Supreme Council of Antiquities Addresses Qasr El Nil Lions Rumours

In response to concerns about the use of black paint on the Qasr El Nil lions, after images of the famous statues undergoing maintenance went viral on social media, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) released a statement denying claims that the statues had been painted black. According to Gamal Mostafa, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector, “No varnish, coloured, or glossy materials were used at any stage.”

The images that had spread online depicted a routine cleaning and maintenance initiative that was being implemented on several notable statues across Cairo. The project is part of a collaborative effort between the SCA and the Cairo governorate aimed at enhancing the appearance of public statues in squares and parks throughout the city. While the statues hold considerable artistic and cultural significance, Mostafa clarified that they are not classified as antiquities under current regulations. Mostafa emphasised that the primary focus of the work is to remove accumulated dust and pollution from the statues’ surfaces.

Key to this initiative is the application of a transparent protective coating, designed to shield the statues - particularly the lion sculptures - from environmental damage caused by sunlight, dust and rain. This is not the first instance of cleaning and maintenance for these statues; the SCA has implemented similar efforts in the past, periodically applying protective coating since 2021.