Antiquities Min. visits Karnak temples

By Ali Abu Dashish

CAIRO, Nov. 23 (SEE)- Dr. Khaled Anany, the minister of antiquities, visited on Friday Karnak temples to inspect the conservation and development work carried out in the Ipet temple which will be open to public for the first time soon.

The Ipet temple is located on the southern axis of the Amun Re temple in Karnak Temples.

Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the conservation work included the conservation and archaeological cleaning of the temple’s walls and the consolidation of the colours of its scenes. Bird deposits were removed and wooden ramps were made to facilitate the visiting route around the temple. It is worth noting that all fallen blocks were put on its original places.

Anany also inspected the open courtyard of King Ramses II at Luxor Temple to check upon the conservation work being achieved to re-erect for the first time the heads of king Ramses II colossi decorating the court.

The mission has restored and re-installed heads of three colossi of King Ramses. Each of them is weighing up to 250 kilos and probably were damage during the reign of king Cambiz or afterward.

Ipet temple is related to deity Ipet because this is the area where Ipet god had once rested before giving birth to her son Osiris. Ipet is the god of protection.