, jetties, sphinxes and columns of temples and palaces, visitors would be unable to admire the site of alexandria's ancient lighthouse at qaytbay or the sunken napoleonic fleet in abu qir bay. alexandria's archaeological museums director ibrahim darwish believes that the site that really deserves a submarine museum is the eastern harbour, where the ancient city of alexandria stood. he told the weekly that, as an archaeologist, he could not draw a design for the underwater museum but could only provide a detailed map of the sunken monuments to the team of architects who will be responsible for the building. ayman 'abd al-mun'im, head of the cdf and a director of the convention, said the workshop was organised as a result of a bilateral meeting which took place 16 months ago between the minister of culture and rivier, who agreed on the need to protect alexandria's underwater treasure from the threats it was facing such as damage, exploitation and the trade in objects found in wrecks. 'abd almun'im said all the experts, both foreign and egyptian, agreed that the proper place for the museum was the eastern harbour, since it was the most suitable and simply the best location. this was not only because it was in a closed bay where the movement of waves was controlled, but also because it told the history of a unique civilisation in a now submerged city that once held sway over much of the ancient world. on the seabed lay the ptolemaic royal quarter with its temples, palaces and paved roads. queen cleopatra's palace and antirhodos island, located in the central port between qaytbay fortress to the north, the sisila area on the east, and mahattat al-raml to the south, were also located there. 'abd al-mun'im explained that the projected museum would be one of the world's modern wonders. it would be on three floors, the first one an onshore m u s e e s b i a x x x i v - juillet/decembre 2006 9building exhibiting the previously submerged objects from all over alexandria, not only the eastern harbour, as well as any further items that might be discovered in the future and could not be left in situ. the second would contain important items from the sea that might be installed in their original environment and exhibited in aquariums. the third level would be a plexi-glass, underwater tunnel providing a unique window on the sunken capital of the ptolemies. "this level would stretch only a few kilometres along the seabed, or round one area of the sunken city, in an attempt to provide us with a first experience by which we could judge the success of the technology and, if there are any disadvantages, avoid repeating them in further extensions," 'abd al-mun'im said. the suggestion of setting up a floating museum by providing a glass boat or submarine was rejected by the workshop members on the grounds that it would represent a threat to the sunken treasures, 'abd almun'im said. all the experts agreed that such a boat might alter the topography of the sunken city while it was manoeuvring underwater. "that's why boats and yachts are forbidden to sail inside the bay of the eastern harbour, because their engines could hit a sunken block," he said. the workshop also highlighted the need to reduce the amount of wreck diving in the bay. diving would only be allowed under the total supervision of the sca. during the four-day workshop, professors from the faculty of science at cairo and alexandria universities displayed the results of their fully detailed inspection study of the sea water levels in the eastern harbour bay, the water wind speed and all activities within the bay. they said that over the last two decades the bay had been badly exploited, such as the filling of a part of the harbour's shore. that was why, 'abd al-mun'im told the weekly, the workshop had recommended putting on hold all maritime activities, development and investments within the harbour until the conclusion of the museum's feasibility studies and the completion of the master plan of the harbour site as a whole. "the museum, in my opinion, will rescue the harbour and will put an end to its legendary problems," 'abd al-mun'im pointed out. he added that when the museum was completed the authorities would always be keen to maintain the purity of the water. the ministry of culture has now set up an executive team to follow up the execution of the workshop recommendations and take all necessary measures to put the project's feasibility studies into action step by step. this 18-month study will be financed by the revenue of egypt's sunken treasure exhibition now in berlin and later to move to france. "the museum will be alexandria's 21st-century landmark," 'abd al-mun'im says. (nevine el-aref, "under the waves", al-ahram weekly du 13 juillet 2006. voir egalement hassan saadallah, "workshop on sunken antiquities in alex", the egyptian gazette du 4 juillet; fathiyya al-dakhakhni, "'ali radwan s'oppose a la construction d'un musee sous l'eau en alexandrie a cause des seismes", almasri al-yawm du 5 juillet; islam 'afifi, "43 experts internationaux choisient le meilleur site pour un musee archeologique sous-marin", akhbar alyawm du 8 juillet; ahmad fu'ad, "un musee sous-marin en alexandrie ouvre le dossier des antiquites submergees", al-ahram du 10 juillet; muna ragab, "creation en alexandrie d'un nouveau musee pour exposer les antiquites submergees", al-ahram du 13 decembre). - - m u s e e g r e c o - r o m a i la decision du conseil supreme des antiquites (csa) de fermer le musee greco-romain pour y entreprendre des travaux de restauration a cause une perte des recettes mensuelles estimees a 300 mille livres egyptiennes. plus grave m u s e e s b i a x x x i v - juillet/decembre 2006 9encore: cette decision de fermeture advient a un moment inopportun. surtout