Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., December 25, 2008 Kislev 28, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:56 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 21:38 24/12/2008
Australian arrested in Egypt for trying to smuggle animal mummies
By DPA
Tags: Israel NEws, Egypt, mummies 

An Australian teacher who allegedly tried to leave Cairo with 2,000-year-old animal mummies and statues was charged with smuggling antiquities on Wednesday.

An official at the airport became suspicious at the small statues that were wrapped as gifts in the 61-year-old teacher's suitcase.

When unwrapped, it was found that the tourist had two mummies of a cat and an ibis, a long-beaked bird. He also had 19 statues of the ancient Egyptian gods Horus and Thoth.
Advertisement
Horus is a falcon-headed god, the son of Isis and Osiris, while Thoth, believed to have given people the gift of hieroglyphic writing, is often depicted with the head of an Ibis.

Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) said that the artifacts weighed about 5.5 kilograms.

The man, who was heading to Thailand, has been charged with smuggling antiquities, which can carry a penalty of up to 15 years.

Animal mummification was a common practice throughout Egyptian history. Certain animals, such as ibises and cats, thought to be holy, were mummified and placed alongside the dead in their tombs.

Related articles:
  • Egypt unveils King Tut's mummy to the public for the first time
  • Egypt to test DNA of two mummified fetuses from King Tut's tomb
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Knesset express
    Rightist party offers Jonathan Pollard top spot on Knesset list.
    Mahmoud's Gospel
    Ahmadinejad: If Jesus were alive, he would stand in opposition to U.S.
     Read & React
    Hamas: Thousands more Israelis will soon be within the range of our rockets
    Responses: 237
    U.S. tells Israel: Don't forsake Lebanon for peace with Syria
    Responses: 67
    Barak Ravid: International efforts against Iran are failing
    Responses: 38
    Ahmadinejad invited to 'counter' Queen Elizabeth II's Christmas message
    Responses: 49
    Eyal Benvenisti: The myth of the Palestinian right of return
    Responses: 101


    More Headlines
    01:38 Cabinet approves Gaza op after 70 missiles hit Israel
    23:09 Livni: The equation in Gaza can change, and will change
    21:56 Patients get other people's lab results in mass hospital mix-up
    17:28 Ahmadinejad invited to 'counter' Queen Elizabeth II's Christmas message
    01:43 Jewish parents thwart enrollment of Arab girl in daycare
    09:29 N.Y. investor kills himself after losing over $1 billion in alleged Madoff scam
    23:42 Peres in Sderot: In Gaza they're lighting rockets, here we're lighting candles
    17:17 Cabinet holds urgent session on responding to rocket fire
    21:38 Australian arrested in Egypt for trying to smuggle animal mummies
    19:08 Security cabinet proscribes 35 global terrorist groups linked to al-Qaida
    19:37 Jewish DJ Adam Goldstein files lawsuit in South Carolina plane crash
    15:03 Netanyahu pledges to topple Hamas if elected prime minister
    13:49 U.S. Technion funder loses $72 million in alleged Madoff fraud
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Academic Studies in Israel
    All the Q & A at the IDC HERZLIYA Open House, January 9,2009
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved