Switzerland Returns Piece of Ramses II Statue to Egypt

Illustrative: A giant stone figure of Ramses II stands in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, near Cairo, Egypt, August 4, 2019. (AP)
Illustrative: A giant stone figure of Ramses II stands in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, near Cairo, Egypt, August 4, 2019. (AP)
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Switzerland Returns Piece of Ramses II Statue to Egypt

Illustrative: A giant stone figure of Ramses II stands in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, near Cairo, Egypt, August 4, 2019. (AP)
Illustrative: A giant stone figure of Ramses II stands in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, near Cairo, Egypt, August 4, 2019. (AP)

Switzerland returned to Egypt on Monday a fragment of a more than 3,400-year-old statue of Pharaoh Ramses II, which was stolen decades ago from a temple in Abydos.

Carine Bachmann, director of the Federal Office of Culture, handed over this “important archaeological asset” to the Egyptian embassy in Bern, Switzerland, on Monday.

Ascending to the throne at age 25, succeeding his father Seti I, Ramesses II ruled Egypt for approximately 66 years, the longest reign in Egyptian history. An exhibition is currently dedicated to him in Paris until September 6.

The returned fragment had been stolen between the late 1980s and the early 1990s from the temple of Ramses II, at Abydos in Egypt, the office stated in a press release.

The fragment transited through different countries before arriving in Switzerland, where it was finally confiscated by the Genevan authorities following criminal proceedings.

“This restitution of the fragment underlines the joint commitment of Switzerland and Egypt to combat the illicit trade in cultural property, reinforced in 2011 under a bilateral agreement on the import and return of cultural property,” said the Federal Office of Culture.



Prophet's Biography Museum in Makkah Offers Immersive Hajj Experience 

The museum features over 30 pavilions and more than 200 interactive displays available in seven languages. (SPA)
The museum features over 30 pavilions and more than 200 interactive displays available in seven languages. (SPA)
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Prophet's Biography Museum in Makkah Offers Immersive Hajj Experience 

The museum features over 30 pavilions and more than 200 interactive displays available in seven languages. (SPA)
The museum features over 30 pavilions and more than 200 interactive displays available in seven languages. (SPA)

Located on the second floor of the Clock Towers in the heart of Makkah, the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet's Biography and Islamic Civilization, supervised by the Muslim World League, is an indispensable destination for pilgrims.

It offers a journey beyond rituals, allowing visitors to discover the profound meanings behind timeless Islamic scenes.

The museum features over 30 pavilions and more than 200 interactive displays available in seven languages. This rich content immerses visitors in the details of the Prophet’s biography and Islamic civilization using modern, technologically advanced methods.

Pilgrims and visitors from various nationalities have flocked to the museum to view models simulating the life of Prophet Muhammad from his childhood until his passing.

Guided by experts in Islamic culture and the Prophet's biography, the museum serves as a beacon, enriching visitors' experiences and leaving a lasting impression.