Photo Gallery
Arriving from Cairo after a pre-dawn flight to Sohag, participants start with refreshments in the ancient nave.
The discussion turns to how the paintings will be promoted internationally.
A word of thanks on behalf of the SCA Inspectorate in Sohag.
Alberto Sucato, Technical Director for Conservation of the Red Monastery Project, and the conservation team have restored layers of paintings.
Viewing the nave walls that were part of the original church at the site
Dr. Gillian Pyke, Archaeologist (Red Monastery) and Archaeological Director (White Monastery) describes archaeological remains excavated by an Egyptian team.
ARCE Director, Dr. Gerry Scott, expressed ARCE’s hope that many points of view would be aired that some guidelines might be established that accommodate the aspirations of all those committed to the Red Monastery Church.
The generosity of Father Antonius and the passion of Father Maximous assured the participants felt welcomed and comfortable in the conference environment.
Father Maximous el-Antony of St. Antony’s Monastery in the Eastern Desert is an active advocate for the restoration of Coptic art and churches.
To the northwest of the White Monastery, the SCA archaeologists discovered a tomb chapel, possibly the tomb of St. Shenoute
Technical Director Emiliano Ricchi asks, “When visitors and the faithful come in great numbers…how is possible to educate people to preserve the area?
Addressing the dilemma of how to accommodate the needs of a diverse public dominated the round table discussions.
This round table was funded under a grant with the Council for American Overseas Research Centers with funding from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. State Department
Remains of walls, oil presses, irrigation pipes and systems, food preparation areas and storage jars shed light on the monastic community that once lived at the White Monastery.
The first step inside the church reveals an unexpected and unparalleled riot of color, texture and iconic imagery.
Michael Jones, ARCE Associate Director, introduces Father Antonius of the Red Monastery and convenes the conference.
Mr. Saad Mohamed Osman, General Manager of Antiquities for Sohag (r.) addresses and welcomes visitors and participants.
Mr. Sean Callahan, Acting Deputy Director, USAID traces the history of USAID involvement and funding and expresses hope for the future use and preservation of this extraordinary living monument.
Art historian and project director, Dr. Elizabeth Bolman and conservation architect, Nicholas Warner, provided a historical context for the rich decoration and architectural splendor of the church.
Conservator Luigi De Cesaris cleaning inside the church.
Father Maximous with ARCE staff in the museum under construction at St. Antony's
Exterior view of the new museum at St. Antony's
Exterior view of St. Antony's
Exterior view of St. Antony's
Cleaned apse in the Church of the Apostles, St. Antony's
Ceiling over the monastic cells under the Church of the Apostles
Monastic cell under the Church of the Apostles
Ceiling over the monastic cells under the Church of the Apostles
Some of ARCE's Advanced Conservation Field School graduates
(l-r) John Shearman (ARCE Luxor's Associate Director), Ibrahim Suleiman (MSA Director of Karnak Temple), Abdel Nasser Ahmed Abdel Azim (MSA Head of Conservation for Karnak Temple)
Richard Rousseau, USAID
Two Advanced Conservation Field School graduates, Mustafa Ala el Din Hagag (l), and Ahmed Gad (r)
Mohammed Hussein (MSA Head of Conservation for Luxor Temple)
Representatives of the MSA and ARCE, receiving graduands. (l-r) Afaf Phillips (MSA Head of Conservation for Upper Egypt), Claire D'Izarny (ARCE Conservator), Christie Pohl (ARCE Chief Conservator), Richard Rousseau (USAID), Sultan Eid (MSA Director of Luxor Temple), Ibrahim Suleiman (MSA Director for Karnak Temple), John Shearman (ARCE Luxor Associate Director), Khadiga Adam (ARCE Conservator)
Luxor Temple by night
Luxor Temple by day
Director Scott talking with Senator Mikulsi in the ARCE constructed conservation lab
Walking on the newly constructed walkway around Khonsu Temple
Inside a side chapel on Khonsu Temple
Ambassador Anne Patterson, Senator Mikulski, and SCA Director General of Upper Egypt Mansour Boraik
A view of the archaeology and engineering office, with Andrew Bednarski to the right, and Madgy Mokhtar to the left.
