A Pharaoh’s 3,000-Year-Old Bracelet Was Allegedly Stolen by a Museum Employee and Melted Down for Gold

A 3,000-year-old bracelet was allegedly stolen from a depository successful Egypt and past melted down for gold.

The bracelet was allegedly stolen from nan Egyptian Museum successful Cairo by a restoration master connected Sept. 9, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, per nan BBC.

The restoration master is believed to person contacted a metallic jeweler, who past sold nan bracelet to a golden jeweler for $3,735, according to nan outlet. The golden jeweler sold nan bracelet for $4,025 to a golden foundry worker, who melted it down pinch different pieces. The ministry stated that nan 4 group progressive confessed to their alleged crimes aft being arrested, per nan BBC.  

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PEOPLE reached retired to nan Egyptian National Police, arsenic good arsenic Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, for remark connected Thursday, Sept. 18, but did not person an contiguous response.

Prior to news of nan caller arrests, nan Ministry had posted astir nan missing bracelet successful a connection shared connected Facebook connected Tuesday, Sept. 16. 

The Ministry stated that images of nan bracelet had been shared pinch “antiquities units crossed each Egyptian airports, seaports, and onshore separator crossings nationwide” successful an effort to prevent smuggling attempts.

They besides stated that they had delayed informing nan nationalist astir nan alleged theft successful bid to “ensure [...] nan advancement of nan investigation.”

The Ministry added that nan bracelet had belonged to “King Amenemope from nan Third Intermediate Period.”

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Amenemope was “a little-known but intriguing sovereign of Egypt’s 21st Dynasty,” ruling from  1001–992 B.C., per nan Egyptian Museum’s website. 

He is possibly champion known for nan “splendid funerary mask” recovered successful his tomb, which was fashioned from “thick sheets of hammered gold” and was “crafted to immortalize nan features of nan king pinch idealized serenity and timeless radiance."