Friday, December 23, 2005

Misplaced Museum

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/774/he1.htm
Article on the Al Ahram Weekly site about why the Nubia Museum is visited so infrequently by tourists: "The loss of Nubia was one of the world's great tragedies. Not only did it mean the inundation of an entire land and the loss of its ancient monuments, but it uprooted an entire population from its native soil. Nubia was one of the few places remaining on earth that was unspoiled by humanity. It was a harsh and barren land to be sure, but it was one to which the people had, and indeed have until today, a strong attachment. That is why Nubians -- especially if accompanied by aged parents or grandparents who still remember the beautiful austere land in which they once dwelt -- visit the museum and come away with a sense of pride. Their self-esteem is stretched by this contact with the past. Yet, ironically, while cruises ply Lake Nasser and conduct visitors to ancient temples like those at Abu Simbel, Wadi Al-Sebua, Qasr Ibrim and others in Nubia, travel agents do not make it easy for clients to visit the museum, even though it would bring their cruise experience to life in its revelation of the ancient cultures of the lost land. And as far as Nile cruises are concerned, although they either start or end in Aswan this beautiful museum is too often bypassed".

No comments: