Egyptian Ambassador in Paris Alaa Youssef, accompanied by French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak, participated in placing a gold-leafed pyramid cap on top of the Luxor obelisk in the Place de la Concorde in the heart of the French capital Paris.
The event came in celebration of the breathtaking deciphering of the Rosetta Stone by Jean-Francois Champollion, which took place in 1822, 200 years ago, added the ambassador.
The 107ft-tall obelisk, carved in the eighth century BC and given to France by an Egyptian viceroy in 1830, stands at the center of the famous Place de la Concorde.
The viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali gave the 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk to France in 1831. The obelisk once marked the entrance to the Luxor Temple, now it stands in the middle of place de la Concorde in Paris.
Ambassador Youssef explained that the move is part of efforts to restore the stone monument to its original splendor by putting the pyramid cap back on the pinnacle, adding that the renovation of the masterpiece started last year.
He further indicated that the participation of the French culture minister in this important event reflects the greater interest France is paying to the ancient Egyptian civilization and culture and the momentum in friendship relations between Cairo and Paris in various domains.
