What’s going on with the pyramids?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 29 February 2024
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
One of the most famous of Egypt’s pyramids, Menkaure’s pyramid on the Giza plateau, is the subject of controversy after the Egyptian authorities announced plans to restore it in what the country’s Head of Antiquities has called “the project of the century” and Egypt’s “gift to the world”. But not everyone believes such a restoration is in keeping with the demands of proper archaeological preservation.
The plans met with opposition from archaeologists and Egyptologists both inside and outside the country. The project has now been paused after recommendations from a scientific committee commissioned by the Egyptian authorities.
So what’s going on with the pyramids?
Presenter: Gary O’Donoghue Producer: Louise Clarke Researcher: Matt Toulson Editor: Tara McDermott Technical producer: Nicky Edwards Production co-ordinator: Liam Morrey
Contributors: Aidan Dodson, honorary Professor of Egyptology at Bristol university in the UK Dr Jennifer Hellum, senior lecturer in classics and ancient history at the University of Auckland in New Zealand Heba Saleh, Cairo correspondent for the Financial Times Salima Ikram, professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo
Photo by KHALED ELFIQI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock via BBC Images
Transcript
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| 0:57.0 | Welcome to the Inquiry from the BBC World Service with me Gary O'Donohue. |
| 1:04.0 | One question, four expert witnesses and an answer. |
| 1:12.0 | Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, only one remains visible in the 21st century. |
| 1:19.0 | Egypt's great pyramid of Giza, 4,000 years ago dominates the desert landscape |
| 1:26.3 | southwest of Cairo, a striking testament to the ingenuity and determination of a |
| 1:32.3 | great civilization. |
| 1:34.0 | But the Great Pyramid and two others close to it aren't what they used to be. |
| 1:40.0 | Plundered and eroded over the centuries, stripped of much of their outer layers and their |
| 1:45.1 | inner treasures. One of the most famous Men-Courais pyramid on the Giza Plateau is now the subject of a monumental controversy |
| 1:57.6 | as the Egyptian authorities plan to restore it in what the country's head of antiquities has called the project of the century |
| 2:05.4 | and Egypt's gift to the world. But not everyone believes that such a restoration is in |
| 2:11.5 | keeping with the demands of proper archaeological |
... |
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