Egyptians reacted with outrage¹ this week after officials said that a 3,000-year-old bracelet² that had belonged to an ancient pharaoh was stolen from Cairo’s famed Egyptian Museum and then melted down for gold.

Tourism and Antiquities³ Minister Sherif Fathy said in televised comments late Saturday that the bracelet was stolen on Sep. 9 while officials at the museum were preparing artifacts for an exhibit in Italy. He blamed “laxity” in implementing⁴ procedures at the facility and said that prosecutors⁵ were still investigating.

The bracelet, containing a lapis lazuli bead⁶, belonged to Pharaoh Amenemope, who reigned⁷ about 3,000 years ago. Authorities said it was taken from a restoration lab at the museum and then funneled⁸ through a chain of dealers⁹ before being melted down. The minister said the lab didn’t have security cameras.

埃及官员表示，一个拥有3000年历史的古埃及法老手镯从开罗著名的埃及博物馆被盗，并被熔化取金。埃及民众对此表示愤怒。

旅游和文物部长谢里夫·法西周六晚些时候在电视讲话中表示，9月9日博物馆工作人员在为意大利的一个展览准备文物时，手镯被盗。他将原因归咎于博物馆执行程序"松懈"，并表示检察官仍在调查中。

这个手镯含有一颗青金石珠子，属于大约3000年前统治埃及的法老阿蒙涅姆普。当局表示，手镯是从博物馆的一个修复实验室被拿走的，然后经手一系列经销商倒卖，最后被熔化。部长表示，实验室没有安装监控摄像头。