On Monday night, the main hall of the Cairo Opera House was decked out fit for a pharaoh — four of them, in fact, whose statues looked on celebrations of Egyptian Archaeologists’ Day.

The men and women of Egypt who painstakingly brush millennia of sand off everything from potsherds to obelisks have had their special day (January 14) since 1953, when Mustafa Amer was appointed the first Egyptian head of the Antiquities Authority.

“Egyptian antiquities are the best ambassadors for Egypt,” said Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa in his address for the occasion.

The minister described 2022 as “exceptional and distinguished”. Two centuries ago, the hieroglyphic texts were successfully deciphered. One hundred years ago, Howard Carter first set his eyes on the “wonderful things” in the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun.

Last year witnessed 26 archaeological discoveries that helped reveal more secrets about Egyptian civilisation. In addition to opening many archaeological sites after renovation such as Mary’s Tree in Matariya, pilot operations at the Pyramids and the Zawiyya Hasan el-Rumi in Cairo’s Khalifa district.

The minister went on to mention that work is underway at the Aten Museum in Minya, the New Administrative Capital Museum, Mohamed Ali Palace in Shubra, Alexandria’s Graeco-Roman Museum and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.

In fiscal year 2021-2022, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) spent LE3.2 billion to conserve and protect all archaeological findings as well as manage the nation’s 2,000 archaeological sites and museums.

“Spending on developing museums and archaeological sites will be doubled to provide a distinguished tourism experience for Egyptians and tourists,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, the ministry and the concerned bodies are working hard to recover looted antiquities from abroad, the minister added.

SCA Secretary-General Mostafa Waziri said: “Egypt is able to dazzle the world not just by the recent discoveries but by restoration by Egyptians.”

“Fifty Egyptian missions are working on digs nationwide,” Waziri added.

The Egyptian team at Saqqara recently found a 16-metre-long papyrus, the like of which has not been found in nearly 100 years.

“The hieratic text from the Book of the Dead was restored by Egyptians, transliterated into hieroglyphics and translated into Arabic,” Waziri said, adding that the papyrus will soon be on display at a museum.

The event witnessed honouring a number of archaeologists recognised for their contributions to restoring and preserving Egypt’s ancient heritage.