Inside the Grand Egyptian Museum

At the Grand Egyptian Museum, relics of the past speak for themselves. Grand in scale, the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum has finally opened its doors to the delight of tourists and locals alike in the Giza district. Not far from the pyramids, the museum is certainly a gem, as its acronym suggests; after all, it is the result of several years of careful planning and innovation by both Egyptian and foreign architects.

Home to over 100,000 artifacts, Egypt has consolidated most of its artifacts into a single museum, moving several artifacts and relics from other museums in its bustling capital to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). One of the most significant is the 11-meter-high, 83-tonne, 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II.

Considered one of the world’s largest archaeological museums dedicated to a single civilization, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) includes a collection of artifacts and statues. From the moment you enter, you are greeted by more than 60 large statues and columns lining the entryway to the grand staircase leading into the museum.

Once inside, you enter air-conditioned showrooms. The displays are illuminated and include the full Tutankhamun collection of more than 5,300 items, along with 30,000 other items in temporary rotating exhibits. Currently, more than 15,000 artifacts are on display in the newly opened main galleries.

As a first-time visitor, you can book a 90-minute guided tour in English or Arabic; however, 90 minutes won’t do this museum justice, as it doesn’t feel long enough to cover the thousand years of history you’ll encounter.

Given its grand scale, the museum has organized its galleries chronologically and by theme. For example, galleries one to three cover the prehistoric period, while galleries four to six cover the Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period. Galleries 10 to 12 cover the Graeco-Roman Period. Each gallery explains the periods through the three themes of Society, Kingship, and Beliefs.  

One of the most fascinating and busiest galleries houses Tutankhamun’s treasures. The displays let you take a closer look at King Tut’s famous golden burial mask; you will also see elaborate coffins, jewelry, royal thrones, and chariots used by the Pharaohs, along with their possessions and other royal paraphernalia. Altogether, this collection brings together more than 5,000 objects from his tomb, discovered by archaeologist Howard Carter back in 1922.

The collection also includes a section dedicated to Khufu’s solar boats. On closer inspection, you can see how these boats were used when Pharaoh Khufu built the Great Pyramid. These boats were discovered beside the pyramid and are a prime example of how the ancient Egyptians used woodworking and funerary traditions.

Remarkably, King Tut’s mummy is missing from the museum; it still hasn’t been moved from its original location in Luxor. Nevertheless, you can still see an empty spot where it’s supposed to be. As you venture around the museum and take in your surroundings, you will cross paths with the outdoor and indoor terraces, all of which offer beautiful views of the pyramids.

The Grand Egyptian Museum has come a long way since President Hosni Mubarak announced the initiative in 1992; a decade later, he laid its foundation. Although construction began in 2005, several political upheavals and economic challenges hampered its opening. Soon after, the Japanese government stepped in and provided the largest share of funding through loans, allowing construction to proceed to what is now a renowned large-scale project that welcomes thousands of visitors each year.

If you’re planning a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum, consider pairing it with a trip to the Pyramids. Just remember to set aside several hours to truly explore every corner of this architectural and historical wonder. After all, its walls hold a treasure trove of ancient wonders, each echoing Egypt’s enduring legacy.