Egypt Museum: Petrol Bombs, Vandals Threaten Artifacts During Protests (PHOTOS)

Some of the world's greatest antiquities were threatened when petrol bombs landed in the gardens of the famed Egyptian Museum, Reuters is reporting.

Among the Cairo-based museum's most treasured collections is the treasure buried in Tutankhamun's grave - the only ancient royal treasure to have survived in its entirety. Though the collection reportedly remains mostly unscathed, the increasing severity of the demonstrations means the threat to Egypt's archaeology icons remains at an all-time high. On Friday, a small group of looters damaged artifacts before being captured.

"So far the museum is safe, but we don't know what's going to happen, because [the protests] are out of control," one official who had been in contact with Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, went on to note that the museum-threatening bombs were believed to have been thrown by protesters demonstrating in favor of President Hosni Mubarak.

So what could be lost? Take a look at some of the museum's priceless artifacts here:

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A small Pharonic statue, displayed in a recent exhibit celebrating American contributions to Egyptian Archaeology.

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A small Pharonic statue, displayed in a recent exhibit celebrating American contributions to Egyptian Archaeology.

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Comments

[terry63]

10:06 PM on 02/08/2011

When I visited the museum in 2005 I was floored by the craftsmanship and the tonage of gold, The skill that was used in forming and finishing the sarcophagus is out of this world even by todays standards. I can tell you what they look like but you still wouldnt know, they have to be seen to be beleived. Youve got to stand there and absorb it. Then ask youre self, who were these people. A loss of this magnitude would be an embarasment to the whole world not just egypt. The building that all of this stuff is housed in should look like fort knox, however sadley it doesnt. Its just a big building with barred windows and some guards.

[terry63]

10:18 PM on 02/08/2011

Also I have much better pictures than these but Im old and dont know how to drag them on to the page.

[life-of-riley]

12:27 AM on 02/08/2011

King Tut's penis has gone missing.

[nkurland]

08:59 PM on 02/07/2011

We can think Mubarak's paid thugs for the damage. He doesn't just hold his own people in contempt, but their culture as well.

[nkurland]

09:01 PM on 02/07/2011

*thank

[MsNancyMitford]

07:16 PM on 02/07/2011

Visual of damage and broken cases, antiquities destroyed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8nH3JuBd4s&feature=player_embedded

[MsNancyMitford]

07:04 PM on 02/07/2011

The "Museum" is a joke.

It is a old building with open windows and dusty cracked glass cases.

No climate control, little security, bad lighting, an absolute horror considering the antiquities it houses. The treasures were safer in their original dark, cool tombs.


The new Museum they have discussing for a decade hasn't broken ground.

[jasev01]

04:43 PM on 02/06/2011

The question is how long before I can find them at the local black market.

[txmom54]

05:40 PM on 02/05/2011

Egyptians are very proud of their national treasures and their heritage. For a country that relies on tourism for survival, I find it hard to believe the protesters are trying to destroy their source of income. It's more believable that pro government thugs (who really have nothing to lose at this point) are responsible.

[lillibette]

04:23 PM on 02/05/2011

Zahi Hawass has updates on his website:

http://www.drhawass.com/

[notfooledbyu]

06:05 PM on 02/04/2011

Zahi Hawass is the clown prince of Egyptian antiquities. I wish he would go away. They need someone more scholarly and less of a seeker of personal celebrity.

[Erewhon7]

01:39 PM on 02/05/2011

Yes.

[lillibette]

04:22 PM on 02/05/2011

More scholarly??? This man has more passion for his country's antiquities and has done more to protect them from theft than anyone before him. But don't worry you'll get your wish.... he is nearing the manditory retirement age and won't be working for the Antiquities too much longer.

[Jes Alexander]

12:09 PM on 02/04/2011

Dr. Zahi Hawass explains damage to Egyptian Museum
http://www­­.heraldde­p­aris.com­/d­r-zahi-­haw­ass-ex­plai­ns-da­mage-­to-e­gyptia­n-m­useum/1­23­011

[lenuk]

05:46 PM on 02/04/2011

"Sorry, that article was not found"

[Tuigim]

10:24 PM on 02/03/2011

What has been lost and stolen and looted by Britain and others?
What is in so-called respectable museums around the world when they should be in Egypt?
What right does "western civilization" have to sondemn looting when they have looted goods in their public buildings?
What in God's name are we doing focusing on looting again as people are dying?
Didn't we learn anything about real news reporting and priorities from Katrina?
People matter more than things.
Focus people.
Support the just and condemn the wicked thugs Mubarak. Friday is an important day, remember?

[lenuk]

06:48 AM on 02/04/2011

"...What in God's name are we doing focusing on looting again..."

Because the loss of items is not just a loss for Egypt, but a loss for the world.

There are plenty of other threads if you want to discuss the political situation -- but this thread is for the concerns over the well-being of some of the world's most important treasures.

[wom122]

09:37 PM on 02/04/2011

With all due respect, it was Western archeologists and scholars who unearthed those Egyptian marvels and deciphered the hieroglyphic language. For my part I would like those treasures safe for our kids and great grandkids. If it takes keeping them in Western museums to achieve that end so be it.

[Tuigim]

01:09 AM on 02/07/2011

You want them for your kids? By what right?
You don't want Egytians to have their own cultural treasures?
Shall we can them 'strategic interests' then or what other term is appropriate to justify the looting of another country's treasures?

[FalseConsciousness]

09:36 PM on 02/03/2011

This is the beginning of the end for US imperialism.

[Tuigim]

10:25 PM on 02/03/2011

Ojalá que sí.

[Carnacamarna]

11:30 PM on 02/04/2011

If you keep the hope alive......

[life-of-riley]

03:04 PM on 02/04/2011

.....and the beginning of China's - then, you'll see some good old fashioned, true "Imperialism."

[Forester]

01:23 PM on 02/03/2011

Any delusions that Zahi Hawass had about repatriating Nefertiti from the Berlin Museum are gone with the wind.

[TStringfellow]

03:01 PM on 02/04/2011

At least until he becomes President! Don't be fooled, Zahi is behind this whole uprising, he's got a plan.

[babybecks]

11:12 AM on 02/03/2011

Someone posted this to me and thought it was so beautiful I wanted make sure whoever would be interested got a chance to see it. Humanity can be pretty amazing even in the face of something like this.

Fbigdeal
"I saw.. rows and rows of men holding hands trying to protect the museum, they do that in shift. That was great."

[lenuk]

12:20 PM on 02/03/2011

Unfortunately, in other parts of Egypt such as Saqqara and Abusir, reports are coming in of wide-scale looting in the pyramids, tombs, storage areas, etc.

Zahi Hawass' comments seem to be at odds with these reports.

[MsNancyMitford]

07:08 PM on 02/07/2011

Beheadings are in order.

[birdlady5]

08:23 PM on 02/03/2011

Ya I had seen that on the news coverage. It was awesome to see all those people protecting thte museum. If only the same thing were the case for the pyramids.
This is all just so sad on so many levels.

[babybecks]

09:02 PM on 02/03/2011

Indeed

[TYRANNASAURUS]

10:48 AM on 02/03/2011

museum-threatening bombs were believed to have been thrown by protesters demonstrating in favor of President Hosni Mubarak.....

I'm sure the reason is to upset the rest of the world and turn them against the Egyptian people wanting to gain freedom and join the 21 century.