[ad_1]
CAIRO, Feb. 21 (AP) — Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities unveiled the renovated wing of its oldest museum, which houses the 16-meter-long scroll unearthed last year.
The renovation marks the first phase of a wider refurbishment of the 120-year-old salmon-coloured palatial complex in central Cairo, opposite the capital’s famous Tahrir Square.
The Waziry Papyrus is the centerpiece of Monday’s unveiling and contains some 113 spells from the Book of the Dead. The museum has also added modern glass protection and new interior lighting.
The opening of the upgraded wing was officiated by Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed al-Assa.
For more than a decade, Egypt has been building a state-of-the-art museum near the pyramids that will house tens of thousands of ancient artifacts. The Grand Egyptian Museum, which has so far cost more than $1 billion, has repeatedly delayed its opening date.
Egypt often publicly touts ancient discoveries to attract more tourists, a major source of foreign exchange for the cash-strapped North African nation. The industry has endured a prolonged downturn following the political turmoil and violence that followed the 2011 uprising. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
share now
[ad_2]
Source link