A 4,000-year-old limestone stele, or slab, has returned home to Egypt from Switzerland's Museum of Basel. The stele dates to the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt's Old Kingdom (c. 2649-2134 BC) and measures 51 centimeters high. Depicted on the stele are scenes of everyday life and hunting. The stele's return to Egypt comes as part of a campaign by Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities to regain antiquities stolen or smuggled out of the country. In addition, Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass has threatened to cut off relations with any institution proven to have in its possession stolen Egyptian antiquities. He has warned all museums not to purchase antiquities stolen from Egypt. Hawass said the stele is the second antiquity restored to Egypt from abroad after the January 25 Revolution. The first was a piece returned from Mexico a few days prior. He added that more antiquities are expected to be returned to Egypt in the coming days. The Museum of Basel had already sent back to Egypt the eye of a colossal quartzite statue of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III (c. 1390-1352 BC), found in 1970 at his funerary temple in Kom el-Hettan at Luxor, on the west bank of the Nile. Hawass added that the Ministry is determined to continue to recover stolen antiquities. He said it should be known that the Egyptian Museum remained relatively safe during the Revolution because of the efforts of youth militias. He also credited the youth militias with ensuring tourists returned home safely. He said although nothing of great significance was stolen during the revolution he will strive to regain all stolen antiquities. Arabic here.
