Thursday March 28th, 2024
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Partly Submerged Tabataba Shrine to Be Moved to National Museum of Egy

In an epic undertaking, the obscure Tabataba shrine and mausoleum will be rescued from the waters of Ain Al-Saira Lake and moved in its entirety to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

John Bichara

Just north of South Cairo's Ain Al-Saira Lake, you'll find a little-known piece of history that's rarely visited by tourists. Partly submerged in water, the Tabataba shrine is one of the few remnants of the Ikhshidid dynasty, who ruled Egypt from 935 to 969. Built by Mamluk soldier-turned-governor Muhammad ibn Tughj al-Ikhshid, the shrine contains a mausoleum within six of its chambers. But now the shrine is in danger of becoming flooded by the lake's waters after 22 years of leakages, which is why the Supreme Council of Antiquities has begun an epic undertaking to move the entire structure to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.


The move is comparable to the legendary transfer of the Abu Simbel temple, although such a high-profile case is far from the only other success story Egypt has when it comes to antique rescue missions. Equally impressive though less dramatic cases include a structure by Sultan Faraj Ibn Barquq which was moved in front of Bab Zuweila, and the reinstallation of the Sabil of Ali Beik AlKabeer at the entrance of Tanta.