Tuesday, March 23, 2004

RAMSES VI REASSEMBLED

Undoing the destructive work of grave robbers likely thousands of years ago, Egypt has unveiled a Pharaoh's sarcophagus:
The sarcophagus was pieced together from 250 fragments likely broken and scattered in the pharaoh's tomb by ancient tomb robbers, reconstruction experts said.

The tomb of Ramses VI is one of the largest in the Valley of the Kings, the ancient royal burial ground for Egypt's pharaohs. Ramses VI ruled about 3,100 years ago.

The reconstruction has a problem, however: they have no face. But they know exactly where it is:
Only the face is a replica. The original face is on display at the British Museum. Zahi Hawass, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said he hoped it would be returned to complete the sarcophagus.

It seem, perhaps, that Egypt and the British Museum should make a trade, reuniting the face with it's 'body'. I wouldn't hold my breath.

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