Cairo:Egypt has successfully completed the restoration of the 'Portrait of the Two Brothers,' one of the ancient Fayoum portraits, in collaboration with Italy. This initiative is part of the broader efforts to preserve Egypt's cultural heritage.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the announcement was made by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy at a press conference held at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The minister emphasized the longstanding cooperation between Egypt and Italy in restoring Fayoum portraits and reiterated Egypt's dedication to making its rich heritage accessible globally.

The exhibition at the Egyptian Museum currently features 24 portraits and 16 artefacts of significant historical value. Hisham el-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, remarked on the museum's 124th-anniversary celebration, with plans for a major event next year to mark its 125th anniversary. Leithy described the restored portrait as a circular painting, 60 centimeters in diameter, created around 2,000 years ago by an unknown artist.

The restoration process was meticulous, involving both Egyptian and Italian experts. The portrait, found in two parts with faded colors, required careful restoration to preserve it for future generations. Leithy highlighted the importance of restoration for preservation rather than beautification and noted the upcoming display of the portrait in Italy next May.

Italian ambassador Agostino Palese expressed his admiration for the cooperation between the two countries in archaeology and highlighted the potential for expanding this collaboration to further preserve cultural heritage.