the 'Eternity of the Pharaohs is Defense The closing of the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as other places have become sites of mass, it is news that does not surprise us. The 'visitors' entrance to places of' art in recent decades has been governed by more restrictive rules. In this way, the Jewish Cemetery in Prague is accessed through a particular path, while Leonardo's Last Supper in Milan "bears" only a certain number of people who breathe, sweat and transports corrosive agents. And the Monastery of Voronet in Romanian Moldavia, the Sistine Chapel of 'East? Now protects some of its shares from 'inimitable blue quota observers. And the stories of the True Cross, the cycle of frescoes preserved in the chapel in San Francesco in Arezzo, Lorenzo started by BICC and especially painting by Piero della Francesca, has regulated inputs. These are just examples of the possible. At one time everything was free but did not know the mass visits. Although the 'art and' architecture are not eternal, the task of today's society is to protect and keep asking all small sacrifices, such as queues and ticket. In exceptional cases, the closure is a sad but essential needs. Do not forget that the Valley of the Kings, where is the tomb of Tutankhamun, "not was intended - observed Giovanni Pettinato, professor of Assyriology at Heidelberg, and Rome - to neutral and even for selected visitors, wanted to be a cemetery away from prying eyes, to ensure 'eternity to the Pharaohs. " The Egyptians, moreover, believed it was necessary to mummification and the preservation of a deceased body to allow the 'other life after death. Pettinato states: "The relics preclassic come to us are the remains of a world that is built and designed with intent light years away from ours, and could not imagine tourist habits. Store them is not easy, but we groped to prolong their existence as much as possible, because they are essential references. How much and as you can keep those documents from the past? It is not easy to answer, but it is certain that circumstances and needs whether such claims can not arise. Do not forget that hundreds of thousands of mummies were used, between '800 and early 900, as fuel for locomotives of the first Egyptian railways. Were dry and suitable to the task. No driver or fireman asked himself questions about the 'immortality of those unfortunate people.
If tourists become the curse of Tutankhamen: L 'Egypt ready to close the tomb A drastic solution, not yet official but that is already causing a stir. The tomb of Tutankhamun, one of the most famous and visited of the 'Ancient Egypt (and the world) will soon be closed to tourists. "If we do not provide, in 200 years this and other tombs will be totally destroyed 's created by moisture from breathing and perspiration of visitors, the colors of the frescoes will disappear," he said yesterday at' English agency Efe Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Council Supreme Antiquities, or the high and powerful head of the 'Egyptian archeology. In Egypt 'to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas, still upset by the massacre of Christians in Alexandria, you can not find confirmation. But the 'hypothesis is more than likely, it was in' air for some time. According to the 'English agency, as well as the burial place of the ruler of the XVIII dynasty, ascended the throne at age 9 and died a decade later, perhaps malaria, will close two other tombs of Luxor, the' ancient Thebes, that of Seti I, father of Ramses II, who reigned between 1314 and 1304 BC in the Valley of the Kings and that of Nefertari, who was the wife of Ramses II in the Valley of the Queens. Both sites, in fact, are already closed. And the tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered almost by chance in 1922 by 'Howard Carter English and became known as the' only one to get to us intact rather than destroyed by thieves over the centuries, is already subject to restricted access. But c 'is another aspect to make news (and controversy). The next step, which aims to limit the damage but not so much archaeological financial (tourism is a key resource here), is that of the famous tombs are built modern replicas can be visited without any problems. 'The only way to prevent moisture, mold and poor ventilation destroy the originals, which will be open only a few professional archaeologists with a dear ticket' input - in fact added Hawass - is to copy them. " A team of experts is already working with laser technology to replicate paintings, inscriptions and every detail of the three places. Not everyone is d 'Agreement on' idea of \u200b\u200bcopies "at Disneyland." Basaam Al Shamaa, Travel Guide for 25 years in the area, asks: "How can one appreciate and understand a culture by visiting the copies? A sculptor of the XXI century will never be the same level as an artist of 'Ancient Egypt'. Rather, he suggests, should be open to the public other graves of lesser importance but still wonderful. "It's true that I have observed over the years, the deterioration of the paintings, some bleached, others disappeared. But antiques are like humans, aging need more attention. Could be introduced in the tombs of important equipment to dehumidify the 'air, for example, special fans. " More open Marilina Betrò, Professor of Egyptology at 'University of Pisa. 'The idea of \u200b\u200bthe clones may be a temporary solution - say in' Italy, just returned from a mission -. It is not new, even for the caves of Altamira was decided. I myself, long ago, I worked on the digital reproduction of one of "our" virtual visits to the tombs of Luxor on the Internet. But close them forever to the public does not seem to make sense, the 'original and completely different. Rather limited access in the opening season and the number of inputs. " Beyond the debate among experts, a doubt remains about what the tourists will be willing to face difficulty, expense and often hellishly hot to visit the "valley of Replicas", if not quite content with the only (And wonderful) treasure of Tutankhamun exposed without any problems to the Cairo Museum. But Hawass has no doubts: "Protecting our story - told to 'Efe - is more important than tourism."