February 2011. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
While massive crowds protest against President Hosni Mubarak outside, Egyptian army Special Forces protect the irreplaceable golden mask of King Tutankhamun.
January 25 marks the fifth anniversary of the 2011 revolution, where hundreds of thousands of Egyptians poured into the streets for 18 consecutive days to demand an end to Hosni Mubarak's 30-year grip on power.
It's been a turbulent five years, and the Egyptian government is bracing itself for trouble in Tahrir Square once again, uncomfortably close to the Egyptian Museum and its priceless storehouse of antiquities.
Egyptian military forces have been deployed to the square and across Egypt; a move aimed at, a spokesperson says, protecting citizens and securing vital and important public and private buildings.
One of the most memorable images of the 2011 revolution was local citizens forming a human chain to protect the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square. Sadly, it was too late. In the turmoil the museum had already been broken into, with ancient treasures damaged and a number spirited away.
It is perhaps ironic that Tutankhamun's iconic mask survived the revolution unscathed, only to be mishandled and damaged while staff were changing a light bulb in its display case.
I have no doubt the fifth anniversary will be a noisy, passionate affair outside, but let's hope the soldiers that are no doubt stationed inside the Egyptian Museum have a quiet night.
Photo: Tara Todras-Whitehill