The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in Cairo is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. It is located in the center of Cairo, on the edge of Tahrir Square, and is a must see for anyone going to Cairo.
The building was designed by French architect Marcel Dorgnon and built by Italians Giuseppe Garozzo and Francesco Zafrani. It was built in the neoclassical style and has a distinctive pink color. Entering it is like stepping back in time, not only because of the things you can find there, but also because of the unique architecture and furniture that makes it what it is.
When it opened in 1902, its purpose was to preserve the memories of ancient Egypt in a place that was large enough and good enough for the growing number of finds being found or rediscovered at that time, as well as to stop the uncontrolled export. of these memories.
Antiquities of the Egyptian Museum:
The museum has the largest collection of artefacts from different Pharaonic eras in the world. There are about 120,000 artefacts, such as the things found in Tutankhamun’s tomb and most of the mummies found after the 19th century.
These items are from the time between the start of the Old Kingdom, around 2700 BC, and the Greco-Roman era.
It’s easy to get lost in the museum’s display cases because the exhibit is so big and looks like it came from the past. The museum seems even more romantic because of this. Because of this, knowing that the museum has two floors will be helpful.
On the ground floor are heavy monuments like sarcophagi, paintings, and huge statues made of limestone and sandstone, such as statues of Ramesses II, Senusret, Khafre, the Sphinx, Akhenaten, and Hatshepsut.
You can also learn about Egypt’s history, from the time of the ancient kingdom to the time of the Greeks and Romans. The gallery goes around in a circle, starting from the hallway to the right of the entrance. You should follow this trail because it will give you a good overview of most of ancient Egypt’s history.
Parts of the Egyptian Museum:
The upper floor is created differently, more specifically according to the themes of the exhibitions. A large part of the first floor is devoted to the objects that were in the tomb of Tutankhamun. There, you can see his unique and perfectly preserved death mask, one of the most valuable items in the tomb.
The treasure room found in the royal tomb of Tanis is also on the first floor. The Royal Mummy Room is another fascinating part of the museum. In fact, you have to buy a separate ticket to see this part of the museum because it’s so special. The rooms inside are large, with high walls, glass panels to the ceiling, and windows on the ground floor, allowing natural light to enter.
There is so much to see and do at the museum that it might be too much. It should also be borne in mind that most of its items have not been cataloged or rearranged since the first time they were put together, which was more than a century ago.
