CAIRO: A limestone pharaonic painting has gone missing from Egypt’s famed Saqqara necropolis, becoming the latest artifact to disappear in a country known for its rich and lengthy history.
The painting was in the tomb of Khentika in the Saqqara necropolis outside Cairo, Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said Sunday. The mastaba tomb was found in the 1950s and hasn’t been opened since 2019.
Ismail’s statement said prosecutors were investigating the circumstances of the painting’s disappearance and didn’t give further details.
Egyptian media reported the painting exhibited the ancient Egyptian calendar that divided the year into three seasons mirroring the Nile River’s ebb and flow. It included the flooding season, Akhet, the planting season, Proyat, and the harvest season, Shomu.
The tomb dates to the sixth dynasty of the ancient Old Kingdom — roughly from around 2700 B.C. to 2200 B.C.
Cairo 24 news outlet reported that a British mission working in the tomb discovered the painting was missing in May.
The tomb is one of the few mastaba tombs of ancient Egypt to have a curse inscribed on its facade. The inscriptions warned intruders they could face divine punishment, according to British Egyptologist Harry James, who co-authored a research paper on the tomb in the 1950s.
The Saqqara site is part of a sprawling necropolis at Egypt’s ancient capital of Memphis that includes the famed Giza Pyramids, the step pyramid of Djoser, as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur and Abu Ruwaysh. The ruins of Memphis were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 1970s.
Sunday’s announcement came less than a month after an ancient pharaoh’s bracelet was stolen from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and melted for its gold.
The gold bracelet with a lapis lazuli bead belonged to Pharaoh Amenemope, who reigned about 3,000 years ago. It was stolen on Sep. 9 while officials at the museum were preparing artifacts for an exhibit in Italy. Authorities said it was taken from a restoration lab at the museum and funneled through a chain of dealers before being melted down.
A limestone pharaonic painting vanishes from the famed Saqqara necropolis in Egypt
https://arab.news/zwguu
A limestone pharaonic painting vanishes from the famed Saqqara necropolis in Egypt
- The painting was in the tomb of Khentika in the Saqqara necropolis outside Cairo
- Prosecutors were investigating the circumstances of the painting’s disappearance
Natacha Atlas to headline ‘Love Supreme for Palestine’ fundraiser in London
- All proceeds from event will go to Medical Aid for Palestinians
LONDON: Internationally acclaimed singer Natacha Atlas will headline a special fundraising concert in London next month aimed at supporting humanitarian efforts for Palestinians affected by the crisis in Gaza.
“Love Supreme for Palestine,” set for Dec. 7 at the Tabernacle in Notting Hill, will bring together a diverse lineup of musicians, poets and performers for an evening celebrating culture, resilience and solidarity.
Atlas, the Egyptian-Belgian artist known for her pioneering blend of Arabic and Western sounds, will lead the bill.
She will be joined by artists including The Soothsayers, Kad Achouri with Safaya Topolski-Achouri, and activist-performer Noga Levy-Rapoport, with spoken-word poetry also featuring earlier in the evening.
Organizers say the event aims to combine music with meaningful support for communities in need.
All proceeds will go to Medical Aid for Palestinians, which is delivering emergency medical and humanitarian assistance in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.
According to the charity, it is currently undertaking the largest humanitarian response in its history as the health system in Gaza continues to face extreme pressure. In 2024, MAP said it provided vital aid to nearly one million people.
“Every ticket sold and every donation made will help bring relief and hope to people who need it most,” organizers added.
