All presidential palaces will be added to Egypt's antiquities list, reports Nevine El-Aref Minister of State for Antiquities Zahi Hawass has asked Prime Minister Essam Sharaf for full authority over Abdin presidential palace so that the ministry can supervise the palace's four museums. The museums -- the Silver Museum, Arms Museum, Royal Family Museum and the Presidential Gifts Museum -- are located on the palace's ground floor. A fifth, the Historical Documents Museum, was opened in January 2005. Among documents in its possession is the Imperial Ottoman faraman, or decree, which established the rule of Khedive Mohamed Ali and his family, and a certificate for the Order of the Iron Crown, from the short-lived South American Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia. The second floor, which was the former living quarters of the royal family, is reserved for visiting foreign dignitaries. Hawass said that when the palace comes under the control of the Ministry of State for Antiquities, the four museums will be open to the public all day for the first time ever. He said that last week several archaeological committees had been tasked with documenting the presidency palaces in Egypt, said to be around 20. The palaces will be put on Egypt's antiquities list like Abdin and Orouba which are listed. Until now, Hawass told Al-Ahram Weekly, a committee in Alexandria has documented 4,000 artefacts in the Haramlek Palace in Montaza as well as 6,000 pieces in Abdin, Al-Quba, Al-Tahra and Al-Salam. Such paperwork, he continued, started 10 years ago to document the artefacts inside the presidency palaces. This information, Hawass added, will be registered in documents: one inside the presidency and the other in the Ministry of State for Antiquities. A periodical review of the documents and comparing them with the artefacts on display will be carried out. Abdin was the first presidential palace to be registered on Egypt's antiquities list. Because of its adornments, paintings, and large number of clocks scattered in the parlors and wings, most of which are decorated with pure gold, it is believed to be one of the world's most luxurious palaces. Built by Khedive Ismail, on the debris of a house owned by Turkish Prince Abdin Bey, Abdin Palace became the official government headquarters instead of the Citadel of Cairo. Construction started in 1863 and continued for 10 years. Officially inaugurated in 1874, it is a 24-feddan palace designed by French architect Rousseau along with a large number of Egyptian, Italian, French and Turkish decorators. The palace's 20-feddan garden was added in 1921 by Sultan Fouad I.
