Latest news with #Egyptian-Italian
Daily News Egypt
13-07-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt and Italy mark 50 years of science partnership, discuss future cooperation
Egypt and Italy have marked 50 years of a scientific and technological partnership at a workshop in Cairo, where officials and researchers from both countries discussed future collaboration in strategic sectors including energy and water management. The event, organised by the Italian Embassy in Cairo and Egypt's Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), reviewed the achievements of the long-standing cooperation agreement and outlined future plans. In a statement from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Minister Ayman Ashour said the cooperation between Egypt and Italy was a distinguished model of an effective bilateral partnership. He said it reflected Egypt's commitment to international cooperation and innovation to support its sustainable development plans and 'Egypt Vision 2030.' The event opened with remarks from Giuseppe Papalia, head of Economic, Scientific and Cultural Affairs for Italy in Egypt, and Walaa Sheta, the CEO of the STDF. Sheta said the Egyptian-Italian executive programme had been one of the most successful models of bilateral cooperation, supporting joint research projects in strategic areas such as renewable energy, water management, smart cities, and cultural heritage protection. He added that the STDF would continue to support this cooperation to include more priority specialisations. The workshop included video messages from international figures including Nasser Kamel, Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, and Angelo Riccaboni, chairman of the PRIMA Foundation. A session on the STDF's strategic pillars outlined the main areas of cooperation with Italy within the 2024–2026 executive programme. Egyptian researchers presented the results and applications of ongoing joint research projects in the fields of water management, agriculture, food technology, materials science and engineering, renewable and sustainable energy, and modern technologies applied to cultural and natural heritage. A second session focused on opportunities for cooperation in international education, technology transfer, and the integration of scientific research with industry. Participants included Italian universities such as Trieste, Marche Polytechnic, Pegaso, and Calabria, alongside industrial firms including Leonardo Space, Eni, and El-Sewedy University of Technology. The workshop concluded with a panel discussion on the future of cooperation in light of the bilateral agreement, Italy's 'Mattei Plan,' and the research policies of the European Union. The event also featured an exhibition titled 'Heritage and New Technologies,' which highlighted the role of archaeological missions in supporting Egyptian-Italian scientific cooperation.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found a 6-Foot Sarcophagus at the Bottom of a Forgotten Staircase
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: An archaeological team in Egypt's Aga Khan Mausoleum area discovered a buried Greco-Roman tomb at the bottom of a stone staircase. Located on the Nile's west bank in Aswan, the rock-cut tombs contain well-preserved hieroglyphic inscriptions. An impressive six-foot-tall limestone coffin also contained multiple mummified remains. Nine steps down a stone staircase in Egypt's Aga Khan Mausoleum, archaeologists discovered a host of hieroglyphic inscriptions among what they call 'one of the most architecturally impressive and well-preserved tombs unearthed to date.' Tucked away more than six feet underground, the tomb includes a roughly six-foot-tall limestone sarcophagus atop a rock-carved platform, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement. Vertical columns of hieroglyphic text run the length of the sarcophagus, and include prayers to local deities alongside a record stating that the tomb's owner, Ka-Mesiu, was a high-ranking official. A joint Egyptian-Italian archaeological mission—led by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Milan—uncovered several rock-cut tombs from the Greco-Roman period. Tomb No. 38 was the crown jewel of the discoveries, and included a nine-step staircase surrounded by mudbrick benches that were likely meant to house funerary offerings. The sarcophagus in the heart of the tomb included an anthropoid lid with a 'finely detailed human face adorned with a decorative wig and remarkable painted features.' The tomb also contained several mummies, including those of children. The find provides 'new insights into the social dynamics of the region during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods' and reinforces Aswan's historic status as a major cultural center in southern Egypt, H.E. Sherif Fathy, ministry of tourism and antiquities, said in a statement. 'These tombs not only reflect the greatness of the Pharaonic civilization but also its capacity for adaption and continuity under new administrations, such as those of the Ptolemies and the Romans,' he continued. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, added that the discovery reveals clear evidence of the necropolis' continued funerary use by various social classes over a significant amount of time. The elite were buried in tombs atop the plateau, while the middle class we buries along the slopes near the Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan. Khaled said the mummies will undergo CT scans and biological analyses to attempt to discover their identities, health conditions, and causes of death. The team will also investigate the hieroglyphic inscriptions and artifacts in the hopes of gaining further insight into the funerary traditions and religious symbolism of the later periods of ancient Egyptian history. Tomb No. 38 could be just one of many discoveries to come at the site. Mohamed Abdel-Badei, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the hill's plateau hosts a series of large underground tombs dating to the Ptolemaic period that were once meant for elite families before later being reused during the Roman era. Who knows what else the area could still hide? You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
CairoScene
06-07-2025
- General
- CairoScene
Graeco-Roman Tombs With Hieroglyphic Texts Found Near Aga Khan
A joint Egyptian-Italian team discovered Graeco-Roman tombs with intact mummies and hieroglyphics near Aswan's Aga Khan Mausoleum, revealing a hidden layer of Egypt's ancient funerary landscape. Jul 06, 2025 A series of rock-cut tombs dating to the Graeco-Roman period has been discovered near the Aga Khan Mausoleum on Aswan's western bank. Unearthed by a joint Egyptian-Italian mission, the tombs feature preserved hieroglyphic inscriptions and architectural elements rarely seen in later-period burials. Among the finds is Tomb No. 38, situated over two metres underground and accessed by a nine-step staircase once used for funeral offerings. Inside, a two-metre-tall limestone sarcophagus rests on a platform carved from bedrock. Decorated with a human-shaped lid, stylised wig, and hieroglyphs, it names the tomb's owner as Ka-Mesiu, a high-ranking official, and references his family. Several mummies, including those of children, were also found. The site continues to offer insight into burial customs of different social classes during a time when Egyptian traditions mingled with Greco-Roman influences. The surrounding necropolis has been under study since 2019, with prior seasons revealing additional tombs and platforms carved into the slopes of nearby Sidi Othman mountain. The mission, led by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Milan, plans further analysis including CT scans and biological studies this autumn to deepen understanding of the individuals buried there.
