The relics date to different eras, suggesting
that the smugglers were well organized, according to museum
curator Ahmed Samir.
"They researched Egypt from north to south to extract these
artifacts. Thank God they were returned to their country," he
said.
Shaaban Abdel-Gawad, head of the Department of Recovered
Antiquities at the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, said Naples
police seized a collection of parcels in May dating back to
several civilizations, stolen from illegal excavations.
The treasure haul included 19,000 coins from the Greco-Roman
period, 151 small statues and 175 other artifacts, which were
returned and displayed. Some required restoration but most were
intact, museum director Sabah Abdelrazek said.
"The restoration did not take long. The coffin was separated. It
was repaired by the museum and there was a bronze statue which
was also separated. It was repaired as well. We have pictures
from before the restoration displayed here."
Antiquities theft has flourished in Egypt in the years of chaos
since the 2011 uprising, with relics stolen from museums,
mosques, storage facilities, and illegal excavations. Egypt's
Pharaonic heritage is not only a source of immense national
pride, but also a source of income from tourists.
(Reporting by Mostafa Salem; Editing by Sami Aboudi and Peter
Graff)
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