THE CZECH Institute of Egyptology has been celebrating half a century of collaboration with their Egyptian counterparts in Egypt. Last week Nevine El-Aref joined dozens of Czech and Egyptian archaeologists and officials attending the function held to mark the institute's 50th anniversary in the Egyptian Museum garden, where the strains of classical music played by the Egyptian Philharmonic Orchestra filled the air. Among the guests gathered beside the white marble mausoleum of the French Director of Antiquities Auguste Mariette were the minister of culture, Farouk Hosni, and the Czech president, Vààclav Klaus, who inaugurated a special exhibition displaying 114 artefacts unearthed at the various archaeological sites excavated by Czech missions. Klaus told the assembled guests he was happy to be able to take time in his busy schedule during his three- day official visit to Egypt to attend the event, which he described as "significant". The Czech president said the two nations shared a long-lasting friendship on all levels, whether political, economic, foreign relations or culture. "I am really very proud of all the achievements attained by Czech archaeologists on the cultural level, as they helped their Egyptian colleagues to protect and preserve their archaeological heritage," Klaus said. "They were able to unearth magnificent objects and restore enormous monuments." For his part, Hosni described the ceremony as an event that embodied the "strong and real friendly relations" between Egypt and the Czech Republic. He mentioned in particular the "important field of the human history". "The collaboration had uncovered interesting scientific theories and great historical monuments," Hosni said. "All the... research and results achieved by the Czech team would never have happened if the Czechs had not enjoyed the sustained support, generosity and unselfish help of Egyptian archaeologists who are our partners and friends," Czech institute director Mirslav Verner said. Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), told Al-Ahram Weekly that the celebration was only a brief pause in a continuous stream of learning about the Egyptian past and, consequently, also about the history of mankind and the search for our fundamental nature. Hawass said that over its 50 years of existence, the Czech Institute of Egyptology had demonstrated and continues to demonstrate through its current activities that it was exceptional in the sphere of the humanitarian sciences in at least two respects. First and foremost, this uniqueness undoubtedly lies in the fact that its scientific and research activities are based on extremely difficult and, in this country, probably unique conditions of research in the field where the tempo and character of work can be gruelling. The second defining aspect lies in the significant position of Czech Egyptology in the global scientific context. In the past, Hawass said, the institute managed to survive under the difficult conditions of a society without freedom, and since 1989 it has been faced with the realities of a democratic state where obtaining financial support for science and research is a never ending battle. "The creation of the institute, approximately five decades ago, represented an important milestone in the development of Czech Egyptology, which attained a respected position both at home and internationally," Verner said. He explained that they participated in the Nubian archaeological rescue mission and achieved excellent results during this campaign. They explored the Roman town of Tafa, a group of houses and two temples located about 45km to the south of Aswan on the west bank of the Nile. They also carried out a survey on the kiosk of Kertasi; the Qitna necropolis, which contains more than 500 graves; and Kalabsha South. The Czech institute won a highly respected professional position in Egypt. This respect was reflected in the offer to the institute to continue its work in Egypt after the completion of the Nubian salvage operation. The Egyptian government offered the Czechs the Abusir necropolis, where they subsequently unearthed a number of important archaeological discoveries such as the intact tomb of Iufaa, overseer of palaces during the Fifth Dynasty. Restoration and documentation work was also completed. Today Abusir is considered one of the most important Egyptian archaeological sites in Egypt and abroad. The Czechs also focussed their excavation work on the area surrounding Bahariya Oasis, looking especially at the Black Desert and the undisturbed site of Al-Haiz, 40km south of Bahariya's capital, Bawiti. They conducted a thorough archaeological survey of Al-Haiz using the modern method of geo-informatics. Following three short surveys, several monuments were identifies. These date back to various historical periods, but the most striking elements are from the prehistoric and the late Roman and early Christian periods. In room 44 of the Egyptian Museum is the statue of the Fifth-Dynasty Pharaoh Raneferef, which welcomes visitors who flock to catch a glimpse of the beautiful artefacts in the "Discovering ancient Egypt Egypt" exhibition. Wafaa El-Sedik, director of the Egyptian Museum, told the Weekly that preparations for the event began in March. All the curators were assigned the task of exploring the basement and all the museum galleries to select items to be placed on display. The aim was to highlight Czech archaeological activity in Egypt over the past five decades, as well as the mutual cooperation with Egyptian archaeologists. "This cooperation means that it is one of the pillars of cultural exchange between the two countries," El-Sedik said, adding that this was demonstrated not only through the exhibition, but also through an archaeological conference at the SCA premises in Zamalek to introduce in detail the excavations and restoration carried out by Czech missions in Egypt. El-Sedik described the event as a celebration of the long and distinguished history of Czech activity in Egypt. She considers the exhibition an expression of appreciation of the countless Czech scientists and researchers who have worked closely with their Egyptian counterparts within the framework of the cooperation between the SCA and the Czech Institute of Egyptology. This work covers a time span of more than 5,000 years, and some of the artefacts presented are true masterpieces of art. The objects discovered by missions during their long years of activity come from sites that extend from Abusir and the Western Desert. "The exhibition is also a tribute to individuals whose contributions to the field have been truly invaluable to Egypt and Czech alike," El-Sedik said. "After all, ancient Egypt's legacy is a gift not merely to modern Egypt, but to the entire world." She said the close cooperation and trust of all the institutions participating in bringing the exhibition to a successful opening had been truly exemplary. Among the objects on display are a fragment of a tablet of Egyptian blue depicting deities from the mortuary temple of Raneferef; marble and wooden cult objects used in the ceremony of the opening of the mouth; a collection of copper vessels and a washing set; as well as a wooden statuette of a kneeling foreign prisoner; a fragment of a royal decree; and models of goose- shaped offerings plates.
