U.S. Ambassadors Fund grants Egypt $695,000

CAIRO – 6 December 2017: Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo Thomas Goldberger and Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anani visited Al-Imam Al-Shafie mosque on December 4 to review the significant restoration work.

During the visit, Goldberger said that cultural heritage is a great way to promote the mutual understanding between people of diverse backgrounds and nations.

“[Cultural heritage] endures as a reminder of the contributions and historical experiences of humanity. We are very proud of our partnership with the Ministry of Antiquities to preserve this important site,” Goldberger explained.

The restoration is done by Egyptian organization “Megawra” to preserve the historic place and to resolve structural problems in the masonry walls, subsidence of floors, leaking roofs and disintegration of the decorative elements.

Megawra’s work is supported by a $695,000 grant from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.

Since 2003, projects in Egypt have received more than $1.5 million in support from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund, which has supported training workshops for Supreme Council of Antiquities officials and staff, as well as the conservation of monuments from the Pharaonic, Greco-Roman and Islamic periods that significantly contribute to the understanding and appreciation of these decisive eras in world history.

The Ministry of Antiquities announced on December 5, through a press statement, a new archaeological discovery during renovating Al-Imam Al-Shafie Dome.

The uncovered part is a previously constructed shrine that consists of an open courtyard and three prayer niches. The unearthed shrine is decorated with colored marble.

Minister of Antiquities Khaled Anani and U.S. Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires Thomas H. Goldberger, as well as other officials from Ministry of Antiquities, visited Al-Shafie dome to check the latest renovation work in the site.

The director of the Historical Cairo project Mohamed Abdel Aziz stated that the renovation work at Al-Imam Al-Shafie started in March 2016; it includes restoring different historical buildings surrounding Al-Shafie dome, in addition to marble floors and wooden roofs.