Egyptian embassy in London recovers 12 stolen ancient artifacts

The Antiquities Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday confirming the recovery of twelve stolen ancient Egyptian artifacts in the United Kingdom.

Mohamed Ibrahim, Minister of State for Antiquities, confirmed that the Egyptian embassy in London received the twelve pieces. Ibrahim mentioned that these artifacts are due to be returned to Egypt by the end of this month.

The state-owned MENA News Agency reported that the artifacts had been found listed on the website for the Bonhams and Christie's auction houses. It is reported that these priceless treasures had been smuggled out of Egypt during the political unrest in 2011.

Lawyers hired by the Antiquities Ministry filed a case with the British courts to retrieve these ancient Egyptian artifacts and the court recently ruled in Egypt’s favor.

Amongst the artifacts are: A panel of red granite from the base of a statue of Pharaoh Amenhotep III — depicting a captive from southern lands, a limestone decorative cobra head, and a colored panel of limestone depicting a lotus flower.

Other pieces include a bust carved from marble of a man with long hair (perhaps a wig), and another carved from limestone of a woman with short hair (or short wig). Another piece is of a standing man holding his hand over his chest.

According to the MENA News Agency, the largest of these recovered pieces measures 22 cm x 14.8 cm. These artifacts are reported to date back to the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt — circa 2000 BCE to 1070 BCE.

In April of this year, Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry announced that eight missing ancient artifacts, found in the United States, were returned to Cairo.

Thousands of stolen Ancient artifacts are on display in French, English, American, German, Italian, and other museums, as well as in private collections. 

However, Egyptian looters and smugglers have historically been involved in selling-off ancient artifacts — both within the country and to foreign buyers.

In August 2013, an estimated 1,000 artifacts were stolen from the Malawi Museum by local looters in Minya Governorate.

Estimates suggest that several thousand artifacts — from small rings to massive statues — have gone missing from Egypt over the years. The total number of artifacts stolen from Egypt is not known. Looting and smuggling of these historic remains has been taking place since ancient times.