All you need to know about renovating Tahrir Square

CAIRO - 30 December 2019: The Egyptian Government is implementing a major project to develop Tahrir Square in the heart of Cairo, to befit being one of the oldest Egyptian squares and a symbol of the modern Egyptian state.

After the revolutions of January 25 and June 30, the government started cultivating palm and olive trees in the area surrounding the square, in addition to removing signs that undermine the beauty of the buildings.

During the following lines, ET reveals information about the Tahrir Square development project and transferring the Luxor rams to their new location.

What does the project aim to develop?

The development project aims at preparing the square to receive the Egyptian obelisk. This is in addition to painting the façades of shops and buildings to match the artistic value of the historical area. The square will also include a new fountain, water works and lights. The prime minister inspected the development works on top of the Tahrir garage.

What is the truth about relocating statues from the Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor to Tahrir Square?

Four statues from the first courtyard at the Karnak Temples, located behind the first edifice of the temple in Luxor Governorate, will be transferred to Cairo to be eventually placed in Tahrir Square.

Which statues were removed from the Karnak Temples in Luxor?

The rams that are currently being transferred do not belong to the Rams Road (Avenue of the Sphinxes) that connects the Luxor Temple to Karnak or the rams of the Karnak temple façade. They come from the rams of the first courtyard located behind the temple and built of mud bricks.

Which statues were chosen to be placed in Tahrir Square?

Four very special rams were chosen to be moved from Karnak Temple to Cairo to decorate Tahrir Square. Each of the four statues weighs approximately 5.5 tons. The rams will be placed around the obelisk that has been moved from San el-Hagar in Sharkia Governorate. These rams have the body of a lion and a ram's head. It is a sacred symbol of the famous god Amun Ra. Two of the statues have already been transferred from the courtyard to the temple. The two remaining statues are being transferred to the same site, in preparation for taking new preservation measures before the transfer to the capital.

What is the state of the statues that are set to be placed in Tahrir Square?

The rams to be moved from the first pylon or the first courtyard are in a very good state, with no damages or scratches, unlike the ones located in the famed Avenue of the Sphinxes tying the Karnak Temples with Luxor Temple.