The Menkaure pyramid in Egypt’s Giza, which dates back to between 2532 and 2515 BC, is currently undergoing restoration. The work has been captured on camera and posted on social media. Although some have applauded the initiative, others haven’t hesitated to criticise the restoration team’s techniques.
Mostafa Waziri, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, took to Facebook on February 3 to provide insight into the process. Waziri, who is in charge of the Egyptian-Japanese project, stated that the team hopes to ‘reassemble the granite blocks’ of the third pyramid. The pyramid’s outer layer was originally made up of granite blocks. However, some of the granite blocks have worn away or fallen off completely over time, according to Waziri and this has happened as a result of an earthquake, and the team is working to replace them.
The renovation will reconstruct the granite layer to restore the structure’s original style. Work on the project is expected to last three years and will be “Egypt’s gift to the world in the twenty-first century," said Waziri, who leads the Egyptian-Japanese mission in-charge.
Following a video of the Egyptian pyramid restoration project, social media users are deluging the platform with comments.
One Facebook user wrote, “Ancient Egyptians built pyramids with stones that were almost uniform in size… Why is the restoration not done the same?? What we notice is that each stone is different in size, resulting in a random exterior shape, unlike ancient Egyptian architecture!!"
Another said, “Excavation of the base is a good idea but the rest will just further damage what remains of the pyramid. How can you think it’s your job to alter the pyramid after 4500 years?"
Meanwhile, other users responded with sarcasm. “When will the project to straighten the Tower of Pisa be planned?" a third used asked. “Rather than tiles, why not wallpaper the pyramids?" a fourth user said.
Egypt, which relies on tourism for 10 percent of its GDP, frequently debates the issue of heritage preservation.
On February 3, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced that an international scientific committee would be formed to review the architectural restoration project for Menkaure’s Pyramid on the Giza Plateau. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa has ordered the formation of the committee, which will be chaired by renowned archaeologist and former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass, as per the ministry.
Comments
0 comment