Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the event was attended by key dignitaries, including Switzerland’s Ambassador-Designate Andreas Baum, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Ismail Khaled, and the University of Zurich’s Vice President and CFO Daniel Hug.
Since its foundation in 1995 at the University of Zurich, the SMP has pioneered biomedical research on ancient Egyptian mummies, contributing to significant discoveries in archaeology and medicine.
The symposium served as an opportunity to reflect on this long-standing partnership and explore future collaborations in Egyptology and scientific research. It was also part of the Swiss embassy’s celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the Friendship Treaty between Egypt and Switzerland.
The event included a keynote address by renowned Egyptologist and former Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass. It also featured lectures by eminent experts, including Prof. Frank Rühli and Thomas Böni, co-founders of the Swiss Mummy Project, Prof. Yehia Gad, a molecular genetics pioneer, and Prof. Salima Ikram, an expert in Egyptology from the American University in Cairo.
In his opening remarks, Andreas Baum highlighted the enduring collaboration between Swiss and Egyptian researchers, emphasizing the value of shared knowledge in cultural preservation.
“For decades, Egyptian and Swiss researchers have worked side by side, advancing our common understanding of mummies. This collaboration is a testament to the power of shared knowledge and the respect for cultural preservation. This symposium celebrates these achievements but also opens new possibilities for future research and cooperation between Egypt and Switzerland,” he said.
In his speech, Mohamed Ismail Khaled praised the Egyptian-Swiss cooperation in antiquities, which spans nearly a century and encompasses excavations, museum exhibitions, and archaeological studies. He acknowledged the vital role of the Egyptian Museum in fostering this partnership, particularly in mummy research. According to Khaled, while the symposium celebrates past achievements, it underscores the importance of international collaboration in uncovering the secrets of ancient civilizations.
Similarly, Frank Rühli reflected on the scientific advancements made through this partnership, noting, “Our collaborative Swiss-Egyptian biomedical mummy research helps to decipher the important history of human health and diseases.”
Meanwhile, Ali Abdel Halim, Director of the Egyptian Museum, underscored the importance of these events in raising archaeological awareness and enhancing international cooperation in archaeology and medical sciences.
Halim noted that besides the symposium, the Egyptian Museum hosted educational workshops for children on ancient Egyptian mummification practices. Furthermore, the museum organized guided tours in collaboration with the Swiss Embassy, highlighting the museum’s mummification collection.
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