Pharaonic Painting Vanishes from Saqqara Necropolis, Egypt Investigates Disappearance

A Pharaonic painting has gone missing from the Saqqara necropolis in Egypt. The limestone artwork, dating back to the sixth dynasty, was last seen in 2019. Investigations are ongoing into its disappearance.

A Pharaonic painting has vanished from the Saqqara necropolis near Cairo, according to Egyptian antiquities officials. Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that the limestone artwork was located in Khentika's tomb. The tomb, discovered in the 1950s, has been closed since 2019. The painting dates back to the sixth dynasty of Egypt's Old Kingdom, approximately 2700 BC to 2200 BC.

Ismail's statement did not elaborate further, noting that prosecutors are investigating the painting's disappearance. Egyptian media reported that the artwork depicted an ancient Egyptian calendar. This calendar divided the year into three seasons: Akhet (flooding), Proyat (planting), and Shomu (harvest), reflecting the Nile River's cycles.

Recent Thefts Highlight Concerns Over Heritage

The announcement follows another theft less than a month ago when an ancient bracelet was stolen from Cairo's Egyptian Museum. The bracelet, featuring a lapis lazuli bead, belonged to Pharaoh Amenemope, who ruled around 3,000 years ago. It was taken on September 9 while museum officials were preparing artifacts for an exhibition in Italy.

The bracelet was reportedly stolen from a restoration lab and passed through several dealers before being melted down. This incident has caused distress among Egyptians who value their cultural heritage. It also recalls past losses like Vincent van Gogh's "Poppy Flowers," valued at USD 50 million, which disappeared from a Cairo museum in 2010.

Saqqara's Historical Significance

The Saqqara site is part of a vast necropolis at Memphis, Egypt's ancient capital. This area includes the renowned Giza Pyramids and Djoser's step pyramid, along with smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur, and Abu Ruwaysh. The ruins of Memphis were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 1970s.

In May, a British mission working in Khentika's tomb discovered that the painting was missing. The tomb is notable for having a written curse on its facade warning intruders of divine punishment. British Egyptologist Harry James co-authored a research paper on this tomb in the 1950s.

The theft of cultural artifacts is not new to Egypt. The "Poppy Flowers" painting by Vincent van Gogh was first stolen in 1977 but later recovered. However, after its theft in 2010, it remains missing. Such incidents highlight ongoing challenges in preserving Egypt's rich historical legacy.

With inputs from PTI