Near Eastern Institute

Egyptian Museum – An Egyptologist’s Dream

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is unbelievable. You could easily spend an entire day in the museum and not see it all. I recommend studying Egyptology, gaining your Certified Egyptologist credentials, and studying the museum’s collection before visiting the museum in order to best appreciate it. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities was built on 1835 near Ezbekeyah Gardens in Cairo, Egypt. It is a home to many significant pieces of Pharaonic antiquities and to the many treasures of King Tutankhamen. In 1858, all the artifacts were moved to Boulaq for larger storage. An Austrian Duke, Maximilian instructed a French architect to design and construct a new Egyptology museum. But after the museum got completed, it suffered an irreparable damage, a flood of the Nile River. The Egyptian artifacts were relocated to the Tahrir Square Museum in Giza and remained there until 1902. This museum became famous and attracted thousands of tourists and Egyptologists from all over the world.

The museum has two main floors, the ground and the first floor. On the ground floor is an extensive and huge collection of papyrus and coins in gold, silver and bronze used in the Ancient world. It also contains artifacts from the period of the New Kingdom between 1550 and 1070 B.C. Several languages like Greek, Latin, Arabic and Ancient Egyptian writing and language and hieroglyphs can also be found. The first floor confines tombs of Pharaohs Tuktomosis III, Tuktomosis IV, Amenophis II, Hatsheput, and Maherpen, and artifacts from the Legendary Valley of the Kings, all from the final two dynasties of Ancient Egypt. There are many artifacts that would interest Biblical Archaeologists in the museum.

The tomb of King Tutankhamun was more well known than any other tomb by the majority of the world because the tomb was found mostly intact. Inside the tomb you can find a vast collection of different artifacts that depicts the King’s life. Ivory and gold necklaces, bracelets and other decorative jewelry, to alabaster vases and flasks. It is also the home to many weapons and instruments he used. The well known artefact in the King’s tomb is the famous Gold Mask that weighs 24.5 pounds of solid gold which rest over the bandages wrapped around his face, and is believed to be likely his face.

The Museum also stored remains of many famous Pharaohs, like Ramses III, who was an ultimate skilled warrior. Pharaohs mummies can be estimatedly determined by the time of their reign in Egypt. As to the case of Amenhotep IV who was married to Nefertiti, a radiant beauty. When he became Pharaoh, he destroyed the religion of Amun, wanting to start his own religion of Aten, the disc which sent out rays ending in hands. He reigns around 1372 B.C., and when he died the name Golden Horis was one of the five names inscribed in his tomb proving that he was crowned on the bank of Nile, his father Amenhotep III’s favourite domain. The Fourth Dynasty was believed to be first reigned by King Sneferu on 2620 B.C. He is believed to be a fair and just king, famously known an the Master of Justice. He built many temples and structures all of which have the same signature of a statue of a woman. it symbolizes foundation and representing the sign of life and votive offerings, as well the city’s stronghold.