Investigations continue into the disappearance of a rare golden bracelet belonging to King Psusennes I, one of the most prominent kings of the 21st dynasty, from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir. Despite rumors that it was undergoing restoration in preparation for its travel to Italy to be displayed at an international exhibition, no official statement has yet been issued clarifying whether the bracelet was lost, stolen, or simply the result of an administrative error in the custody records.
The lack of official clarification raises questions about how it disappeared and who was responsible for monitoring it in the restoration workshops. It also raises another equally important question: Does the disappearance of the bracelet affect Egypt’s international reputation?
The last appearance of King Psusennes I’s bracelet
To date, no official photos of the missing bracelet have been published. This is particularly noteworthy given that the Egyptian Museum houses a diverse collection of King Psusennes I’s jewelry, including more than one bracelet.
Among the jewelry of the “Silver King,” as he is nicknamed, is the famous gold bracelet, which the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir announced in March 2024 that it would display. It was described as being made of gold and inlaid with agate, lapis lazuli, and green feldspar.
According to the official statement issued by the museum at the time, “The piece is 7 cm high. It dates back to the 21st Dynasty, the Third Intermediate Period.” The bracelet was found in the Tanis area of Sharqia Governorate. It was displayed in the “Tanis” treasures hall on the upper floor of the museum, as part of a collection of 2,500 artifacts from the tombs of the kings of the 21st Dynasty. It was officially announced in a statement by the museum on March 28, 2025.
Another bracelet belonging to King Psusennes I
The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir also houses a second bracelet belonging to the king, made of gold, agate, and lapis lazuli. It is decorated with agate eyes, attached to the bracelet to represent part of the title Amun-Ra. There is also a third bracelet from the same collection.
A missing bracelet
Dr. Abdelhamid Ma’ruf, former head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, spoke about the missing bracelet, the procedures followed in such cases, and their impact on Egypt’s international reputation. This coincided with the organization of more than one exhibition outside Egypt.
He said in a statement to Bab Masr: “The missing bracelet was among 130 artifacts prepared in the restoration laboratory of the Egyptian Museum to travel to Italy for display in Rome as part of the Treasures of the Pharaohs exhibition.” He added: The bracelet was discovered by French scientist Pierre Montet in the tomb of King Psusennes I in Tanis, Sharqia Governorate, in 1940. The bracelet was among its treasures.
Whose responsibility?
Ma’ruf pointed out that the person responsible for these pieces inside the restoration laboratory is the person who received them upon their arrival at the laboratory. Regarding the procedures followed after the discovery of the disappearance of an artifact, he explained: “The administrative authority and the Tourism and Antiquities Investigation Department are immediately notified. Investigations and thorough examinations are immediately initiated, and everyone connected to the workshop or who frequents it is questioned.”
Regarding the role of surveillance cameras, he said: “If the cameras are installed in the workshop, they are downloaded and studied by the investigators. If they are not working or do not exist, this is gross negligence and negligence for which the administrative authority is responsible.”
Museum inventory
Regarding the recurrence of such incidents, the archaeological expert explained: “These cases have become very rare after the establishment of museum storage facilities with high security specifications, equipped with cameras. In addition to security provided by the tourism and antiquities police.”
As for the issue of inventory, he said: “Given the large number of artifacts in museums, each section is inventoried during the handover and takeover of custody, or as required.”
Movement log
Ma’ruf added: “When any artifact is transferred from storage to restoration workshops or exhibition halls, this is done with official reports and specialized committees. Each artifact also has a movement log that records all its movements.”
He pointed out that there is no external oversight of the archaeological collection, as responsibility is limited to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Special fingerprint
As for the ministry’s mechanism to ensure that no artifact is replaced or imitated, Ma’rouf explained: “A special fingerprint is placed on each piece before it travels abroad. It is checked upon departure and after return to ensure its safety.”
He concluded by emphasizing that the incident will affect Egypt’s international reputation, saying: “I believe this incident will attract the world’s attention, especially given the widespread fame of ancient Egyptian antiquities.”
Treasures of the Pharaohs
The bracelet was scheduled to be displayed as part of the royal jewelry collection at the “Treasures of the Pharaohs” exhibition, which is set to take place from October 24, 2025, to May 3, 2026. The Scuderie del Quirinale in Italy is hosting this exhibition, which will feature pieces on display there for the first time. It is the second exhibition of this size held by Egypt in the country after the early millennium exhibition at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice.
The exhibition spans six sections, including: the divine role of the pharaohs, social organization, and rituals of the afterlife. It includes 130 artifacts on loan from the most famous Egyptian museums, such as the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Luxor Museum. In addition, there is a contribution from the Egyptian Museum in Turin.
Highlights of the exhibition
Among the works to be displayed are:
- The colossal statue of Thalith Menkaure (Old Kingdom).
- The golden coffin of Queen Ahhotep (New Kingdom).
- The golden fly necklace of Queen Ahhotep.
- The golden funeral mask of King Amenemope.
- The golden coffin of Queen Tuya, grandmother of Pharaoh Akhenaten.
- The golden funeral cover of Pharaoh Psusennes I (Late Period). In addition to their royal jewelry, everyday tools, and decorated coffins.
The treasures of Psusennes… rivaling Tutankhamun
The tomb of King Psusennes was discovered in 1940 by French archaeologist Pierre Montet in the city of Tanis, Egypt. According to the website “Ancient Origins”, this discovery was comparable to Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in its intact state. However, despite the magnitude of this extraordinary discovery, the news did not cause much of a stir in Europe, which was preoccupied with World War II at the time.
The discovery of the tomb of King Psusennes I, the third ruler of his family to ascend to the throne at the beginning of the Third Intermediate Period, was a relatively obscure event. This era was marked by political turmoil that led to the division of Egypt between the kings of Upper and Lower Egypt. The pharaohs of the 21st Dynasty ruled from Tanis, but their control extended to the Lower Egyptian Delta.
The Silver Pharaoh
The most notable find in the tomb was a coffin made of pure silver, which led to Psusennes being nicknamed the “Silver Pharaoh.”
In ancient Egyptian culture, gold was considered the flesh of the gods, while silver was considered their bones. Although gold was abundant in ancient Egypt, silver was more valuable because it was imported from West Asia and the Mediterranean region. The silver coffin in the tomb of Psusennes was a testament to his wealth and power.
Damage to the mummy
However, Besosnis was buried in a relatively humid environment compared to the desert in Luxor. This led to the destruction of his mummy and the damage of most of the wooden pieces inside the tomb.
