Lebanon returns 37 stolen Pharaonic treasures to Egypt
Six years after border agents intercepted an illicit shipment at the Port of Beirut, 37 ancient Egyptian artifacts are finally heading home. In a ceremony at the National Museum of Beirut, Lebanese Minister of Culture Ghassan Salamé formally restored the stolen relics to Egypt’s outgoing ambassador Alaa Moussa—framing the historic handover as both a victory … The post Lebanon returns 37 stolen…
Six years following the interception of an illicit shipment at Beirut's port, 37 ancient Egyptian artifacts are returning to their rightful place. At the National Museum of Beirut, Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salamé formally transferred these stolen relics to Egypt's departing ambassador Alaa Moussa. This historic handover celebrated as both a triumph over international antiquities trafficking and a fitting farewell gift to Egypt.
The recovered artifacts represent a diverse array of ancient craftsmanship: two painted wooden sarcophagi, intricate funerary masks, Coptic textiles, glass amulets, and sculpted figurines. Their journey back to Egypt's Nile Valley region is the result of a thorough, multi-year investigation coordinated by Interpol, Lebanese financial prosecutors, and Egyptian heritage experts to ensure the collection's authenticity.
During the ceremony, Salamé emphasized Lebanon's dedication to the 1970 UNESCO convention against cultural looting, taking personal satisfaction in returning the artifacts as Ambassador Moussa concludes his tenure in Beirut. These 37 treasures, set to grace the exhibition spaces of Cairo's prestigious museum, represent a milestone of international collaboration in safeguarding world history from the underground market.
Written by urgent.news from Egypt Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
