(EG): Egypt charges Aussie with smuggling animal mummies

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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/6180589.html

Egypt charges Aussie with smuggling animal mummies

 

 

By SARAH EL DEEB Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated PressDec. 24,

2008, 11:19AM

 

 

CAIRO, Egypt — An Australian teacher who allegedly stuffed his luggage with

2,000-year old animal mummies and religious figurines wrapped as gifts was

arrested Wednesday and charged with smuggling antiquities, an Egyptian

airport security official said.

 

The 61-year teacher was heading to Thailand when a security official became

suspicious of the wrapped figurines that were placed amid souvenir ceramic

pots in his suitcase.

 

When security officials opened the case, they found two mummies of a cat and

an ibis, a long-beaked bird, both dating back to 300 B.C. The confiscated

collection also included 19 figurines of the revered ancient Egyptian gods

of Horus and Thoth, wrapped as gifts.

 

Horus is a falcon-headed god, who represented the greatest cosmic powers for

ancient Egyptians. Thoth is believed to have given the Egyptians the gift of

hieroglyphic writing.

 

The man was arrested and has been charged with smuggling antiquities, which

can carry a penalty of as much as 15 years.

 

The Egyptian antiquity chief Zahi Hawass said later in a statement that the

seized artifacts altogether weighed about 12 pounds (5.5 kilograms).

 

An antiquity official at the airport described the bust as rare because of

the number of items involved and the age of the items. The official spoke

Wednesday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak

to the press.

 

Animal mummification was a common practice throughout Egyptian history.

Thousands of mummified animals and many animal deity figurines were found

from Egypt's Late Period, between 330 B.C. and 30 B.C. Certain animals, such

as ibises, falcons, and cats, were thought to be holy, the living

representatives of Egyptian gods.

 

Another unlucky traveler in Cairo's airport was stopped Wednesday with 56

cartridges, 20 pieces of live ammunition and an old bayonet that dates back

to World War II.

 

A security official speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not

authorized to speak to the media, said the Canadian passenger, who was

heading to Switzerland, was let free after the materials were confiscated.

 

The 26-year old teacher told the authorities he picked up the ammunition in

the Egyptian north coast town El Alamein, the site of one of the most

decisive battles in World War II. He said he was unaware transporting the

ammunition would be illegal.

 

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