Plans to restore Giza's Menkaure Pyramid spark controversy, as experts question the project's adherence to international conservation standards.
Egypt's plan to restore the Pyramid of Menkaure, which is one of the iconic Great Pyramids of Giza, has stirred controversy.
The project, led by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and a Japanese team, aims to restore the pyramid to its original state. Its head, Mostafa Waziri, describes it as Egypt's monumental gift to the world.
The restoration focuses on the pyramid's granite casing, with only seven of the original 16 blocks currently intact. This initiative has faced criticism from experts and the public. Egyptologist Salima Ikram noted on social media, "Ideas about restoration and conservation change a great deal."
Ibrahem Badr, an expert in archaeological restoration, stressed the importance of following international conventions for restoration and wrote, “Someone needs to read the international conventions for restoration and dealing with Egyptian antiquities.”
The project will last three years and involves detailed processes like drawing, photogrammetry and laser scanning. A video showcasing the renovation provoked criticism online. Egyptologist Monica Hanna labeled the effort "absurd," highlighting that "All international principles on renovations prohibit such interventions." Public reactions have been mixed, with some resorting to sarcasm while others showing outright opposition.
Main Image :Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Facebook
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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