CAIRO: The historic Tawfiq Pasha Andraos Palace, located adjacent to the Luxor Temple, is being demolished because it has developed cracks and is on the verge of collapse, according to Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt.
While accompanying Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly during his inspection tour of Egypt’s monument-rich city of Luxor on Wednesday, Waziri blamed antiquities thieves excavating under the palace for the poor condition of the building.
The palace, which overlooks the Nile, was built in 1897 by Tewfik Pasha Andraos, a member of the House of Representatives for three consecutive terms from 1923 to 1935. He hosted many historical figures there.
It has been of great historical value as it contained artifacts that were transferred to the archaeological stores in Luxor 20 years ago.
Remains of a pharaonic temple might be found under the palace and the excavation of that will be completed within three to four months, Waziri said.
The Egyptian government began its demolition after the dilapidated installations committee proved that the condition of the building was very dangerous and a threat to the Luxor Temple.
Controversy erupted when the razing of the historic building was criticized, with some demanding that the demolition be halted and the building restored to its former glory.
In January 2013, the bodies of Tawfiq’s unmarried daughters, Sofia Andraos, 82, and Louday Andraos, 79, were found inside the palace. Their deaths remain a mystery.
