Museums in Egypt
Egyptian museums are a treasure trove of culture and science. They are a cultural and scientific legacy for humanity. Egypt is at the forefront of its antiquities collection, which museums house in tens of unique places. These collections represent a significant cultural treasure. They have made the museums centers for research and reflection on ancient Egyptian and world civilizations, as well as on modern culture.
Museums are an important part of the culture. According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, the number of archaeological, historical, and regional museums reached 34 last year. This makes them an essential component of Egypt’s soft power on artistic, heritage, and cultural levels.
Museums in Cairo
Cairo, a city steeped in millennia of history, offers a treasure trove of cultural experiences, with its museums standing as magnificent custodians of ancient wonders and artistic heritage. From the unparalleled collections showcasing Pharaonic grandeur to diverse exhibits spanning Islamic art and modern history, Cairo’s museums invite you on an immersive journey through the ages.
1. The Grand Egyptian Museum
The Grand Egyptian Museum is the most important among all the museums in Egypt. It is a massive project that chronicles Egypt’s history. It sits near the Giza Pyramids. Spanning 117 acres, it will house about 100,000 items from the Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman periods. Planners project that it will attract more than five million people per year.
Features and Cost: The museum grounds offer various commercial and recreational facilities. These include a museum garden and a center for old materials science and restoration. The project is estimated to cost about $550 million.
Construction Phases: Workers carried out the project in three stages. The second phase involved opening several labs. These include a repair center, a mummies maintenance laboratory, and labs for wood, stone, glass, and ceramics. The final phase includes developing the museum’s galleries. It also includes a scholars’ museum, a conference and movie center, an archaeological library, and a children’s museum.
2. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)
The Egyptian government laid the foundation stone for the National Museum of Civilization in 2002 AD. The museum is located near the Babylonian fortification. It holds around 50,000 artifacts. They chose to present these artifacts in a permanent primary exhibition and six additional displays. These exhibits focus on themes like civilization, the Nile, writing, and the state.
An exhibition of over 420 antiquities aims to introduce the evolution of Egyptian crafts. Additionally, in 2021, authorities transferred the royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum to this museum to rest in their permanent home.
3. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
The Egyptian Museum is the oldest museum in Egypt. It is a treasure trove of royal relics and unique antiquities. It is also one of the largest museums in the Arab world. The museum overlooks Tahrir Square in central Cairo.
In 1902 AD, Khedive Abbas Helmy II inaugurated the museum in its current location. Before that, officials moved its antiquities to many different places.
The museum has two primary levels. The first level holds heavy treasures. These include coffins, paintings, and sculptures. The top level has numerous archaeological collections. The most notable collections are the King Tutankhamun Collection and the Treasures of Tanis. It also has two halls of royal jewels.
The museum has a vast number of royal objects. Some of the most important are the Palette of King Narmer, the Statue of King Khufu, and the Mask of King Tutankhamun.
4. The Museum of Islamic Art
The Museum of Islamic Art sits in Bab Al-Khalq Square, a prominent square in ancient Cairo. It’s next to some of the most notable Islamic sites, like Abu Tulun Mosque, Muhammad Ali Mosque, and the Citadel of Salah al-Din.
We founded the museum in 1902 AD to collect Islamic relics and documents from all over the world. These include items from North Africa, the Levant, India, China, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, and Andalusia. The museum’s collections showcase various Islamic arts through the ages and enrich the study of Islamic art. Today, it holds over 100,000 diverse masterpieces, making it a beacon of Islamic art.
The museum has two levels. The first level holds the exhibition rooms. The second level houses shops. The museum’s collection includes 4,000 antiques, new display screens, and a special hall for Muhammad Ali’s belongings.
5. The Coptic Museum
It was built on 8,000 square meters of land, donated by the Coptic Orthodox Church, making it one of Egypt’s biggest museums.
6. Cairo International Airport’s Museum
7. The Textile Museum (Moved to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization)
The Textile Museum sits in El Nahaseen School near the Sabil of Muhammad Ali Pasha. This is one of the ancient structures on Al-Moez Street. The museum houses a variety of textile models from various centuries to teach visitors about Egypt’s textile history. It is the first museum in the Middle East dedicated to spinning and weaving, and the third in the world.