Egypt Independent
06-07-2025
- General
- Egypt Independent
Photos: Greek and Roman tombs discovered near Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan
A joint Egyptian-Italian archaeological mission, led by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Milan, discovered several rock-cut tombs dating back to the Greek and Roman periods, containing well-preserved hieroglyphic inscriptions. The discovery was made in the cemetery surrounding the Aga Khan Mausoleum on the West Bank of Aswan. Excavation work also revealed Tomb #38, prominent for its design and structural condition. It lies more than two meters underground and is led by a nine-step stone staircase surrounded by mudbrick terraces, which were used for placing funerary offerings. Inside the tomb, a limestone sarcophagus measuring approximately two meters in height was found, placed atop a rock platform carved directly into the mountain. It featured a human-shaped lid bearing the clear features of a human face, adorned with a wig and striking decorations, as well as two columns of hieroglyphic texts recording prayers to the local Aswan deities. The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Ismail Khaled explained that this discovery is clear evidence of the continued funerary use of the area by various social classes. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy hailed the discovery as a valuable addition to Aswan Governorate, showcasing the diversity and richness of ancient Egyptian civilization throughout the ages. He added that it further underscores the importance of international scientific cooperation in supporting archaeological discovery efforts, as the discovered tombs open new horizons for understanding the nature of local society in Aswan during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.
Daily News Egypt
06-07-2025
- General
- Daily News Egypt
Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan
In a major archaeological breakthrough, the Egyptian-Italian mission—formed through a partnership between Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Milan—has uncovered a group of rock-cut tombs dating back to the Greco-Roman period near the Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan. The tombs, which form part of a larger cemetery surrounding the mausoleum, are notable for their well-preserved hieroglyphic inscriptions, offering new insights into funerary traditions during the Ptolemaic and Roman eras. Among the most significant finds this season is Tomb No. 38, distinguished by its architectural design and remarkable state of preservation. Located over two metres underground, the tomb is accessed via a stone staircase comprising nine steps, flanked by mudbrick platforms believed to have been used for placing funerary offerings. Inside, archaeologists discovered a two-metre-high limestone sarcophagus resting on a rock-carved platform. The sarcophagus features an anthropoid lid with a finely detailed human face, a traditional wig, and vivid decorative elements. Two vertical columns of hieroglyphic text offer prayers to the local deities of Aswan and identify the tomb's owner as Ka-Mesiu, a high-ranking official of the time. The names of several family members were also found inscribed within the tomb. Several mummies were recovered from the site, including those of children. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy hailed the discovery as a significant addition to Aswan's rich archaeological record, emphasising the depth and diversity of ancient Egyptian civilisation across successive eras. He also underscored the importance of international scientific collaboration, noting that such partnerships open new avenues for understanding the structure of local society in southern Egypt during the Greco-Roman period. The find reaffirms Aswan's role as a key cultural and administrative hub in antiquity. Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, said the discovery reflects the continuous use of the cemetery by various social classes—from elite families interred in tombs atop the plateau to middle-class individuals buried along the slopes. Khaled noted that the inscriptions and artefacts recovered will offer invaluable material for Egyptologists, particularly in studying funerary customs and religious iconography in later periods of ancient Egypt. The newly discovered mummies, including those of children, will undergo CT scans and biological analysis in the upcoming autumn season to further explore their identities, health conditions, and causes of death. Mohamed Abdel-Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the summit of the hill is home to large subterranean tombs from the Ptolemaic period, initially constructed for the elite and later reused during the Roman era. In previous excavation seasons, the same mission uncovered funerary mastabas and rock-cut tombs in the nearby mountains of Sidi Othman, revealing an architectural style adapted to the area's rugged topography. This latest discovery is part of a broader archaeological programme launched in 2019, jointly led by Professor Patrizia Piacentini, Egyptologist at the University of Milan, and Fahmy Al-Amin, General Director of Antiquities in Aswan. The discoveries made in the vicinity of the Aga Khan Mausoleum continue to highlight the area's immense archaeological value, reaffirming its status as a vital component of Aswan's historical landscape and a key source of knowledge about Egypt's Greco-Roman heritage.
