GEM official denies collapse of Ramses II obelisk
Top part of King Ramses II obelisk - Press photo
CAIRO - October 8 2020 (MENA) - The supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) dismissed on Thursday as groundless rumors claiming that the obelisk of King Ramses II, which was moved from San El-Hagar archaeological region in El-Sharqia Governorate to the museum, fell down and broke into pieces.
The obelisk was not even installed to fall down, Atef Moftaah said in press statements.
What happened is that the museum restorers, in cooperation with a specialized company, was testing the transfer of one of the three parts of the obelisk when some tiny pieces fell down because the old obelisk was full of cracks and surface crusts.
A stela of 19th Dynasty King Ramses II was discovered in January 2018 by an Egyptian mission during working at San El-Hagar site.
There is no room for mistake or accidents in the restoration and transfer of such huge pieces, he said, adding that it is done by specialists in cooperation with the museum team.
Meanwhile, he said the obelisk that was moved from San El-Hagar archaeological region was divided into three parts and once they were transported to the GEM, necessary studies were conducted before the start of the restoration and re-assembly process.
He noted that the Engineering Faculty of Cairo University made engineering studies on the structure of the obelisk to know the best installation method.
The GEM will include the world's first hanging obelisk, which will be placed in front of the main entrance of the museum in the external lobby on an area of 28,000 square meters.
The design of the obelisk will allow visitors to enter to see the archaeological base below it and by looking at the top of the obelisk, the cartouche of King Ramses II will also be seen on display. (MENA)
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