Posted on 09/10/2018 6:26:25 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
"The fire spread to all the sections of the museum and destroyed all its content and destroyed the hall of Pharaonic artefacts, which contained 700 pieces," said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities on Thursday. He cited Egypt's foreign ministry, which is following up on the matter with Egyptian consular and embassy officials in Brazil.
The Egyptian artifacts included collectibles of Brazilian Emperor Pedro I, founder and first ruler of the Empire of Brazil, which he purchased in the 19th century from antiquities merchants. It also featured five mummies, one of which was kept in a sarcophagus and gifted by Egyptian Khedive Ismail to Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II during his visit to Egypt in the 19th century...
The oldest scientific institution in the country, the museum housed one of the largest anthropology and natural history and paleontology collections in the Americas. It was also home to the oldest human fossil found in Brazil, the 12,000-year-old fossil Luzia, and dinosaur bones.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but Brazilian Minister of Culture Sergio Sa Leitao was quoted in Brazilian media as saying the blaze was likely caused by an electrical short-circuit or small paper-based hot air balloon landing on the roof.
(Excerpt) Read more at english.ahram.org.eg ...
People watch as a fire burns at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. A massive fire raced through the 200-year-old museum on Sunday, probably destroying its collection of more than 20 million items, ranging from archeological finds to historic
Billions for vanity projects like hosting the World Cup and Olympics. Not one cent to protect a country’s national heritage.
“paper-based hot air balloon landing on the roof.”
This stuff survives a thousand years only to be destroyed by Brazilan idiot with a paper hot air balloon. Sheesh.
The museum was run down and there was no sprinkler system.
Those are somewhat popular around here in the summer, there's a bunch of dip****s who meet on the beach in Grand Haven and launch them by the dozens at on summer nights. But what's a little brush fire between people?
Hey, they did have billions to spend on the Olympics instead.
That is one of the saddest things I’ve read in a long time, SC. This IS Monday, you know...
:o[
‘Face
Yet another corrupt country misspending their money.
Blame Disney ... specifically ‘Tangled’.
The MFA in Boston has a wonderful Egyptian collection.
I love museums and find this fire incredibly sad.
.
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There is no excuse for not caring for the things of history in a way that helps to teach that history (country, state, era, etc.) to those who follow after us.
Destroying a statue only removes the image — it doesn’t destroy the history.
Not caring for a building that houses priceless items is inexcusable and disgraceful. Shame on Brazil.
Egyptian artifacts are part of the Brazilian national heritage?
The outer superstructure of the building may be in pretty good shape, the same way our own White House was after the Britisher pigs burned it during the War of 1812 (it remained sound when the whole interior was gutted and rebuilt with modern techniques and materials during the Truman administration). As long as I.M Pei isn't let anywhere near the design for the replacement structure, I'd be surprised if there isn't money to rebuild, and plenty of loaner exhibitis from around the world.
Recovery of famous treasures raises hopes of more finds in Brazilian museums ashes
By Herton Escobar
Oct. 23, 2018 , 7:15 AM
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/10/recovery-famous-treasures-raises-hopes-more-finds-brazilian-museum-s-ashes
There is that, of course. At least they are working on “recovery,” but closing the barn door and all that....
‘Face
“...was likely caused by an electrical short-circuit or small paper-based hot air balloon landing on the roof.”
Sounds like their fire prevention and their fire forensics is on par with each other.
So sad though to lose all of those priceless and irreplaceable artifacts. Although I suppose it will keep Egypt from sending those nasty emails all the time asking for their stuff back.
It was a wake-up call, and who knows, it may very well have contributed to the providential victory of Jair Bolsonaro.
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