COPTIC TIME CAPSULE

THE SUPREME COUN­cil for Antiquities (SCA) announced that the Polish mission excavation in the Qurna has made one of the biggest Coptic finds in Egyptian history. While working in one of the tombs in Luxor’s Barr Gharbi (west bank), the Polish group discovered three papyrus books including important Coptic writings, dating back to the sixth century AD. Although the tomb where the books were found dates to a much earlier era, Dr. Zahi Hawass, director of the SCA, explained that the early Copts, who suffered from persecution, had probably hidden the important books in an ancient tomb for fear of discovery. Hawass further added that the finds are equal in importance to the Naga Hammadi manuscripts, which were discovered inside some clay urns. This find is likely to shed light on the practices of the early Egyptian Copts and includes a book with a decorated wooden cover (22.5cm by 17cm) and another book comprising 50 pages and bound in a leather cover. The third book has both wooden and leather covers, but is in very bad condition. Theologists cannot wait for the restoration processes to begin, so as to start deciphering the information to be found inside the books.

TASMANIAN DEVILS

AT THE SAME time that new discoveries take place, old monuments suffer from neglect and exist in fear of extinction. A strange attack of termites has stormed different areas, but most notably is threatening the mummy of Isadora in Al-Ashmoniyin area. Isadora was one of late writer Taha Hussein’s muses. He often visited her tomb, which is renowned for its serenity. Termites are also threatening the Taba and El-Arish museums, Abu Simbel temple and the storerooms of the Qurna monument department.

STILL REMEMBERED

N TO MORE recent history: The Supreme Council for Culture (SCC) is currently preparing for the celebrations of the bicentennial anniversary of Muhammed Ali’s ascension to the throne of Egypt. The celebration will take place next November. Currently, the SCC is celebrating the Third Arab Novelists’ Meeting, which ends on March 2nd. The meeting focuses this year on the relationship between the novel and history.

KIDDIE HEAVEN

THE 15TH International Children’s Film Festival kicks off this month (March 3 10) with 40 countries participating. Over 250 children’s films and television shows will be shown during the festival. The latest addition to this year is the segment “No Dialogue,” dedicated to silent films. Participants in this segment include Switzerland, Canada, Lithuania, Iran, Hungary and the UK.

FILM NOIR

CRITICS AND journalists were treated to a special screening of the film Farhan Molazem Adam. A sarcastic view of politics and Egyptian society, it was the last script written by the late Mohsen Zayed. Starring Fathy Abdel Wahab, Yasmin Abdel Aziz and Lebleba, the film is a perfect showcase for Zayed’s satirical, sometimes black humor.

Ashraf Talaat/Egypt Today Fathy Salama

EGYPT’S FIRST GRAMMY

REGISTERING A historical first, composer Fathy Salama secured Egypt’s first Grammy award last month. The award was given to the Egyptian composer for the album Egypt, in which he worked with Senegalese singer Yousou Ndour. The album features Senegalese and Egyptian fusion music.

CHILEAN MUMMIES

THE CHILEAN secretary for arts and culture visited Egypt last month, bringing with him a priceless and memorable gift. For the first time in history, Egyptians can see the unique mummies of Chile, which are currently displayed in a special section at the Egyptian Museum. The mummies are of an ancient race of hunters who lived on the fringes of the Atakoma desert in northern Chile. The mummies uniqueness lies in the method applied in preserving the bodies: Using pieces of wood, the ancient Chileans fortified the spine and limbs of the body, and then covered the exposed areas with mud and natural dyes. The hair of the deceased was then plastered over with mud, giving the mummies the appearance of clay dolls. et