On a recent visit to the karnak temple in Luxor Egypt, or guide pointed out the thousands of pieces of broken pottery that littered the ground near a wall. She said that the ancients used to bring offerings in terracotta vessels and smash them against the wall. She said we could in fact take one piece of the broken pottery home with us and that they dated from about five bc. Was she having a joke with us or could the pieces really be this old?
2006-10-19 01:24:58 · 7 answers · asked by micvay47 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I certainly don't remember any such spot from my visit to Karnak and any attempt to remove anything from the site would involve serious risk (rightly so) of arrest and imprisonment. Was there any attempt to link this to a bribe or extra large tip (both of which I'd include in the annoying category of Bakshesh)
2006-10-23 06:17:50 · answer #1 · answered by questioneer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is illegal to remove artifacts from any listed site in Egypt.
She was incorrect and may have been having a joke. The pottery
shards could be that old or older. Although badly ruined, no site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. It represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders. The Temple of Karnak is actually three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples located about one Mile north of Luxor situated on 247 acres of land. Karnak is actually the sites modern name. Its ancient name was Ipet-isut, meaning "The Most Select (or Sacred) of Places".
2006-10-19 02:13:58 · answer #2 · answered by Danny99 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The dating was no joke, as that practice began and continued over a long period of time, but began much earlier,,,but I suspect the Egyptian Authorities would have something to say about her offering.
SHE doesn't have property rights, as a tour guide, nor does her agency I bet.
Aside from a legal standpoint, consider this... Take the lowest estimate you can regarding number of visitors to that site, annually, and tours guided by her or others oh her mind set.
Consider then, the number of pottery shards likely available.
I suggest SHE would eventually GIFT herself out of her JOB!
Steven Wolf
2006-10-19 01:52:17 · answer #3 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have been to the Karnak temple four times and I have never been told about this..... I think your guide was having a joke with you....
2006-10-19 01:40:17 · answer #4 · answered by Lupee 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would have thought that she was pulling your leg or didn't know the history about the temples of Egypt...
I would have expected those pieces to date back as far as 1000BC
2006-10-19 01:50:14 · answer #5 · answered by Forlorn Hope 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think its illegal to take anything like that out of the country and if she was joking it was in poor taste!!!i know for a fact if you did that in Greece you find yourself in custody and there are other Mediterranean countries where they don't allow you to do so
2006-10-22 07:50:17 · answer #6 · answered by srracvuee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IT IS ILLEGAL TO REMOVE ANY ANCIENT RELIC FROM THESE SITES
I THINK SHE WAS HAVING A LAUGH AT YOU
2006-10-19 01:33:17 · answer #7 · answered by RAMSBOTTOM 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