Since he became head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in 2002, Mr Hawass claims to have returned 5, 000 artefacts to Egypt which he says were stolen.

BBC: Rosetta Stone row 'would be solved by loan to Egypt'

Now, though, that contention is probably lost because the main defender of the Egyptian case, the general secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, was fired over corruption allegations.

FORBES: Untold Secrets of the World's Oldest Supermodel

Both he and the head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mustafa Amin, said the pyramid was closed for maintenance after the large number of visitors during the Eid al-Adha holiday last week.

BBC: Egypt closes Great Pyramid amid 11/11/11 rumours