Stolen Islamic-Era Artifacts Recovered by Egyptian Authorities

News March 30, 2017

(Courtesy Ministry of Antiquities)
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Cairo Islamic shrine
(Courtesy Ministry of Antiquities)

CAIRO, EGYPT—A door and decorative elements stolen from the Sultan Al-Kamel Al-Ayyubi shrine, one of four shrines in Al-Imam Al-Shafie Dome, have been recovered by Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Police, according to a report in Ahram Online. Imam al-Shafie, one of the four Imams credited with developing the Shafie school of Islamic jurisprudence, died in A.D. 820. The dome was constructed over his grave in A.D. 1211 by the Sultan Al-Kamel Al-Ayyubi, who was buried in one of the shrines. Earlier this month, thieves broke through a lattice door covered in wire mesh in order to enter the sultan’s shrine and take the 27-inch-tall wooden door and the small decorations. Al-Saeed Helmi of the Ministry of Antiquities said that the artifacts had not been harmed. To read about discoveries made at a medieval Islamic castle, go to "Expanding the Story." 

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