Khadiga Adam, Frank Helmholz from Chicago House, and Amin Amar from the SCA, enjoying a moment during the opening party for ARCE's new West Bank offices
Rais Omar Farouk (left), and Rais Ali Farouk (right)
The entrance to ARCE's new offices, with our lunch room in the center, and our photography department to the right
December 10, 2011 - the official opening party atop ARCE's new West Bank offices.
ARCE's new premise comes with a pleasant, roof-top patio that provides splendid views of the surrounding farmers' fields and sunsets behind Medinet Habu. It gives us an ideal setting in which to host colleagues and supporters.
Ambassador Anne Patterson's visit to Luxor
Ambassador Anne Patterson's visit to Luxor
Ambassador Anne Patterson's visit to Luxor
Ambassador Anne Patterson's visit to Luxor
Ambassador Anne Patterson's visit to Luxor
Ambassador Anne Patterson's visit to Luxor
Ambassador Anne Patterson's visit to Luxor
Ambassador Anne Patterson's visit to Luxor
View from the outside of the Monastery of St. Matthew 'the Potter', Esna
ARCE team members at work at the Monastery of St. Matthew 'the Potter', Esna
Interior of church at the Monastery of St. Matthew 'the Potter', Esna
Exterior view at the Monastery of St. Matthew 'the Potter', Esna
Locations of test cleanings at the Monastery of St. Matthew 'the Potter', Esna
Cleaning test at the Monastery of St. Matthew 'the Potter', Esna
Cleaning test after treatment at the Monastery of St. Matthew 'the Potter', Esna
Contrast between the cleaning test and the rest of the paintings at the Monastery of St. Matthew 'the Potter', Esna
The feast of St Matthew 'the Potter' celebrated at the monastery, Esna
Making new friends at Karnak
Aswan, a great way to cap a tour to Egypt
Chapel 12 at Khonu Temple, an ARCE conservation site
In the Luxor conservation lab, an ARCE conservation project
Temple of Seti I in Abydos
Edfu from the front
Giza during the Eid al-Adha
Father Maximous al-Antony showing St. Anthony's textiles
Associate Director Michael Jones explaining the wall paintings at the Red Monastery in Sohag, an ARCE conservation site
Mohamed Ali Sabil, an ARCE conservation site
View from the roof of Bab Zuweila
Associate Director John Shearman giving a briefing in Luxor about ARCE conservation there
The ARCE 2011 tour group at Medinet Habu
ARCE reception at the Cairo office
Dr. Jocelyn Gohary with the entire tour group at Giza.
