Egypt has successfully reclaimed 67 ancient artifacts from Germany, marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing campaign to recover its cultural heritage smuggled abroad.
The announcement underscores Egypt’s commitment to preserving its historical legacy and combating the illegal trade of antiquities.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Yasser Shaaban, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Cultural Relations, formally handed over the recovered items to a committee from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The handover took place at the ministry’s headquarters in the new administrative capital and was made possible through close collaboration with the Egyptian embassy in Berlin.
The collection of artifacts spans various periods of ancient Egyptian history.
Among the highlights are a mummified foot, two masks, and two mural paintings excavated from the tomb of the minister “Pak An-ren-F” in Saqqara, as well as a bronze royal statue.
Also included are smaller statuettes known as “ushabti,” which were traditionally placed in tombs to perform duties for the deceased in the afterlife, according to ancient Egyptian beliefs.
Additionally, the collection features bronze statues of the deity “Osiris,” revered as the god of the dead and ruler of the afterlife in ancient Egypt.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that this achievement is part of Egypt’s tireless efforts to safeguard its national heritage and curb antiquities smuggling.
The ministry also stressed the critical importance of international cooperation in protecting and restoring cultural property.
In a similar endeavor, Egypt successfully recovered three valuable antiquities from Germany on October 1.
These included a 4,000-year-old mummy head adorned with a gold shell, a mummified hand, and an “Ankh” or Key of Life dating back to 600 BCE.
The efforts were facilitated by Egypt’s ministries of Tourism, Antiquities, and Foreign Affairs.
