Looters pillage Egyptian antiquities warehouses

Looters pillage Egyptian antiquities warehouses

www.reuters.com

(Reuters) - Looters have pillaged a number of warehouses containing ancient Egyptian artifacts, stealing and damaging some of them, archaeologists and warehouse workers said on Monday.

A group of looters attacked a warehouse at the Qantara Museum near the city of Ismailia on the Suez Canal that contained 3,000 objects from the Roman and Byzantine periods, a source at the tourism police said.

Many of the objects had been found in Sinai by the Israelis after they occupied the peninsula during the 1967 war with Egypt, and had only been recently returned to Egypt.

A worker at the warehou

(visit the link for the full news article)

Them bastards... This upsets me to know end. How modern day man will destroy treasures of the past-without remorse.

I know it has happened all through time but dam it, we are in charge of the preservation of the past now and it should be our concern.

I have horrible thoughts about what a strict Taliban type of Gov't being in charge of Egypt's treasures and secrets.

Maybe there is something even more to this than we know?

www.reuters.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I found this pic-at the Fox News story;
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/21dbdb708e2a.jpg[/atsimg]

Egyptian special forces secure the main floor inside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Jan. 31, 2011. Would-be looters broke into Cairo's famed Egyptian Museum on Saturday Jan. 29, 2011, ripping the heads off two mummies and damaging some artifacts before being caught and detained by army soldiers, Egypt's antiquities chief Zahi Hawass said Saturday.

Source: www.foxnews.com...

I find it interesting they didn't send and/or leave plain old Security Guards at the site. No, Special Forces.

Also this sad site:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f792ea128181.jpg[/atsimg]
Parts of unidentified mummies are seen damaged on the floor of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo early Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011.
Source: www.foxnews.com...#

Hmmm

I wonder why Hawass didn't try to take credit for re-securing the place all by himself!

I have to admit if I was there I'd probably break in to look for unreleased artifacts, but definitely wouldn't destroy or steal anything. What the hell is wrong with people?

reply to post by James1982

What the hell is wrong with people?

My exact thoughts. I have been sitting here getting all P'ed O'ed just thinking about not having public access to the Pyramids and the other sites.

Even more P.Oed when I think about a crazy/corrupt Gov't getting access to any secrets and/or treasures. Time will tell.

I can barely bring myself to make any kind of comment. It is very sad indeed to see them pillage and destroy their own history. How they can rationalize that this helps them or can be justified in some way is beyond me.

Originally posted by anon72
Maybe there is something even more to this than we know?

Here's a theory.

Hawass needs special forces to secure the place from "looters" so they don't accidently discover something they shouldn't...

Originally posted by anon72
I have horrible thoughts about what a strict Taliban type of Gov't being in charge of Egypt's treasures and secrets.

I have horrible thoughts about anyone being in "charge" of Egypt's "secrets".

There shouldn't be any secrets, unless TPTB are hiding something from us.

reply to post by NuclearPaul


Well, I wish it could be true-that there we no secrets etc but reality may not see it the same way.

I am sure there are some secrets. A lot of them.

Who knows, maybe it will be a good thing to have the Gov't replaced. Maybe they have been a hinderence these last 30 years?

I wonder if the regime does change in Egypt, if Hawass would get the boot and be replaced? Wishful dreaming, I know, but one can always hope.

History being destroyed is disgusting. Both sides needs to take a moment and do something to protect the ancient treasures there.

This is nothing new. The stuff that stolen will be fenced on the international market at some time. These thugs have no respect for their own county's history, and all they see are dollar signs. Or just want to destroy stuff for the sake of destroying stuff, because they are frustrated with the government or other things. As soon as the protesters began, the government should have beefed up security at any historical sights. Furthermore, where Zahi Hawass, Pharoah, of Egyptian antiquities? He could have made requests for added security as well as the crisis unfolded. Some Egyptians tried to stop the looters, but where was the security?



The situation is very similar to what took place during the Iraq War.



Another instance of when during chaos priceless heirlooms to our past was stolen, desecrated, or destroyed. Moreover, how about the Taliban defacing the Buddhas of Bamiyan, which survived for thousands of years.



During these times of chaos things like this tend to happening looting, assaults, murder, and other departures from normal civilized conduct. Once these items are lost or destroyed, humanity loses are part of its lineage as well. These old relics are a reminder of who we were, and how we got to the present day. The theft or destruction of a nation's history is downright shameful and ignorant! Hopefully, when the dust settles and a government is appointed it is not one with a fundamentalist or extremist ideology? If that happens we can kiss Egyptology good bye.

