Anthony Yates
A museum worker in Egypt reportedly stole an ancient bracelet from an establishment in Cairo. They allegedly took it to a jeweler who arranged for it to be melted down alongside several other items.
Videos by Rare
What happened: Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities shared details about the theft in a news release on Facebook. They also noted that many pictures of the piece online do not represent the stolen artifact.
- The translated post reveals that the Ministry has announced “immediate legal and administrative measures” regarding the disappearance of a bracelet. The piece was reportedly lifted from the restoration laboratory of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.
- Following the theft, authorities have assembled a “specialized committee” to create an inventory of artifacts at the lab. The Ministry also sent an image of the missing bracelet to antiquities units across the country.
- The Director-General of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir noted that many images circulating online are actually of another bracelet displayed in the museum’s galleries. The missing piece belonged to King Amenemope from the Third Intermediate Period. It was a gold bracelet with spherical lapis lazuli beads.
- The news release also reveals that the Ministry delayed posting details to aid the investigation.
Egyptian Authorities Explain That The Bracelet Was Melted Down
Multiple people involved: According to the BBC, authorities claim a restoration specialist stole the 3,000-year-old artifact. Officials have reportedly arrested four people in connection with the missing bracelet, who confessed to their crimes.
- The outlet explains that the restoration specialist contacted a silver jeweler she knew, who sold it to a gold jeweler for $3,735. The gold jeweler sold the piece to a foundry worker for $4,025, who melted the artifact down with other items.
- Per the BBC, local media outlets noted the items’ disappearance as museum staff prepared to send several artifacts to an exhibition in Rome. The Ministry explained that it would be taking legal action against the museum worker and jewelers and that they seized the money.
- According to AP News, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy blamed “Laxity” in implementing procedures at the museum. He reportedly admitted that the lab did not have security cameras.
