The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities
The Official SCA Website
News Bulletin
November 2000 Bulletin
Naglaa Habib El Zahlawi
Cleopatra Papyrus found in Berlin
The famous Cleopatra VII is still a source of information to interested
scholars and researchers. A papyrus recently found inside one of the mummies in
Berlin is pointing to Cleopatra as, according to Prof. Peter Van Menan, the
papyrus is bearing the queen's signature in year 33BC. This date corresponds to
the reign of Cleopatra. The text is an exemption from taxes granted to the Roman
Leader Kenadius, Antonio's close friend at that time. This hypothesis is
confirmed by Suzan Walker, the British Museum as representing Cleopatra's
handwriting. This contradicts what was previously published around the papyrus
as it was then considered as a contract between an unknown personality and one
of the peasants.
Cleopatra, Guest of Honor to 13 countries
"From History to Mythology", the important theme of the new exhibition recently inaugurated in Italy, is highlighting the famous Myth raised around Cleopatra's intimate relations with Caesar and Mark Anthony. This exhibition inaugurated with the participation of Minister Farouk Hosni, Egyptian Ambassador Nihad Abdellatif and many distinguished guests on October is displaying important statues of Cleopatra, Caesar, Ptoleme, the deity Serapis and many other important pieces referred to that period. A book specially written for children in Italian language was published in order to raise the interest of Italian speaking children to the common history that joined our two countries in the past. The exhibition, held in Raspuli Palace in Rome, will host Cleopatra among 350 objects collected from 28 museums from 13 various countries.
Display will last to February 2001 and later the British Museum will exhibit the whole collection for five months. The 43 objects representing the Egyptian participation in the exhibition will move again with the others to be displayed in Chicago, USA.
Egyptology Head of Department, Mohamed El Saghir
Dr. Mohamed El Saghir has successfully ended his brilliant career, as he has been always a good example in devotion and accuracy in his work. Dr. Gaballah, SCA Secretary General as well as SCA staff are sending their best wishes to Dr. El Saghir wishing him a prosperous and active life with his new career as councilor to the SCA Department.
A Link between the past and the present
Springs known as "Eyun Pharaon" or the " Pharaoh's springs" and located in South Sinai will be soon prepared as a Spa. Five thousand years ago these springs were used as such by the Egyptian workers who benefited out of the hot water pouring at 90 degrees C. inside a grotto in south Sinai. Pharaonic Kings didn't neglect the importance of the place as water was used to provide energy needed for revitalization during their jubilee and before attending their coronation ceremonies. The raising steam was and still will be serving for sauna purposes to cure Rheumatic pains and other illnesses. This reflects that the Pharaohs were well aware of the natural gifts in their countries and their importance.
The 8th Congress for Environmental Reporters
Mrs. Suzanne Moubarak, First Lady of Egypt is sponsoring this specific congress held in Cairo as from the 13th November, the theme being " Media's role in Environmental and Heritage preservation". Pollution resulted from buses and other vehicles represent a great threat to monuments as from Assiut to Aswan. Factories raising and spreading dusts in the air are to be notified to spare our heritage and participate in its conservation and preservation, as this represents a National aim to be reached. Dr. Gaballah, SCA Secretary General will face the audience with facts related to the subject and on practical level will host the Congress members during four days after the sessions, in Luxor and Hurghada while they will be received during the congress in El Manesterly Palace and Bayt El Harrawi. Reporters under the presidency of Jim Ditchen and Salama Ahmed Salama will come up with a suitable strategy to back up related environmental and heritage protection projects set on Local and International levels.
Arab Nations' studies in Monuments", Congress held in
November
Cairo University is actually hosting an important congress discussing vital themes on the 12th and 13th November. The "Arab Archaeologists Association," and the "Arab Assembly for studies and scientific research", gathered in the Main Hall of the University, shall focus over ten axis on: Prehistory, Architecture, Art, Inscriptions and Graffitis, Archaeological Sites, Excavations and Museology, Archaeological Research Methodology, Interactions and effects on civilization, Underwater Archaeology, Preservation and restoration.