que le csa ne dispose ni d'un projet clair pour restaurer le musee greco-romain, ni d'un plan pour transferer sa collection en attendant la fin des travaux. (muhammad raslan, "les pieces du musee greco-romain sont menacees de degradations", almusawwar du 11 aout 2006). - - m u s e e d e l a m a r i e a cause de la mauvaise planification du conseil supreme des antiquites (csa), tous les musees d'alexandrie sont actuellement fermes au public a l'exception du musee national. depuis des annees, le musee des bijoux a ete ferme pour restauration. a son tour, le musee greco-romain, l'un des fleurons d'alexandrie, a ete clos pour une restauration qui habituellement durera une dizaine d'annees. il ne reste plus que le musee de la marine, qui n'a meme pas ete inaugure depuis 1986. il s'agit d'un musee thematique destine a exposer toutes les antiquites marines, ainsi que les pieces sous-marines recemment renflouees. le batiment appartenait autrefois a l'emir yusuf kamal, un des membres de la famille de muhammad 'ali. nationalise par la revolution de 1952, le batiment a ete transforme par decret presidentiel 172/1986 en un musee de la marine. le directeur general de ce musee, su'ad rushdi, deplore que ce musee ait joue de malchance a cause du manque de credits, malgre l'elaboration de plusieurs scenarios museologiques. le plan d'origine visait a en faire un musee retracant l'histoire de la marine egyptienne depuis l'epoque pharaonique jusqu'a nos jours. les preparatifs allaient bon train et le musee a failli voir le jour au debut des annees quatre-vingt-dix. toutefois, le debut du repechage des antiquites submergees a conduit a modifier le scenario museologique du musee afin qu'il puisse exposer toutes ces decouvertes impressionnantes, notamment la flotte de bonaparte et les fouilles de la mer rouge et de l'ile sa'dana qui remontent a l'epoque islamique. apres cette initiative avortee, il y a eu un grand vide. su'ad rushdi precise que depuis sa nomination en 2003 a la tete de ce musee, elle a procede a l'enregistrement et a la photographie des neuf milles pieces archeologiques entreposees dans les magasins, notamment la flotte de bonaparte et les vestiges du navire echoue a sa'dana. elle a meme elabore un nouveau scenario museologique permettant une ouverture rapide du musee. (husam abd al-qadir, "les mysteres de la fermeture du musee de la marine depuis 20 ans!", uktubar du 2 juillet 2006). - - m u s e e d e l a f a c u l t e d e l e t t r e s d ' a l e x a d r i e le president de l'universite d'alexandrie, dr hasan nadir, inaugurera le 1er aout prochain le premier musee archeologique et didactique jamais installe dans une universite egyptienne. le doyen de la faculte de lettres, dr gamal hagar, a souligne que ce musee poursuit un double objectif: entrainer les etudiants universitaires tout en attirant les touristes. la collection du musee depasse mille pieces. a cote de quelques reproductions archeologiques, les autres pieces antiques proviennent des fouilles effectuees par la faculte de lettres a l'ouest et au nord du delta. ce musee, dont le cout s'eleve a pres de 500 000 livres egyptiennes, couvre trois epoques historique: l'egypte ancienne, la periode greco-romaine et l'epoque islamique. ("premier musee a voir le jour a l'universite d'alexandrie", uktubar du 23 juillet 2006). - - m u s e e s b i a x x x i v - juillet/decembre 2006 9le caire m u s e e e g y p t i e [...] the third museum is the present egyptian museum in central cairo, which will contain the major masterpieces of pharaonic art. more than 70 per cent of its present contents will be moved, but what will remain will be glorious, and there will be space to exhibit these important pieces properly. in the meantime we are making some major changes that will enhance the experience of visitors to this key museum. most of the planned changes will be finished in less than a year. first, visitors will use the entrance that they use now only as an entrance, and will exit into an open area located on the west side of the museum. in this area we are building a large bookstore where 6,000 people will be able to buy books as well as replicas and souvenirs. there will also be a cafeteria where people can sit after spending time in the museum shop. tourists will be able to enjoy their visit to the museum and also buy unique objects bearing the museum's logo. like the others, cairo's egyptian museum is being renovated. the most important change will be the reconstruction of the basement of the museum, which was like a maze of corridors with dusty, neglected objects where people got lost. we are moving many of the boxes of archaeological objects, such as pottery and funerary cones, things that will not be displayed, to a storage facility in dahshur, and the basement will be reconstructed with doors and proper storage. offices for various departments, including education, conservation, and a new collections management department will be located in the basement. the museum will be painted without being closed while the work is done, and new washrooms will be installed. the final plan will also include air conditioning. work on the museum will be finished in less than a year. i am very proud that i will be able to restore this wonderful museum and make it into a showpiece of the 21st century. it will be a museum with an educational message, but one will also have an introduction to pharaonic history through this unique museum that has no parallel. i am inviting everyone who has read this article to visit the egyptian museum in tahrir square in a year's time. (zahi hawwas, "dig days: egyptian museums", al-ahram weekly du 1er novembre). - - i was pleasantly surprised to learn that some of my blind friends were employed by the egyptian museum in cairo, not just under the