Update: This museum is now part of the National Museum of Egyptian civilization.
Museums in Alexandria
1. Alexandria National Museum
The Alexandria National Museum was previously a palace for Asaad Basili Pasha before being purchased by the American Consulate. The Supreme Council of Antiquities purchased it in 1996, then repaired it and launched it as a museum in September 2003.
It comprises three levels, with about 1,800 artifacts spanning the majority of Egyptian civilization’s history. It is marked by a rare collection of artifacts discovered in Alexandria’s Abu Qir Bay.
2. The Royal Jewelry Museum
The Royal Jewelry Museum sits in Alexandria’s Zizinia neighborhood. It is a one-of-a-kind architectural marvel built with European terrazzo. The structure was formerly a palace. The nobility, Fatima al-Zahra, was a member of the royal Alawite dynasty, who ruled Egypt from 1805 until the July Revolution in 1952. A passageway connects the palace’s two wings on the east and west sides.
A garden surrounds the structure. They converted the palace into a museum in 1986 AD. It now houses a huge collection of royal jewels and unique artifacts from the royal family. More than 11,000 pieces of the best and most costly royal jewels and antiquities are on show in the museum’s eleven galleries. Examples include decorations, medals, golden necklaces, watches, smoking sets, special ornamentation sets for queens, diamond-studded tiaras, ivory cans, sets of golden beverages, and diamond-studded swords.
3. The Bibliotheca of Alexandria Museum
Among all the museums in Egypt, The Bibliotheca Alexandrina hosts many Museums, which opened in 2002, features an antiquities museum. It holds 133 artifacts that depict Egypt’s history. The most notable are a collection of antiquities that archeologists recovered from the bottom of the Mediterranean. They found them between the eastern port and the Abu Qir Bay region.
Museums in Aswan
1. The Crocodile Museum
The Crocodile Museum is situated in front of the Kom Ombo temple, which was devoted to the worship of the crocodile-headed deity Sobek. A multitude of expressions of Sobek’s devotion is on show in the museum. Crocodile mummification and other crocodile-related rites. A replica of a crocodile graveyard, as well as a great number of crocodile mummies of all ages and lengths, as well as coffins used to store the mummies of this holy animal and paintings showing gifts to Sobek, are on display at the museum.
2. The Nubian Museum
Museums in Luxor
Luxor, often called the world’s largest open-air museum, offers a truly remarkable journey through ancient Egyptian history. Its museums complement the city’s monumental temples and tombs, providing intimate glimpses into the lives, beliefs, and artistic achievements of pharaohs, queens, and common people. Here, you will discover artifacts that tell the stories of a civilization that shaped the ancient world.
1. Luxor Museum
In 1962, they began construction on the Luxor Museum, and they finished it in 1969. The museum was designed as a regional museum to present items discovered in Luxor. Experts hand-picked the exhibits from the region’s treasures. They officially opened the museum on December 12, 1975, after completing the inside and outdoor displays. When visitors leave the museum, they are greeted with a breathtaking panoramic view of the West Bank. The museum’s galleries are divided into two floors, and two ramps connect them. The staff displayed the exhibits using the most up-to-date museum display techniques to highlight their aesthetic brilliance.
2. The Mummification Museum
One of the least visited museums in Egypt. The Mummification Museum is a completely educational organization. It opened in 1997 and is located next to the magnificent Luxor Museum, which dates back to 1975. The museum aims to show how the ancient Egyptians said goodbye to their deceased. They also show how they preserved them, preparing them for the journey to a new life they were about to embark on.
3. Karnak’s Open Museum
One of the most important museums in Egypt is the Open Museum in Karnak. It contains several important cabins from the Middle International era. These include the white cabin of King Senusret I. It also has two cabins from the modern state era: the alabaster cabin of King Amenhotep I and the red cabin of Queen Hatshepsut. The museum also has a variety of other antiques. These include baboon sculptures, several false doors, and massive stone structures.