Symposium held in El Kantara Shark
On the 10th of October, Dr. Gaballah A. Gaballah presided in the Scientific Center, El Kantara Shark the symposium discussing "Prehistorical and Archaic Monuments". Eminent archaeologists presented 16 papers mainly dealing with their recent theories based on their discoveries and were discussed by the participants. Prehistoric related events according to discoveries and evidence in the main area of Sinai, East Delta, Dakahlia, Aswan and Saqqara, were subjects of great interest from the participants. Approximately 50 scholars, archaeologists and researchers from related Universities, Institutes and Archaeological Centers were highly interested and attended the successful debates raised over this domain and period. Debates were around new discoveries related to that period.
Elephantine reopened for visit after restoration
Located north the southern cataracts in Aswan, the island have always been an important commercial center between north and south or Egypt and Sudan. Facing Aswan, Elephantine witnessed various activities run by the rather large community settled in the area as from prehistoric eras 3500BC. Excavations actually practiced in the island are focusing over the settlements and community activities taking place as attested by evidences raising out of diggings.
Previous excavations were mainly concentrating on discoveries of interesting monuments such as statues or temples or any other important element. The actual excavations as from the sixties are turning to concentrate over settlements and habitat activities denoted by the soil layers. It is known that habitat over the island started from prehistoric eras till Islamic occupation; different monuments each referred to its period are to be admired in the island ranging from Pharaonic to Islamic. The historic side of Elephantine is located on a high level of the ground that helped preserving the monuments from the ground water effects. The German Institute and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological research combined their efforts as from 1969 over the island's soil. Their common excavations have actually positive results for scholars interested in archaeological evidence and for visitors and tourists to admire the beauty in the various temples and tombs spread over the island.
A Library offered to Abou Seifein Church
Located in Abou Seifein Street, Misr El Kadima, Abou Seifein Church dates back to the 6th century approximately according to chronologists and is dedicated to St. Marcorius known as Abou Seifein. Originated from a well-known family, Abou Seifein was an officer in the Roman army who died in 362 AD during Julianos reign.
He was persecuted for his beliefs and his preaching to Christianity. He is usually represented on his horse holding up two swords and stepping with the horse on top of Julianos, the emperor.
An angel, according to collective memory, is said to have given him the second sword as a symbol for his struggle for his principles. Many churches were built to commemorate Abou Seifein (the two-sword carrier) in both upper and Lower Egypt. The church dedicated to him in the area is the most important from the historical and artistic view; but was subject to destruction during the 8th century when it was used as a storehouse for sugar canes. The church has been renovated in 1935 Coptic Year 1337 H/ 1909 AD. And many restorations occurred under the supervision of SCA.
It has been decided lately to annex an important library to the church. France and many interested French citizens offered the new library related books to enrich the congregation with related information. Within the same context of cooperation it has been decided between the two countries, Egypt and France to establish an exchange of information. French are to learn Arabic and Egyptians to learn French. Mutual culture shall spread specially through the missions studying Egyptology in both countries.
Educational Medical programs in Ancient Egypt
The Fourth International Congress for Scientific History and Philosophy, held lately in Saint Louis, highlighted Medicine and Chemistry in Ancient Egypt. Dr. Maher Abdel Kader, Alexandria University discussed in his paper the tradition and the educational systems in Ancient Egyptian Medicine; while Dr. Hamed Abdel Rehim, Cairo University, focused on the Ancient Egyptian's role in Chemistry development as attested by the most ancient two discovered papyri. The importance of these two papyri resides in the fact that the Roman emperor decided in 290BC to burn and destruct all documents related to chemistry and its various applications. He specifically ordered the destruction of papyri relating gold manufacturing details as chemistry, at that period, meant the science of transferring metals to gold. This unfortunately led to the erase of important sources but few papyri were discovered, actually in Leiden University, Holland, that relate the necessary steps to produce chemically metals, silver and gold. These chemical reactions, written in Greek, are presented in a very sophisticated way to serve only specialists.
The prementioned papyri were well preserved when discovered, as they were safely guarded in one of the Chemist's sarcophagus. They include 75 recipe related to metal production and coloring, 15 ways of writing using gold and silver and how to produce fink inscriptions, 11 recipe for dying using purple and natural colours. The papyri also describe the precious stones and pearls production. The Congress held in St. Louis, USA was attended by more than 100 scholars and one of its major recommendations was to encourage the study of Sciences history by concentrating on ancient civilizations; sessions are to be held in India, China, and Egypt.