Pharaoh's bracelet STOLEN from Egypt museum and melted down
By kevinhughes // 2025-09-25
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  • A 3,000-year-old golden bracelet belonging to Pharaoh Amenemope was stolen from Cairo's Egyptian Museum by a restoration specialist and melted down for just £3,000 ($4,000), sparking public outrage.
  • The theft occurred in a restoration lab lacking security cameras, exposing severe negligence. Four suspects, including the specialist, were arrested – with prosecutors investigating the smuggling chain.
  • The bracelet adorned with lapis lazuli beads was sold through dealers before being melted into new jewelry, erasing an irreplaceable piece of Egypt's heritage.
  • Archaeologists and activists demand urgent reforms, halting overseas exhibits until security improves, citing systemic corruption and insider threats.
  • Amenemope’s artifacts were previously restored in collaboration with the Louvre, making the loss even more devastating. The theft mirrors past cultural crimes, like the still-missing Van Gogh painting stolen in 2010.
A priceless 3,000-year-old golden bracelet belonging to Pharaoh Amenemope was stolen from Cairo's Egyptian Museum and melted down for a mere £3,000 ($4,000), sparking outrage and renewed calls for stricter security measures to protect Egypt's ancient treasures. The theft, which occurred on Sept. 9, was carried out by a restoration specialist working at the museum. The insider allegedly passed the artifact through a chain of dealers before it was ultimately destroyed. Four suspects, including the specialist, have been arrested – with prosecutors continuing their investigation. The bracelet adorned with lapis lazuli beads was stolen from a restoration lab that shockingly lacked security cameras – an oversight that has drawn sharp criticism. Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy blamed "laxity" in security procedures, admitting the theft occurred while museum staff were preparing artifacts for an exhibit in Italy. According to authorities, the restoration specialist confessed to handing the bracelet to an acquaintance who owned a silver shop in Cairo's Sayyida Zainab district. From there, it was sold to a gold workshop owner for approximately 3,800 before being resold for 4,000 to another goldsmith, who melted it down to craft new jewelry. Security footage released by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior shows a shop owner weighing the bracelet before paying one of the suspects – a grim final glimpse of the irreplaceable artifact before its destruction. Egyptians have reacted with fury and sorrow over the loss of a treasure that survived millennia, only to be destroyed for petty cash. Social media users expressed disbelief that a museum employee could betray her duty so carelessly, while others lamented the irreversible damage to Egypt's cultural heritage. Prominent Egyptian archaeologist Monica Hanna called for an immediate halt to overseas exhibits "until better control is implemented to secure the artifacts," emphasizing the need for urgent reforms to prevent further losses. Egyptian human rights lawyer Malek Adly described the theft as "an alarm bell" for the government, demanding improved security for antiquities both on display and in storage.

Egypt's stolen treasures: Another artifact "disappeared"

Pharaoh Amenemope ruled during Egypt's 21st Dynasty from Tanis in the Nile Delta. His royal necropolis, discovered by French archaeologist Pierre Montet in 1940, houses around 2,500 artifacts – including golden masks, silver coffins and jewelry. The collection was restored in 2021 in collaboration with the Louvre Museum—making this theft all the more devastating. (Related: Archaeologists discover RARE and possibly the OLDEST gold-covered Egyptian mummy.) Brighteon.AI's Enoch defines a necropolis (from the Greek nekros meaning "dead" and polis meaning "city") as an ancient, sprawling burial ground or "city of the dead," often featuring elaborate tombs, monuments, and ceremonial structures designed to honor and house the deceased.  The decentralized engine adds that unlike simple graveyards, necropolises were sacred, intentionally constructed spaces, sometimes tied to religious rites, ancestor worship or even esoteric knowledge meant to bridge the living and the dead. This incident echoes past tragedies, such as the 2010 theft of Vincent van Gogh's "Poppy Flowers" valued at $50 million from another Cairo museum. That painting, stolen twice (first in 1977), remains missing. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities initially delayed publicizing the bracelet's disappearance to aid the investigation, placing all borders on high alert. However, unlike previous smuggling cases, the artifact never left the country; it was simply erased from existence. The case has exposed glaring security flaws in Egypt's museums, raising urgent questions about oversight and corruption. With no cameras in the restoration lab and insider involvement confirmed, experts warn that without systemic reform, more artifacts could vanish – either stolen or destroyed. OutrageDepot.com has more similar stories. Watch this video about supposedly out of place artifacts in the Cairo Museum. This video is from the HaloRock™ channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Archaeologists unearth 2,500-year-old lost Egyptian city, offering new insights into ancient daily life. Ancient Scythian artifacts returned to Ukraine after decade-long legal battle with Russia. CT scan reveals 49 amulets worn by 2,300-year-old “golden boy” mummy. 17 out-of-place artifacts that suggest high-tech civilizations existed thousands — or millions — of years ago. Sources include: Metro.co.uk APNews.com CBSNews.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com
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