CAIRO — Certain reports in the press — such as the claims that the Meidum Geese painting is inauthentic or that the Djoser Pyramid collapsed during restoration — aim to destroy the legacy of Egypt's pharaonic history, Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh al-Damaty told Al-Monitor in an interview.
The pyramid of King Djoser at the ancient site of Saqqara is one of the oldest buildings in the world, designed by Imhotep between 2667 and 2648 B.C. and belonging to the third pharaonic family. The Meidum Geese painting — often referred to as the Mona Lisa of Egyptian art for its aesthetic value — was found in the ancient tomb of Nefermaat, a nobleman, in the 19th century and is now on display in the Egyptian Museum.
Damaty did not say who he thought was behind the plot to tarnish the legacy of Egyptian history, but he accused local and international media outlets of participating in this conspiracy — even if unintentionally — by spreading rumors. Media outlets recently reported on allegations that UNESCO had removed certain Egyptian historic sites, such as the Pyramid of Djoser, from the World Heritage List, because of errors in restoration.
"No one can remove the pharaonic heritage from the World Heritage List," Damaty said, "because doing so means eliminating its existence."
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