Your Egypt

[kamar]

Locks of hair from the Pharaoh Ramses II have gone on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo after being missing for three decades.

It follows their return last week after spending more than 30 years in France.

The small tufts of 3,000-year-old hair were stolen when the mummy was sent to France for conservation work in 1976.

The theft came to light when the hair was put up for auction on the internet last November. French police arrested a man over their sale.

'Wonderful mission'

Ramses II ruled Egypt from 1279 to 1213 BC.

The man, Jean-Michel Diebolt, said he had inherited the hair from his late father, a researcher who had been part of the team which analysed the mummy.

Police seized small plastic sachets and boxes from Mr Diebolt's home in the French Alpine town of Grenoble.

He had advertised the remains for sale for a price of 2,000 euros (£1,360).

Egyptian antiquities official Ahmed Saleh travelled to Paris last week to oversee the return of the locks of hair.

"It was wonderful mission. I felt very great when I had the lock of hair of Ramses II in my hand," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Egypt's antiquities chief, Zahi Hawass, said the internet was an important tool in tracking down stolen antiquities.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6542151.stm

[Louise]

I am curious to know what the Egyptian people think of Zahi Hawass?

To scholars in the west, he seems to be a person who is very interested in promoting himself. Those of us who are interested in your wonderful history are, of course, glad to see new discoveries. However, Mr. Hawass seems to be in the forefront of everything.

What do you think?