The Egyptian authorities investigate the disappearance of rare relief, which is 4000 years old, from Saqqara

Cairo A relief from the 4000 -year -old limestone disappeared from a grave in the famous Egypt Saqqara NicpolisOfficials say, in the second main phenomenon of mascara in weeks.

The disappearance of the old artwork was reported during the weekend, just more than three weeks after the officials confirmed that a golden bracelet from the Egyptian Museum by a restoration worker It was sold and then melted.

The Ministry of Tourism in Egypt in Saqqara, south of Cairo, said that the rare relief from limestone has disappeared from the grave of the Fifth Dynasty, which dates back between 2,500 and 2350 BC, in Socrain Nakubolis, south of Cairo, statement Posted online Sunday.

The grave belongs to a high -ranking official named Jintati Ka, who was holding titles including “The Priest of the goddess Mat” and “The Supervisor of the Royal Palace”.

“The grave is characterized by its wonderful patterns that depict the scenes of daily life in ancient Egypt,” said Abu Dishish.

Describing the theft “a disaster from all standards”, he said that the effects of Egypt “are not for sale. They belong to the heritage of all humanity.”

The relief of approximately 16 x 24 inches depicts the old Egyptian seasons: sister (immersion), Beret (growth), and shemu (harvest).

Local media reported that these artifacts were cut from the grave wall with an electric saw.

The ministry said that the grave has been completely closed and has been used as an antiquities storage space since its discovery in the fifties, and has not been opened since 2019.

Upon discovery of missing relief, an archaeological committee was formed to strip all the contents of the grave. After confirming media reports of the disappearance, the ministry said, “All necessary legal measures were taken and the whole issue was referred to the public prosecutor for investigation.”

This incident comes a few weeks before the opening ceremony scheduled for the new Egyptian Grand Museum, a sprawling facility, 5.2 million square feet near the old pyramids of Giza, which lasted years and more than one billion dollars to achieve. It aims to be the new cornerstone in the tourism industry that focuses on antiquities in Egypt.

This also comes after only weeks that officials confirmed that a 3000 -year -old gold bracelet believed to have wore it as Pharaoh has disappeared from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The authorities discovered that they were stolen by the museum’s restoration worker, was sold at less than 4000 dollars, then melted and lost it forever.

Unlike the state of the bracelet, experts believe that those who stole limestone comfort may know the true value of artifacts.

“It is not just an artifact, but it carries a deep symbolic meaning related to the cycle of life, agriculture and fertility in the ancient Egyptian belief, which indicates that whoever stole it understands its true value and its scientific importance.”