The famous “Green Sarcophagus” lid finds its way back to Egypt.
Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi are treasured for their intricate designs and artistry. Sadly, these valuable artifacts are often targeted by looters who steal and transport them abroad.
One significant piece, the lid of the renowned “Green Sarcophagus” distinguished by its green hue, was stolen from Egypt years ago and illegally taken to the United States.
“The lid is quite robust, prompting looters to take only the lid without the base,” mentioned Mostafa Waziri from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities during a press briefing.
After an extensive joint effort with authorities in the West, Egyptian investigators have successfully recovered the Green Sarcophagus lid and are ready to repatriate it to its rightful place in Egypt.
Egypt’s tourism and antiquities minister stated that the massive sarcophagus lid “was stolen and smuggled out of Egypt to the United States some years back.” [link to tweet]
— CNN (@CNN) January 2, 2023
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to US authorities for their collaboration in repatriating this invaluable artifact.
According to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, antiquities investigators have successfully retrieved approximately 29,300 smuggled artifacts worldwide over the past decade, with the Green Sarcophagus lid being the most recent recovery.
