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Al-Ahram Weekly 5 - 11 August 1999 Issue No. 441 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 5 - 11 August 1999 Issue No. 441
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Focus Interview Features Travel Living Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters Sprucing up
By Nevine El-Aref
for the millennium
A plan has been announced to enable the Giza Plateau to cater for the large numbers of visitors expected to flock to it for the third millennium celebrations.
Farouk Hosni, the minister of culture, announced the final stage of a major site management project which has already been under way for about 10 years.
The first three phases of the project involved conservation and archaeological plans for the east side of the Great Pyramid and the Queen's Pyramids, and the ongoing conservation of the three main Pyramids.
Hosni said that the final phase, which started earlier this month, had two main parts -- the redesigning of the area itself, the future archaeological research, conservation and the inauguration of other temples and tombs.
"The works in the plateau are in full swing so they can to be completed during December 1999 before the celebration of the third millennium," Hosni said.
Gaballa Ali Gaballa, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said that the overall project will do much for the amenities in the area.
It will provide lighting at strategic places around the plateau, and at six entrance gates. "This is to facilitate access to the Giza Plateau," Gaballa said. A parking area will be established outside the plateau limits and access to the site will be limited to pedestrians.
"In collaboration with the Arab Contractors Company, the second and main entrance of the plateau will be constructed (on the) Giza-Fayoum Road, just behind the second Pyramid of Khafre in the area which was known as Sahara City," Gaballa said.
The project also aims to move camels and horses from the area near the Mena House Hotel to the new plateau entrance where a horse stable has been constructed for tourists who are keen to go riding around the Pyramids.
A fun fair with a spectacular view of the Pyramids will be opened in the same area, giving visitors the chance to ride horses and play football. There will also be a playground and swings for children.
Zahi Hawass, director general of the Giza Plateau, said that a conservation laboratory and cultural centre will be built, giving visitors the chance to buy and read new and second-hand books on archaeology, purchase colour slides and watch documentary films. Other facilities such as a cafeteria, toilets and telephone services will be provided.
Hawass said that the restoration of Khafre's Pyramid is taking place hand-in-hand with the plateau's development works. The restoration includes retouching the outer casing of the pyramid.
"The tombs located at the southern side of the ramp to Khafre's Pyramid, and the neighbourhood where priests lived to perpetuate the dead kings' religious beliefs, will be re-excavated and restored in order to be inaugurated during the third millennium celebration," said Hawass. He added that the Tomb of Khantakius, known as the fourth pyramid and the neighbourhood where priests lived to perpetuate the dead king's beliefs, will be among the restored and inaugurated monuments in the area.
