After
eight years in limbo, the site museum of Tel Basta in Zagazig, Sharqiya, was
inaugurated Saturday. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.
Egypt's
Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany and Sharqiya Governor Khaled Saeed
inaugurated Saturday Tel Basta Museum in Sharqiya governorate after the
completion of its restoration.
The
inauguration of the museum comes within the framework of efforts by the
Ministry of Antiquities to increase the archaeological and heritage awareness
of Sharqiya inhabitants as well as creating more tourist attractions across
Egypt.
During
the ceremony, El-Enany announced that visits to the museum would be free this
week to celebrate the museum’s long-awaited opening.
Waadalla
Abu El-Ela, head of the Projects Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities, told
Ahram Online that the ministry started construction work on the museum in 2006.
In 2010, construction was completed but the project put on hold, resuming at
the end of 2017.
Elham
Salah, head of the Museums Sector at the Ministry of Antquities, explained that
the second phase of the project, concerning the interior design of the museum,
aimed to showcase the history of Sharqiya and the excavation work that has been
carried out within its boundaries. New lighting and security systems were
installed and new showcases fabricated to host the artifacts along with
descriptive panels on the history of Sharqiya.
“The
objects on display are the result of archaeological excavations in Sharqiya,”
Salah told Ahram Online. She added that the collection includes canopic jars,
terracotta statuettes, clay pots of different shapes and sizes, domestic
instruments, coins, statuette deities, tombstones, offering tables, and
jewellery.
One
of the showcases is devoted to Sharqiya's main ancient Egyptian deity, the cat
shaped goddess Bastet.
French
Egyptologist Pierre Montei discovered the Temple of Amun in Tanis in 1939 as
well as a group of royal tombs from the Late Period, such as those for the
kings Psusennes I and Shosinenq II.
In
2009, the joint French-Egyptian mission discovered the location of the sacred
lake of the goddess Mut’s temple, the second sacred lake to be revealed on the
site. In 2013, in Tel-El-Yahudia area, a mission from the antiquities ministry
uncovered a huge fortification of mud brick inside the Hyksos fortress, as well
as a residential city on its northeastern corner. A collection of oil lamps and
faience tiles once used to decorate the palace of the kings Meneptah and his
father Ramses II was also unearthed.
In
Tel-El-Pharaeen, British Egyptologist Flinders Petrie discovered the ruins of
the ancient city, including residential areas and the ruins of the city’s
temple devoted to the goddess Wadjet.
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