A team of Egyptologists pose for a photo in front of the newly re-erected obelisk of Hatshepsut at Luxor's Karnak Temple. The obelisk had been brought down by an earthquake in antiquity, leaving just over a third of the original obelisk intact.
A team of Egyptologists pose for a photo in front of the newly re-erected obelisk of Hatshepsut at Luxor's Karnak Temple. The obelisk had been brought down by an earthquake in antiquity, leaving just over a third of the original obelisk intact.
A team of Egyptologists pose for a photo in front of the newly re-erected obelisk of Hatshepsut at Luxor's Karnak Temple. The obelisk had been brought down by an earthquake in antiquity, leaving just over a third of the original obelisk intact.
A team of Egyptologists pose for a photo in front of the newly re-erected obelisk of Hatshepsut at Luxor's Karnak Temple. The obelisk had been brought down by an earthquake in antiquity, leaving just

MENA

Egypt

Ancient obelisk re-erected in original location at Luxor's Karnak Temple

Egyptian army engineers had to assist moving the 11 metre tall granite monument

Kamal Tabikha
Kamal Tabikha
Cairo

April 10, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Egyptian archaeologists have, after extensive restoration efforts, re-erected the top part of one of two obelisks dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut at Luxor’s famed Karnak Temple.

Built in 1457 BC, the obelisk, which had collapsed following an earthquake in antiquity, was re-erected in its original location on Saturday night, said a statement from the antiquities ministry.

One of two obelisks bearing the name of the ancient queen at Karnak, it was carved out of one single slab of pink granite. The upper part of the obelisk, the only intact fragment of it following the earthquake, weighs 90 tonnes and is 11 metres tall.

The top part had been moved from its original location in the early 20th century by French Egyptologist Georges Lagrain to make way for the large-scale excavations taking place in Karnak at the time.

It was then laid down on its side by Legrain’s team beside Karnak’s artificial sacred lake, one of the main attractions of the famed temple.

The upper part of a fallen obelisk at Luxor's Karnak Temple. Made of pink granite, this portion of the obelisk was laid down on its side in the early 20th centurty to make way for excavations in the area. On April 9, 2022, it was re-erected at its original location inside the temple.
The upper part of a fallen obelisk at Luxor's Karnak Temple. Made of pink granite, this portion of the obelisk was laid down on its side in the early 20th centurty to make way for excavations in the area. On April 9, 2022, it was re-erected at its original location inside the temple.

The decision to re-erect the obelisk in its original location came after researchers from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities determined that it was under threat of further damage, said the antiquities ministry’s statement.

Hatshepsut’s other obelisk is still standing in Karnak, measuring around 30 metres in length and weighing 343 tonnes. It is currently the tallest standing obelisk in Egypt.

One of two obelisks bearing the name of ancient Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut. Measuring around 30m in height and weighing 343 tonnes, this obelisk is the biggest still standing in all of Egypt. it's not to be confused with the one that was re-erected at Karnak on April 9, 2022.
One of two obelisks bearing the name of ancient Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut. Measuring around 30m in height and weighing 343 tonnes, this obelisk is the biggest still standing in all of Egypt. it's not to be confused with the one that was re-erected at Karnak on April 9, 2022.

Because of the size and value of the fallen obelisk, the ministry co-operated with the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces which provided the necessary equipment to carry out the task safely.

Carved on the sides of the re-erected obelisk are scenes depicting Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s second confirmed female pharaoh, and her relationship with the god Amun, one of the most important deities of the New Kingdom.

Hatshepsut was famously devout, having donated a great deal of funds to the priests of Amun, an influential religious group in ancient Egypt, who in turn offered her the necessary support to ascend to the Egyptian throne over her stepson Thutmose III who would lead an uprising against her upon reaching adulthood.

The newly re-erected obelisk of Hatshepsut, one of two dedicated to the ancient queen at Luxor's famed Karnak Temple. Originally much larger, the obelisk was brought down by an earthquake in antiquity.
The newly re-erected obelisk of Hatshepsut, one of two dedicated to the ancient queen at Luxor's famed Karnak Temple. Originally much larger, the obelisk was brought down by an earthquake in antiquity.

The fallen obelisk is believed by most Egyptologists to have also been 30 metres tall before it was brought down by the earthquake. Fragments of the original structure are said to have been sold to various foreign museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, US, and the Nicholson Museum in The University of Sydney, Australia.

Its re-erection is one of a number of restoration projects being carried out at Luxor’s varied pharaonic sites, in a bid to drum up more tourism to the Nile-side city.

Last year, the ministry inaugurated the Avenue of the Sphinxes, a processional road that connects two of the city’s most prominent temples, Karnak and Luxor.

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Jordan cabinet changes

In

  • Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
  • Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
  • Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
  • Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
  • Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
  • Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth

Out

  • Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
  • Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
  • Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
  • Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
  • Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
  • Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
  • Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
  • Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
  • Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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The language of diplomacy in 1853

Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)


We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.

Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale

Updated: April 10, 2022, 12:47 PM
EgyptTourismLuxorArchaeology