A gold bracelet, once belonging to Pharaoh Usermaatre Amenemope, was stolen from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and subsequently melted down, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The theft was announced on September 17, and images of the bracelet were distributed to airports and border crossings to prevent its smuggling.
The bracelet, dating back over 3,000 years to the reign of Amenemope during the Third Intermediate Period, was taken from a safe in the museum’s restoration laboratory on September 9. A restoration specialist reportedly stole the artifact and sold it to a silver jeweler for $3,735. The bracelet was then sold to a gold jeweler and subsequently to a gold foundry worker for $4,025, who melted it down along with other metals. Egyptian authorities have arrested four suspects involved in the crime, and the money from the sales has been seized.
The bracelet was a simple gold band adorned with a spherical lapis lazuli bead, materials that held significant cultural value in ancient Egypt. The theft occurred shortly before the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, which will house many of Egypt’s most famous treasures, including those of King Tutankhamun.
Legal action is being pursued against those involved in the theft, which highlights ongoing challenges in protecting Egypt’s rich cultural heritage. The Egyptian Museum, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, houses over 120,000 artifacts, making security a critical concern.
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