The minister of antiquities visited several historic
sites in Assiut on Saturday, allocating EGP 300,000 as a preliminary budget to
start excavation work at Meir necropolis, and became the first minister to visit the ancient
El-Muharraq monastery. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.
During an inspection tour of several archaeological
sites in the governorate, the Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany gave the
go-ahead to begin a comprehensive plan to restore the Meir tombs, located 12km
west of El-Qussiya town, and to develop the site to be more tourist-friendly
and provide more services to visitors.
The necropolis consists of a collection of 15
rock-hewn tombs, which were unearthed last century by British Egyptologist
Aylward Blackman. Only nine are open to visitors.
Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme
Council of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that the tombs date back to the Old
and Middle Kingdoms, from the sixth to the twelfth Dynasties, and include tombs
of priest and rulers of the fourteenth Nome, or regional division, of Egypt at
that time.
He explains that the tombs contain unusual painted
scenes, characterised by their naturalistic qualities. Many of them shows
highly detailed scenes of daily life, including industry, cultivation and
sports, with a distinct local style.
Among the most distinguished is the one belongs to
Ni-Ankh-Hpepy who was the chancellor of sixth dynasty King Pepi I. The tomb is
painted with scenes depicting offerings of cattle, birds, and food, as well as
fishing scenes. The tomb of Senbi, a nomarch (provincial governor) and
overseer of priests during the reign of twelfth dynasty King Amenemhat I, has
many offering, agricultural and manufacturing scenes.
El-Enany also visited El-Muharraq monastery, noted for
the important role it played during the visit of the holy family to Egypt. The
monastery was the final place on their journey.
Waziri told Ahram Online that to commemorate
El-Enany’s visit, as he is the first minister of antiquities to visit the monastery,
the monastery’s abbot, Bishop Bigol, and the monastery’s board of directors,
reproduced a replica of an icon depicting the Holy Family’s journey to Egypt,
and offered it to the minister.
The visit included a tour around the monastery’s old
and new churches and its fortress.
The minister also met with Bishop Bigol to
discuss several archaeological matters and to solve any problems. Waziri said
that Bishop Bigol highlighted the successful cooperation between the ministry
and the monastery.
El-Muharraq monastery was built on the Qosqam mount in
the fourth century AD. The monastery has three churches, the oldest of which
is the Church of the Virgin, which was built on the site of a cave where the
holy family spent six months and ten days during their flight to Egypt.
