To get to know Cairo well, you should spend five days there. With a more extended stay, you can see the main sights and go for a guided walk in a very peaceful way.
On the first day, you can save money for the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. So why not go on a food tour? You can go to Saqqara on the second day and have dinner in a nice restaurant on the Nile in the evening. On the third day, the tour to Alexandria is a good idea.
You can go to the Egyptian Museum on the morning of the fourth day, Immediately go to Islamic Cairo and walk around the mosques and the Citadel.
On the fifth and final day, you can visit Khan El Khalili, dine there, and end the day (and trip) with a felucca ride along the Nile in the late afternoon.
Contents:
- What is the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization?
- Where is the Egyptian National Museum?
- Who built the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization?
- What is the collection of this Museum like? What are its main attractions?
- What are the royal mummies that were transferred to the Museum?
- Is the Grand Egyptian Museum the same as the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization?
What is the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)?
It is one of the largest museums in the world, and its goal is to preserve and share Egypt’s rich cultural heritage through exhibitions, research, and community outreach. It was the first Museum of its kind to focus on ancient cultures. The Museum’s collections come from several places in Egypt, such as the Cairo Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Museum of Coptic Art, and the Royal Jewelry Museum in Alexandria.
Where is the Egyptian National Museum?
It overlooks the hot springs “Ain al-Sira” in Fustat, part of Old Cairo. Fustat was the first Arab capital in Egypt.
Who built the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization?
In 1982, the Egyptian government asked UNESCO to start a campaign to build the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. In 1999, this spot was chosen as the best place for its proximity to Fustat. In 2002, when Mohamed Hosni Mubarak was president, the foundation stone was laid for one of the country’s largest—and most important, museums of artifacts.
In 2017, French Ricciardone, president of the American University in Cairo, donated 5,000 pieces to Egypt’s National Museum of Civilization.
Part of the National Museum was inaugurated in February of the same year. A collection called “Egyptian Handicrafts and Industries Through the Ages” was displayed in a temporary hall of 1,000 square feet (ceramics, textiles, carpentry, decorations).
About 420 objects and models from different places were collected in this exhibition. There are also a lot of big screens showing documentaries. The “Golden Show of Royal Mummies” event was held at the Egyptian Museum on April 3, 2021, and 18 pharaohs and four mummies of queens were transported. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization opened with this ceremony.
Construction of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
The Museum’s stunning facade was created by an Egyptian architect who won a global design competition and got the job. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is spread over 23,236 square meters.
This Museum contains over 50,000 pieces that tell the story of Egyptian civilization from its inception to today. Items are placed into two groups: one based on a theme and one based on when it was made.
The collection represents ancient, classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Coptic, medieval, Islamic, modern, and present-day all.
The Museum’s themed collection tells the story of the Nile and the evolution of writing, society, culture, materials, religion, and ideas. It also has royal mummies.
What is the collection of this Museum like? What are its main attractions?
In it, you will find information about each time these people lived. It begins directly at the beginning of this civilization, in the so-called pre-dynastic and ancient era, and continues to this day.
Therefore, not only artifacts and artifacts from the time of the Pharaohs can be found, but also those dating back to the time of the Romans, Copts, and Arabs, as well as those dating back to the Middle Ages and earlier.
However, museum displays are placed in rooms based on when they were made and their theme. In this way, the places honouring the royal mummies who walked in Cairo in April 2021 are the most beautiful. This includes Queen Hatshepsut and the rulers Seqnren-Ta (Seventeenth Dynasty), Ahmose I (Seventeenth Dynasty), Ramesses II (Nineteenth Dynasty), Ahmose-Nefertari (Seventeenth Dynasty), and Ty (Nineteenth Dynasty).
In the central hall, you can see statues of important historical figures such as Akhenaten, items from ancient Egyptian tombs, and furniture from ancient mosques.
Since the Museum of Egyptian Civilization is constantly getting new things going, you can expect to see recent or rearranged exhibitions and galleries. The success of this Museum and the nearby Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, in addition to the entire marketing strategies, shows that Egypt has moved into a new era in which its historical heritage has become a spectacular show to attract more and more tourists from all over the world—the scientist.
