In order to preserve the original from temperature and humidity rise/fluctuation, an exact replica of Tutankhamun's tomb has now been created - but will tourists really want to travel to Egypt just to visit a mock-up? BBC's Rajan Datar reports (and quote Hawass at the end).Click on link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/fast_track/9786255.stm
[Luxor Temple is of limestone, not "granite"].
Putting it "by Carter's House" as suggested here involves taking the tourists past a huge modern (and incredibly dusty) rubbish dump. A lot of the latter is from the demolition of Qerna village. I think the replica should go in one of the valleys to the NE of the new Qerna village, and create tourist income there.
3 comments:
It has to be done this way. The extra humidity caused by tourists is damaging all the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. If nothing is done the only thing to be seen will be the raw rock walls with a heap of mixed plaster and paint at the bottom of the wall. Nefertari's tomb has been closed to the general public for years and the only way to see it is to buy a video or pay a lot of money to get in for half an hour.
As to whether the tourists will want to visit it, only time will tell.
Sometimes the tourists are not given any choice.
Nowadays they are encouraged to stay in the Red Sea resorts, bussed in directly to the tourist attractions and bussed out. In doing so they contribute very little to the local economy (they have no chance to spend any money). This has had the effect of devastating the tourist industry in Luxor and Qurna, whilst lining the pockets of the tour companies.
I know because I've seen it happen.
Stewart Herring
It has to be done this way.
The humidity cause by tourists is damaging all the tombs.
Nefertari's tomb has been closed for many years for exactly this reason. The only way you can see this tomb is to buy a video or to pay a lot of money for half and hour.
As to wheather the tourists will come, only time will tell. I guess they will not have a lot of choice.
Many tourists have been encouraged to stay in the Red Sea resorts and have to be bussed in (and out) to the tourist attractions.
It seems that the Museum of Imhotep is another reasonable solution to tourists destruction of many actual sites, ie humidity, wearing down stonework, etc. The museum is well done, good interpretations of the site, yet prevents more physical damages from occurring. One wonders how/if security is now protecting the sites at this critical time in Egypts political, economic and cultural evolution!
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