Munich begins work on Egyptology museum

Earth Times

Work officially began Wednesday on what will one day be one of the world's great Egyptology museums, with Cairo represented by ambassador Mohamed al-Orabi at the foundation stone laying in Munich. The German city, which is in a permanent race with Berlin to show off the greatest art treasures, is erecting the 88-million-euro (129-million-dollar) building next to the three Pinakothek museums devoted to western art.

To be completed in 2010, the glass and bare-concrete building will gather treasures currently stored at various sites and also contain a film-studies college.

Sealed inside the foundation stone were objects typically placed in ancient Egyptian graves and a film camera made 40 years ago.