Secretary-General Inspects Archaeological Sites in Luxor and Qena and Reviews Restoration and Development Projects

Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, conducted an extensive inspection tour of several archaeological sites in the Luxor and Qena governorates. During the tour, he reviewed the progress of restoration, excavation, and development works and assessed the technical and structural condition of various temples and tombs. He also directed that the pace of work on several projects be accelerated to ensure the preservation of archaeological sites, enhance their operational efficiency, and improve the visitor experience.

The tour included the Ramesseum Temple, the Tomb of King Ramses IX in the Valley of the Kings, the Stoppelaëre House, the Tomb of Padi-Amun-Opet in the Asasif area, and the Tomb of Queen Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens. He concluded the tour by inspecting ongoing development works at the Dendera Temple in Qena Governorate.

Dr. El-Leithy began his tour by inspecting the first phase of the project to restore and reassemble the First Pylon of the Ramesseum Temple. This project is being carried out by an Egyptian-Korean mission under a 2022 cooperation agreement between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, funded by Korean Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The first phase of the project, which began in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in 2027, focuses on restoring the northern tower of the First Pylon, which stands approximately 32 meters tall.

The Secretary-General reviewed the achievements of previous work seasons, including excavation activities and the manual lifting and transport of massive stone blocks to platforms specifically prepared for this purpose, as well as the documentation, recording, and restoration processes the stones undergo prior to reassembly. Discover key archaeological sites firsthand with "Egypt Day Tours," which offers day trips in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan. We offer Aswan Day Tours that allow you to immerse yourself in Nubian culture, including visits to the Philae Temple, the High Dam, and the Unfinished Obelisk—some of the region's most famous landmarks.

You can also view the temporary structure currently being set up at the site; it features specialized internal lifting technology that enables the safe and efficient dismantling, lifting, restoration, and reassembly of stone blocks, all while respecting the site's specific nature and environmental conditions. This structure stands as a prime example of utilizing Korean technology and expertise in heritage maintenance and archaeological site preservation.

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