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- Title
Viaje póstumo a París del Faraón Ramsés II.
- Authors
Llagostera, Esteban
- Abstract
When French scientists informed Mme. Desroches-Noblecourt, Inspector General of National Museums, of the poor state of preservation of the mummy of pharaoh Ramesses II (he suffered from bacteria, necrophagus insects, fungus, etc.), she immediately informed the President of France, who made a quick trip to inform the Egyptian President about the news. Giscard d'Estaing suggested taking the mummy to Paris in a special plane. Due to the political situation of the time and because Ramesses II would be travelling in a military plane, Egypt informed Israel about the special conditions surrounding this extraordinary flight. This was to be the first time in History that an Egyptian pharaoh «travelled» to a foreign country. The plane departed from Cairo's Heliopolis Airport where the royal passenger was treated to the honours of a living king. The date was September 26th, 1976. The moment the plane entered French air space; two air force fighters escorted the late pharaoh to Paris. Upon his arrival at the military airport of Le Bourget- Paris, the mummy was received with all the honours of a ruling president. After the formal reception and following the personal wish of the French President, the mortuary car went to the «Place de la Concorde» so that Ramesses II could again «see» his obelisk of Luxor temple. At the Musée de l’Homme everything was ready in two large rooms: one was the laboratory and the other was where the pharaoh would rest at night, always protected by policemen. For the next eight months, the scientists examined the mummy to determine the exact causes of the damage. Ramesses II was very 'ill', and everything was to be done to spare him a second death. There was no limit in means or efforts. All France was at Ramesses the Great's disposal. For the first time ever, they performed a biostereometry on a human body that made it possible to accurately reconstruct the pharaoh's original features. Whwn he was «healed» of his multiple ailments, he was carefully packed in a very special (fireproof, waterproof, shockproof and floatable) coffin. On May 10th, 1977, and with the same ceremonial protocol, the royal mummy returned to his country of origin. Mme. Desroches-Noblecourt was with him permanently; since his departure from Cairo until his return back to Egypt.
- Subjects
EGYPT; RAMSES II, King of Egypt, fl. 13th century B.C.; PHARAOHS; KINGS &; rulers of Egypt; MUMMY radiography; HISTORIC preservation
- Publication
Espacio, Tiempo y Forma: Serie II, Historia Antigua, 2010, Issue 23, p61
- ISSN
1130-1082
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5944/etfii.23.2010.1761