Archaeologists’ anger over a reconstruction
Arya Legacy: The ongoing project aims to restore the granite exterior cladding on the four sides of the Manqura pyramid in a partnership between the Egyptian government and Japanese archaeologists, whereby the facade of the pyramid will be restored with the original blocks scattered around the base of the pyramid. .
According to the project team, the blocks were moved during earthquakes in the last thousand years.
A video posted on Facebook by Mustafa Waziri, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, shows workers laying granite blocks at the base of the pyramid, which sits next to the Sphinx and the Khufu and Khafre pyramids.
The Pyramid of Manqura, the smallest of the three pyramids of Giza, originally had 16 granite blocks that formed its outer cover, but today only seven blocks remain.
Waziri says in the video: “There have been several projects throughout history that have been called the ‘project of the century’, but in my opinion, the task of restoring the granite covering of the Manqura pyramid is very important and vital.” He called the project “a gift from Egypt to the world” that would allow the first complete view of the Pyramid of Mengura in the modern era.
But on the other hand, this video has provoked the anger and ridicule of experts.
According to AFP, “Monica Hanna” – Egyptologist – said about this project: “It is impossible. The only thing that was missing was to add tiling to the pyramid of Manqura! When will we stop the absurdity of Egypt’s heritage management? “All international principles on modernization prohibit such interventions.”
Other commentators scoffed at the story and said that the project team should have a wallpaper and paint job. Others have jokingly asked the question: “When is the project to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa planned?”
Other critics questioned the logic of such a costly project during Egypt’s recent economic downturn. Egypt is reportedly due to repay $32 billion in loans this year, and the debt crisis has been compounded by high inflation and a sharp drop in trade through the Suez Canal, a key source of revenue for the Egyptian government.
Mustafa Waziri, the Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, in an interview with a state-affiliated media, sought to remove criticism of this project and said that the cost of the first phase of this work will be paid by Japan.
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