Looters attempted to run off with the skulls 2,000 year old mummies from Cairo's Egyptian Museum yesterday, but were fortunately caught by police and civilians. Also confiscated was a heavily damaged statue of Tutankhamun, broken by the criminals during the theft.
Zahi Hawass, archaeologist and chairman of the Supreme Council of Antiquities stated that, "They tried to attack and rob the showcases of King Tut, but they failed. These people are criminals, they are not true Egyptians... the army are now guarding the museum and all the museums are now safe." A first-hand
description of the looting can be found at Dr. Hawass' website. Dr. Hawass writes that "
What is really beautiful is that not all Egyptians were involved in the looting of the museum. A very small number of people tried to break, steal and rob. Sadly, one criminal voice is louder than one hundred voices of peace. The Egyptian people are calling for freedom, not destruction. When I left the museum on Saturday, I was met outside by many Egyptians, who asked if the museum was safe and what they could do to help. The people were happy to see an Egyptian official leave his home and come to Tahrir Square without fear; they loved that I came to the museum." Since the Internet is not working in Egypt at this time, Dr. Hawass faxed his update on Egyptian Antiquities to Italy.
It saddens me that people can become so desperate that they would, as Dr. Hawass writes, "rob their own country". Fortunately there are many standing up to the criminals, willing to protect the museums and countless irreplaceable treasures.
The pyramids at Giza are now closed off by the military, a site that normally swarms with tourists. There are a lot of ongoing dig sites throughout Egpypt and given that the entire country is basically a museum, deep concern remains over many of the treasures and historical artifacts at risk during this time of protest and unrest.
I'll be watching this, as the rest of the world does too. Stay safe Dr. Hawass!
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