National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

is a large museum (490,000 square metres (5,300,000 sq ft)) located in Old Cairo, a district of Cairo, Egypt. Partially opened in 2017, the museum was officially inaugurated on 3 April 2021 by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with the moving of 22 mummies, including 18 kings and four queens, from the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo, in an event termed the Pharaohs’ Golden Parade. The museum displays a collection of 50,000 artifacts, presenting the Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day.

Background

The permanent collection is divided into two separate regions; one chronological and the other is thematic. The chronological areas are the following: Archaic, Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Medieval, Islamic, modern and contemporary. The thematic areas are the following: Dawn of Civilization, The Nile, Writing, State and Society, Material Culture, Beliefs and Thinking and the Gallery of Royal Mummies. UNESCO provided technical help to the museum. The collections will be taken from other Egyptian museums such as the Egyptian Museum, the Coptic Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Manial Palace and Museum in Cairo, and the Royal Jewelry.

The museum is spread across several halls and sections, each dedicated to a different aspect of Egyptian history and culture. The main galleries of the NMEC cover the earliest periods of the ancient Egyptian civilization, including the prehistoric and pre-dynastic periods, in addition to the pharaonic era that lasted for thousands of years. These galleries display a large number of artifacts, such as statues, paintings, and objects related to everyday life in ancient Egypt, including tools, clothing, and religious objects. Another important section of the NMEC is the Gallery of Egyptian Civilization since the Arab Conquest. This section covers the Islamic era of Egypt, which started with the Arab Conquest of Egypt in 639 AD and lasted until the modern era. This gallery showcases artifacts that illustrate the various aspects of Islamic culture in Egypt, including art, architecture, and scientific achievements.

One of the museum’s most popular galleries is The Mummies Gallery, where visitors can see the mummified remains of several ancient Egyptians, including kings, queens, and other important people. This section aims to educate visitors on the intricate process of mummification, and the beliefs and customs surrounding death and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian culture.

In summary,

the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is an essential destination for anyone interested in Egyptian history and culture. The museum’s broad range of exhibits, excellent presentation, and friendly guides make it a must-visit attraction in Cairo for visitors to the country. By exploring the museum, visitors can gain an understanding of the importance of Egyptian civilization and how it has contributed to the development of human civilization over the years.