When I saw that they had started looting in Egypt, and destroying artifacts I gasped in horror!

I am very pleased that they were able to secure the place, but who knows how long it will last. If this escalates further...who knows...

why target antiquities in your riot over the economy? It is in Egypts best interest to secure these sites which are scattered all across Egypt.

And on another note...If you're a such a big Protester, and you want to riot, and you want to look tough, go after someone that is still alive...just sayin'

reply to post by reverandrandy


Yes and agree.

You would think the power heads of the movement would realize those are valuable treasures (in many ways more for them I would think) and the word should go out: Don't F with these-PERIOD.

If the current gov't is to fail/fall, I hope someone is thinking for the history stuff. I assume they would think the same as I. But , who knows. Maybe they think they are not that big of a deal but more for the west.

That would suck. Any ATS members from Egypt that can give some insight?

Fundamental Islam does not abide images or statues of anything created by God. Especially if it used in worship. The Vatican and all the artwork it contains would be shredded and burnt should they ever get their hands on it. They are iconoclasts.

In general, Muslim societies have avoided the depiction of living beings (animals and humans) within such sacred spaces as mosques and madrasahs. This opposition to figural representation is not based on the Qur'an, but rather on various traditions contained within the Hadith. The prohibition of figuration has not always extended to the secular sphere, and a robust tradition of figural representation exists within Muslim art. [12] However, western authors have tended to perceive "a long, culturally determined, and unchanging tradition of violent iconoclastic acts" within Islamic society. [13]

wapedia.mobi...

What we're witnessing is likely the work of 'rigorists', or fundamental radical Islam of the same type that we've seen in Afghanistan with the destruction of the giant buddha statues or the rage over the Danish cartoons of Mohammed.

reply to post by masqua



Well, I have to say I didn't know that info. Very interesting and plausable.

Well, if the hardliners get in there, anything will be possible for the fate of the stuff we love/like/adore.

Let's hope cooler minds prevail. Maybe the Pres of Egypt may want to take his money and RUN. (psst-bring the keys to the Giza ones please!!!) shame

Again, thank you for that great insight/info.

It is hard to imagine all the amazing pieces of antiquity forever lost through pillaging in human history. It is a shame people still commit these acts in the 21st century.

Dear Egyptian people,

Stop looting your own museums...go get your stuff back from:

www.britishmuseum.org...

...admission is free!

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4ae1caf5818d.jpg[/atsimg]

reply to post by NuclearPaul


And what might that be exactly? let me guess, the ark of the covenant? maybe the grail, maybe an alien mummy.

Quit the speculation.


Prominent Former Egyptian MP and Presidential Candidate: The Looting of the Cairo Museum Was Carried Out by Government Employees

www.washingtonsblog.com...

Today, the Sydney Morning Herald reports:

The former presidential candidate Ayman Nour, who is the leader of the Tomorrow Party, said he had seen unequivocal proof that many looters were thugs backed by the regime.
''We have been able to identify these men as members of the Interior Ministry. We have seen their ID cards,'' he said.

''They are working to make chaos, to make people afraid of the protesters.''

Mr Nour said it was highly suspicious that the police were suddenly nowhere to be found.

Adding to the chaos was the escape on Saturday of thousands of prisoners from the Wadi Natrun prison north of Cairo. Prison officials said inmates overwhelmed the guards. There were reports some guards abandoned their posts during the protests.

Just another addition for NuclearPaul, you do realize that the iconography in your avatar is an eagle yes? and that horus is commonly depicted as a falcon? Just wanted to make sure.

reply to post by AutOmatIc


Be thankful that there are other places on earth where collections can be held and maintained away from people who are clearly irresponsible with their own heritage.

reply to post by plexus


You make an excellent point.

Recently I heard that Egypt petitioned Germand to return a Queens head/bust and they said No. I got to thinking how wrong that was-that all countries should return what they have to Egypt in hopes of discovering something that couldn't be done previously as no one knew that they had something of importance etc.

Now... Keep it. Let them visit the country and tour it there- is what I say now.

As I stated elsewhere this really irritates me and the problem with The British Museum is not only with Egyptian artifacts but also greek objects as well Elgin Marbles for one. But anyways, I fell in love with Egypt through it's history and to know that this is disappearing in the hands of greedy, and selfish gangs of thugs. Bugs me, but I hope the Egyptian military can and will put an end to that.