Newsletters
Authorities in Egypt have confirmed that a restoration specialist was behind the theft of a 21st Dynasty gold bracelet that disappeared from a museum.
The restoration specialist carried out the theft on Sept. 9, exploiting her presence at work to take the bracelet without being noticed.
This came after the bracelet was found missing from a safe inside the restoration lab. The museum’s deputy director, along with another restoration specialist, reported the incident.
The gold bracelet, adorned with spherical lapis lazuli beads, is one of the rarest artifacts and belongs to the collection of King Amenemope from the 21st Dynasty during the Third Intermediate Period.
The missing bracelet was discovered while preparing the artifacts for the “Treasures of the Pharaohs” exhibition in Rome, set to open on Oct. 24 and run until May 3 next year. The exhibition will feature 130 rare pieces highlighting the richness of ancient Egyptian civilization.
Investigations revealed that the suspect then turned to an acquaintance, a silversmith in the Sayyida Zeinab district, who helped her dispose of the artifact by selling it to a gold workshop owner in al-Sagha for 180,000 pounds ($3,731).
The owner subsequently sold the bracelet to a worker at a gold foundry for 194,000 pounds ($4,023), who melted it down and recast it into other jewelry, effectively destroying it as a unique historical artifact.
After following proper legal procedures, security authorities apprehended the three suspects. When confronted, they admitted to the crime, and the money obtained from the sale of the bracelet was seized. Legal proceedings are currently underway against them.
The case has sparked widespread criticism due to the fact that the theft was carried out by a restoration specialist who had been entrusted with the care of the artifact.
Experts stressed that the delayed detection of the theft resulted in the permanent loss of the valuable artifact, noting that an earlier discovery could have prevented the destruction of this irreplaceable historical piece.
The incident highlights, once again, the importance of tightening oversight within archaeological institutions and strengthening security measures to protect the nation’s heritage from tampering or theft.
1 min read
1 min read
