Tutankhamun's tomb replica unveiled
A replica of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb has been unveiled, with authorities hoping it will boost the tourism industry hit by more than three years of unrest and political instability.
Built by Madrid's Factum Arte Foundation, the replica was created to help preserve the original tomb, which was discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter.
The facsimile was set up next to Carter's house, near the Valley of the Kings in the southern tourist city of Luxor.
"The replica's importance is to decrease pressure of visitors going to original tomb," Tourism Minister Hesham Zaazou said.
He added that tourists would still be allowed to visit the original tomb, but it will be more expensive.
"It is still early. But I believe that half of the visitors will visit the replica either because it will be cheaper or out of curiosity to compare it with the original." Deterioration of the original tomb is believed to have been caused by warmth and moisture brought into the tomb by visitors.
"The original tomb was painted to last for eternity, but it was not painted to be visited," said Adam Lowe, Factum Arte director, who was in charge of setting up the facsimile.
"It is my dream that it will last for 3,000 years."
Lowe said the replica tomb could receive about 30 people at a time.
The replica is the first stage of a larger project that involves creating exact replicas of tombs of the 19th dynasty pharaoh Seti and Queen Nefertari, the wife of Ramses II – both sites are currently closed to the public.
Known as Egypt's boy pharaoh, Tutankhamun, who took the throne at the age of nine, has fascinated Egyptologists and the general public since his mummy and the treasures hidden in his intact tomb were unearthed.
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