In the battle for Egypt, priceless art and antiquities may be a silent victim

Paul Fraser Collectibles - 

As turbulent winds of change blow across north-east Africa, the safety of ancient treasure is at risk.

The unrest blighting the major cities of Egypt has fixated the Western media for over a week now. At the centre of it is the capital, Cairo - a city steeped in ancient historical significance but currently mired in serious political and civil turmoil.

Although it has been reported, limited media attention has been devoted to the danger posed by the protests to the myriad treasures, artifacts and antiquities of ancient Egypt that call Cairo their home. While the Great Pyramids are unlikely to be affected, the collection of the Egyptian Museum already has been.

A break-in last Friday saw the museum partly looted, with glass cabinets shattered and priceless relics damaged. Such reprehensible behaviour has put an irreplaceable and unique shrine to human culture in genuine peril. It therefore seems appropriate to highlight some of the exceptional items housed there.

The contents of the Egyptian Museum are quite remarkable. Consisting of 120,000 pieces from over 7000 years of history, the collection documents the history of one of the most important civilisations in history.

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