Wall painting at St. Anthony's Monastery, an ARCE conservation site
Approaching Philae Temple
Dr. Tarek Swelim shows us Historic Cairo where ARCE has conducted numerous conservation projects
Ceiling partially cleaned at Dendera
Wekalat Sultan al Ghuri cultural center
Tomb of Sarenput II at Tombs of the Nobles, Aswan
Monastic cells below the floor of the 14th century Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, St. Anthony's Monastery
Medinet Habu, 18th Dynasty Temple
Medinet Habu, Window of Appearmance
Edfu
Nile View in Aswan
Abu Simbel, Ramses II
Abu Simbel, Nefertari's Temple
Tombs of Nobles, Aswan
Tomb of Sarenput II at Tombs of the Nobles, Aswan
9th Century Church at the Site of the Tombs of the Nobels, Aswan
One of the 16,000 talatat blocks conserved and documented by ARCE at Karnak. Photo: Owen Murray
Workmen in Khonsu Temple applying mortar in the first court
The Khonsu Temple at Karnak contains some of the best-preserved wall paintings at Karnak. Photo: Kathleen Scott
The painting after cleaning. Photo: Owen Murray
Diagram of Karnak Temple
Khonsu Temple exterior
Conservators cleaning interior pylon of Khonsu Temple. Photo: Owen Murray
Cleaning at Khonsu
Documenting talatat blocks
Pylon detail. Photo: Kathleen Scott
Cleaning at Khonsu Temple
Cleaning at Khonsu Temple
Stone conservation at Khonsu Temple
Woodwork is cleaned and repaired. Photo: Matjaz Kacicnik
Minaret atop the dome of the Mosque of Alsam al-Silahdar
Cleaning
Exterior before conservation
Exterior after cleaning
Interior after conservation
Exterior dome view before conservation
Interior scaffolding set up to clean the interior
Interior window after cleaning and repair
Ceiling portion after cleaning
Luke and Matthew after cleaning
Cleaning. Photo: Jaroslaw Dobrowolski
Cleaning. Photo: Jaroslaw Dobrowolski
Wall paintings. Photo: Jaroslaw Dobrowolski
Wall paintings. Photo: Jaroslaw Dobrowolski
Cleaned and conserved 6th century Archangel. Photo: Michael Jones
Conservators Alberto Sucato and Luigi De Cesaris discuss their work with project director Elizabeth Bolman. Photo: Gustavo Camps
The head of an Archangel selected for test cleaning. Photo: Gustavo Camps
Close up of cleaning test
Conservation cleaning test
Conservator at work
Niche after cleaning
Cleaned portion of wall painting
Field School students put their skills to work cleaning columns in the Khonsu Temple. Photo: Owen Murray
Ceramics specialist Jane Smythe instructs students in the ARCE conservation lab at Karnak. Photo: Owen Murray
Field School students working in the classroom at the ARCE conservation lab in Luxor. Photo: Owen Murray
Conservator Khadija Adam instructs students as Chief Conservator Christie Pohl (foreground) looks on. Photo: Owen Murray
Field School students working in the classroom at the ARCE conservation lab in Luxor. Photo: Owen Murray
Training in the conservation lab outside Khonsu Temple
Students cleaning in Khonsu Temple
Students working at the hypostyle hall in Karnak Temple
ARCE staff members Mary Sadek, Michael Jones and Jane Smythe pose with the 2010 class.
CLS students at Luxor.
The CLS students tour Luxor with guide Tarek Swelim.
CLS students pose with Randa Ahmed, the class's cultural mentor.
CLS Students
ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
Leave a legacy for the protection of Egypt's cultural history. Give to the ARCE Endowment >>
Building endowment is the best way to ensure we can continue our core programs in Egypt and the U.S. as government funding continues to diminish.
Upcoming Events
Monday, May 25, 2013, 7:30pmJames Hoffmeier, Trinity International University
Chapter: North TexasSunday, May 26, 2013, 2pm - 5pmJoin us for a relaxing afternoon tea in bygone Egypt and support the chapter lecture series and student outreach programsNorthern California (Berkeley)
News
A Day on the West Bank
May 23, 2013
Imagine waking up in the small village of Medinet Habu on Luxor’s West Bank ready to start the work day.
HISTORY OF EGYPTOLOGY VIDEO SERIES
The fourth episode in our series about the history of Egyptology continues the story of western interest in Egypt into the modern era. This episode moves forward with a shift in focus from Europe to the United States. Early American interest >>
THE YEAR IN REVIEW - 2012
Starting in Luxor.....A new conservation and training program on Luxor's west bank known as the Annual Program Statement (APS) is well under way. This program is in response to USAID’s job creation program in the wake of the events of the Arab Spring in January 2011. Read more >>
US Office: 8700 Crownhill Blvd. Suite 507 San Antonio, Texas 78209-1130 p: 210.821.7000 e:info@arce.org
ARCE Cairo Center: 2 Midan Simón Bolívar Garden City Cairo 11461 Egypt p: 20 2 2794 8239 e:cairo@arce.org
