Ancient mosques in Egypt await rescue
The Egyptian government is rethinking that ministries should have oversight to maintain and protect the sites.
CAIRO — A part of the wooden flap of the ablution fountain dome of Sultan Hassan Mosque in Cairo fell May 28, prompting a group of archaeologists and architects to inspect the fountain and begin restoration works.
Osama Talat, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Department at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, who is leading the group, said in a statement published on the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Facebook page that the broken part is not part of the original wooden flap that was renovated in the last century. The Arab Antiquities Preservation Committee replaced the dilapidated, authentic flap with a new one that is currently in the mosque, after the old one fell due to erosion and passage of time.
The renovation of the modern wooden flap’s broken part was completed June 2.
At Al-Rifai Mosque, opposite the Sultan Hassan Mosque, the glass over the copper chandelier fell from the ceiling of the royal hall June 11. A team of restorers was immediately formed to inspect the broken glass and begin the restoration process.
