CAIRO, May 12 (MENA) - Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said the recovery of 25 Egyptian antiques reflects the commitment of the Egyptian state with all its institutions to protecting and preserving the country’s unique cultural heritage.

Fathy praised constructive cooperation among the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, and all relevant authorities at home and abroad, which he said resulted in this significant achievement, the tourism ministry said in a statement on Monday.

After three-year efforts, Egypt has recovered 25 antiques that had been looted and smuggled abroad.

The repatriated artifacts, which date back to various eras of ancient Egyptian civilization, are distinguished by their great historical and artistic value.

They were recovered through the Egyptian Consulate General in New York.

The recovered collection includes stone and wooden coffin lids, funerary masks made of pottery and gilded wood, a large alabaster vessel, and a portrait of a woman from the city of Faiyum, reflecting the mastery of realistic portraiture during the Greco-Roman era.

The collection also includes various pieces of jewelry made of various metals, a rare gold coin dating back to the reign of Ptolemy I, and small bronze and stone statues depicting aspects of ancient Egypt and art from various historical periods. (MENA)

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