The first plans were drawn up in the early 1990s, and now the "Grand Egyptian Museum" in Cairo is opening its doors: Tutankhamun's treasures can be seen in their entirety for the first time.
After a long planning and construction phase, the "Great Egyptian Museum" on the outskirts of Cairo has been welcoming visitors since November 1. Over 100,000 artifacts from ancient Egyptian history are now on display on more than 24,000 square meters.
The highlight is the complete tomb treasure of Tutankhamun. So far, only parts, including the life-size guardian statues, the throne chair and the golden mask, have been on display. The mask of the young pharaoh, a masterpiece made of obsidian and gold, is regarded as a symbol of the mysterious aura of the ruler over 3,300 years ago.
The museum not only impresses with its collection: visitors first enter a spacious square and an entrance hall that imitates the pyramids and is decorated with hieroglyphs. The 12-meter-high colossal statue of Ramses II, which once stood in the middle of Cairo and was transported to its new location in 2006, is enthroned in the atrium.
Stairs lead from the main hall to floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the pyramids of Giza, just two kilometers away. The twelve main galleries are arranged chronologically and thematically and display statues and sarcophagi as well as mummified animals, elaborate pieces of jewelry and millennia-old wigs.
A visit to the museum can easily be combined with a visit to the pyramids. Shuttle buses will take visitors from the new entrance across the plateau, while private cars and coaches are not permitted. The nearby pyramids, including the pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos, as well as the Sphinx, form the impressive historical setting of the museum.
