TOWN COUNCIL "SHOULD BE CURSED" FOR SELLING OFF EGYPTIAN STATUE

A curse should be put on officials of a town in England for agreeing to sell a 4,400-year-old Egyptian statue after finding out it is worth $2.5 million on the black market, an opponent of the sale says.

In August last year, the leaders of Northampton Borough Council announced plans to sell the statue of Sekhemka after it was valued at an estimated £2 million.

Leaders of the Liberal Democrat opposition group tried to block the sale this week by calling for Sekhemka to be put back on display at Northampton Museum.

Yet the Conservative leaders of the council blocked their efforts, prompting Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor Brendan Glynane to declare they should be cursed.

He said: "I've read there is a curse attached to Sekhemka and if it should fall on anyone, it should fall on this administration for not having the courage to change their minds."

He was apparently referring to a popular novel entitled THE CURSE OF SEKHEMKA by Matthew Messina.

The council has said that if Sekhemka is sold at auction later this year, the money raised will be spent on town's museum.

Sekhemka was a high ranking Egyptian official.

His statue was made shortly after the Pyramids were built, in about 2400 BC.

It was obtained by the second Marquis of Northampton in 1850.

It was taken off display at Northampton Museum in 2010 when its value was realised.

Council officials said if it was put back on display, it would have to be guarded around the clock.