Mummies' curse - Op'ed

By: Zahi Hawass

The “Pharaohs Golden Parade,” which took place on Saturday, April 3, triggered several fairy tales among the Egyptians.

These tales had spread among people days before the Parade, especially after a giant container ship had been stuck in the Suez canal, as Egypt lost around $14 million in revenue from the canal for each day it is closed, in addition to a building, which collapsed in Cairo’s Gesr El-Suez.

On his part, Egyptian prominent archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass rejected these tales saying it is not the first time for the mummies to be transferred from one place to another.

"In 1881, mummies had been transferred to Cairo for the first time under the name of "salted fish" after discovering the Royal Cache 'DB320," and the tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep II," Hawass said.

"The scrolls of King Ramses II were dismantled in front of Tewfik Pasha in 1886, and then transferred again to the Boulaq Museum. It was transferred for the third time after a devastating flood hit the museum to Ismail Pasha Palace in Giza," he added.

"After the Egyptian Museum was established in 1902, the mummies were transferred to it, but they were not presented to the public until 1958, and during this transfer, there were no events attributed to the curse of the pharaohs."

Contributed by: Mohamed Helba