3,000-year-old pharaoh's bracelet stolen and melted down

A 3,000-year-old gold bracelet belonging to Pharaoh Amenemope was stolen from a Cairo museum and melted down, sparking outrage in Egypt.

Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, announced on 22/9 that Pharaoh Amenemope's bracelet, dating back approximately 3,000 years, was stolen from the restoration laboratory at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

The theft occurred as the museum was preparing artifacts for an exhibition in Italy. Four suspects were arrested, including a restoration specialist at the museum. This suspect admitted to giving the gold bracelet, adorned with a lapis lazuli gemstone, to an acquaintance who owned a silver jewelry shop in the Sayyeda Zainab district of Cairo.

The gold bracelet of Egyptian Pharaoh Amenemope. Photo: DEA Picture Library

The gold bracelet of Egyptian Pharaoh Amenemope. Photo: DEA Picture Library

The bracelet was then sold to a gold workshop owner for 3,800 USD. An employee at another gold workshop purchased it for 4,000 USD and subsequently melted it down to craft other jewelry.

The loss of a 3,000-year-old treasure has caused distress among many Egyptians, with some questioning the museum's security measures. Minister Fathy acknowledged that the restoration laboratory was not equipped with security cameras.

Monica Hanna, a prominent archaeologist in Egypt, called for a halt to exhibitions abroad "until better measures are in place" to safeguard artifacts. Egyptian lawyer Malek Adly described the theft as a "wake-up call" for the government.

Pharaoh Amenemope ruled Egypt from Tanis in the Nile Delta during the 21st Dynasty. The royal tombs at Tanis were discovered in 1940 by French archaeologist Pierre Montet, yielding approximately 2,500 artifacts, including gold masks, silver coffins, and gold jewelry.