How Egypt intends to stop sale of its relics around the world
The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities is trying to stop the sale of Egyptian relics in world auctions and is calling for the need to amend the 1970 UNESCO convention on the illicit trade of cultural property.
Egyptian antiquities continue to be smuggled abroad and put up for international auction. Recently, a set of Egyptian relics was put up for auction in London’s Christie's Auction House, held Dec. 6-15. The gallery posted on its website photos of ancient Egyptian statues of Isis, cats and bulls, as well as ancient Egyptian war tools. This has raised the ire of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, which reached out to the Egyptian Embassy in London to stop the sale at the auction house.
The Egyptian efforts were to no avail, as a bronze statue of the Goddess Isis and her son Horus were sold at the auction for $1,382,290. The statue dates back to 747-656 B.C. and was sold during the first days of the auction.
Another auction was held at the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio in October, where 23 Egyptian artifacts were sold.
The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities tried to prevent the sale, making contact before the auction with the general directors of UNESCO and the International Council of Museums. Unfortunately, the relics were sold, prompting the Ministry of Antiquities to prohibit dealing with the Toledo Museum in the future.