The rooms of the Museum:
- The permanent (main) hall contains several unique displays showcasing the history of Egyptian civilization and traditional Egyptian folk culture from ancient Egypt through the Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, and modern times.
- There are 22 ancient kings and queens mummies in the Royal Mummies Hall. Hatshepsut, Ramesses II, Tuthmosis III, and Ti are the most famous.
- There are several temporary exhibition halls and performances in Cairo today.
What are the royal mummies that were transferred to the Museum?
Transferring mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to the National Museum of Civilization in Fustat
On April 3, the royal mummies were brought from the Egyptian Museum to Tahrir Square. This is one of the most important events of the twenty-first century. The royal mummies used to be kept in a small part of the Museum, but now they are on display with their coffins in a sizeable climate-controlled area.
Eighteen royal mummies and four royal mummies were found. Mummies were first preserved in the Deir el-Bahri tomb (DB 320). آext to the Hatshepsut temple and the tomb of Amenhotep II (AD 35) in the Valley of the Kings, far from their original graves.
Mummies that were discovered in the Deir Al Bahari;
- The Mummy of Seqenenra ruled from 1558 to 1555 BC. It is the last of the XVII dynasty.
- The Mummy of Amosis I ruled Egypt from 1549 to 1524 BC. C. He was the liberator of Egypt from the Hyksos.
- The Mummy of Amenhotep I ruled Egypt from 1525 to 1504 BC. His tomb (KV 39) was discovered in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Tutmosis I ruled from 1506 to 1493 BC. His tomb (KV 38) is in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Tutmosis II ruled Egypt from 1493 to 1479 BC. C. His tomb (KV 20) is in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Tuthmosis III ruled the country from 1479 to 1425 C. The number of his tomb in the Valley of the Kings is KV 34.
- The Mummy of Seti I ruled from 1294 to 1279. His tomb (KV 17) in the Valley of the Kings was discovered in 1817.
- The Mummy of Ramses II ruled Egypt from 1279 to 1213 BC. C. His tomb is KV 7 in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Ramses III ruled from 1186 to 1154. His tomb (KV3) is located in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Ramses IX ruled Egypt from 1129 to 1111 C. His original tomb is (KV 6) in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Ahmose-Meritamón is the daughter of King Seqenenra (of the seventeenth dynasty).
- The Mummy of Ahmose-Nefertari is the wife of Amosis I. Her tomb is TT 359 in Deir el Madina.
- The Mummy of Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt from 1490 to 1468 as a mighty pharaoh, his tomb in the Valley of the Kings KV 20.
Mummies that were discovered in the tomb of Amenhotep II in the Valley of the Kings;
- The Mummy of Amenhotep II ruled Egypt from 1427 to 1401 BC. His tomb is KV35 in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Tutmosis IV was ruled from 1401 to 1391 BC. His mummy was originally in his tomb (KV 43).
- The Mummy of Amenhotep III ruled Egypt from 1390 to 1353 BC. C. His tomb is WV22 in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Meren-Ptah was ruled from 1213 to 1203 BC. C. was the fourth pharaoh of the XIX dynasty and the son of Ramses II.
- The Mummy of Seti II ruled from 1200 to 1294 BC. His tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings (KV 15).
- The Mummy of Ramses IV ruled from 1155 to 1149 BC. His tomb is tomb KV 2 in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Ramses V, who ruled from 1149 to 1145 BC. C. The tomb of Ramses V is KV 9 in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy Ramses VI ruled the country from 1143 to 1136 BC. His tomb is KV 9 in the Valley of the Kings.
- The Mummy of Tiy is the wife of Amenhotep III, and she was believed to be buried in the Amarna tomb or WV 22 in the Valley of the Monkeys.
Is the Grand Egyptian Museum the same as the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)?
This Museum should not be confused with the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is believed to be the most significant archaeological Museum in the world and is just a few kilometres away from the Giza pyramids. Instead, the Museum of Egyptian Civilization opened in 2017 and has added pieces from other museums, such as the famous pharaonic mummies, to its collection.
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Egypt always has something new for tourists, so let’s book a day tour to see this unique Museum and other old Cairo landmarks such as mosques, churches, bazaars, and more. With our Egypt holiday packages, you can take a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan to learn about history differently in Cairo.
