The Egyptian Museum: A Cultural Gem in the Heart of Cairo

Strategically located in Tahrir Square, the Egyptian Museum continues to shine as the jewel of Egyptian museums, testifying to the unceasing commitment of the Egyptians to the preservation of their rich heritage.

A Chequered History and Enduring Commitment

With a history of moving and changing locations, the museum is a pioneer as one of the first public museums in the world, built exclusively to house the millennia-old history of ancient Egypt.

Its vast collection of over 180,000 artifacts offers a comprehensive overview of Egypt’s historical phases, from the prehistoric period to the Greek and Roman eras.

Where is the Egyptian Museum?

The Egyptian Museum is centrally and strategically located on the edge of Tahrir Square, in the beating heart of Cairo.

This historic building, opened in 1902, was built specifically to house the precious antiquities of Ancient Egypt, and today it houses the world’s largest collection of archaeological artifacts from this ancient civilization.

The address of the Egyptian Museum is Tahrir Square, in the center of Cairo, an area that Egyptians call Wust al-Balad, or “the heart of the city.” This name is no coincidence, as downtown Cairo is known for being a vibrant and dynamic place, full of life and activity at all hours of the day and night.

Cairo is often called “the city that never sleeps,” and the city center is its hub. Here, among the lively streets and historical monuments, various cultures intersect, creating a unique mix that reflects the vibrant soul of the Egyptian capital.

Downtown Cairo, with its famous hubs such as Midan Talaat Harb and Midan Tahrir, is not only the heart of the city, but also the focal point of all vital activities and facilities.

It is a place where history and modernity meet, offering visitors an experience rich in culture and tradition, just like the Egyptian Museum that dominates this part of the city.

What can I see when I visit the Egyptian Museum?

When you visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, you will find yourself immersed in a vast treasure trove of history and culture, with over 120,000 artifacts on display.

Among the most impressive objects are the contents of the tomb of Tutankhamun, famous for his solid gold death mask, as well as most of the mummies discovered since the 19th century.

The museum’s exhibits cover a time span from the beginning of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt (around 2700 BC) to the Greco-Roman period, offering a comprehensive overview of this ancient civilization.

The museum building is divided into two floors, each with a thematic organization that makes it easy to explore the vast collection.

On the ground floor, you can follow the history of Egypt from the Old Kingdom to the Greco-Roman period. This section is ideal for gaining a solid understanding of much of Egypt’s ancient history, with exhibits that include statues, sarcophagi, and everyday objects.

As you ascend to the upper level, you’ll find yourself faced with a series of thematic exhibits.

One of the most visited areas is the one dedicated to the tomb of Tutankhamun, where you can see not only the funerary mask, but also many other objects buried with the young pharaoh.

Another section of great interest is the room that houses the beautiful jewelry discovered in the Royal Tombs of Tanis, which reflect the craftsmanship of ancient Egyptian goldsmiths.

One of the highlights of the visit is undoubtedly the Royal Mummy Room, which requires a separate ticket to enter.

In this room, you can see the mummies of some of Egypt’s most famous pharaohs, including Ramesses II, Seti I, and the only female pharaonic queen, Hatshepsut.

Each mummy is preserved in such a way as to offer an intimate look into the life and death of these powerful rulers, making the visit a truly unforgettable experience for anyone fascinated by ancient Egyptian civilization.

There is so much to see at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo that it can be overwhelming for visitors. Unfortunately, the museum suffers from the fact that much of the contents have not been relabeled or rearranged since they were first placed in their cases over a century ago.

As a result, some sections provide very little context for the artifacts, and the labels are displayed in a variety of languages, including French, English, Greek, German, and Arabic.

Difficulty navigating the exhibits is a common complaint among visitors, which is why it is highly recommended to have a guide with you to fully appreciate what the museum has to offer.

An interesting fact is that kings were buried not only with their material possessions, but also with their “attendants.” The museum’s collection is growing rapidly as archaeologists make new discoveries over time.

For example, the enormous tomb of Tutankhamun and the impressive discoveries that were made within it, and the personal effects from the tomb of Tanis, both discovered after the opening of the museum.

The museum now houses more than 100,000 ancient objects within its walls. Some of the objects have been moved to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, while most of them are still in the main museum in Tahrir.

The Tahrir museum will remain the main place for ancient Egyptian heritage, even after the opening of the Grand Museum. In 1835, Mohammed Ali, the ruler of Egypt at the time, completely banned the export of ancient antiquities to protect the country’s heritage.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Security at the museum

As for security issues, until 1996, the security of the museum consisted of simply locking the door at night. However, this was not enough as thieves managed to get in on their own.

As a result, the museum authorities installed some alarms and detectors for the security system of the entire museum.

During the Egyptian revolution in 2011, the museum was attacked by hooligans and some artifacts were stolen. At that time, civilians reacted quickly and bravely to prevent further thefts.

They formed a human chain around the building in Tahrir Square to protect it and managed to protect the museum.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

The Old Kingdom Exhibitions

The Old Kingdom in the history of ancient Egypt, also known as the “Pyramid Builders Period”, was a very important period that left us so many extraordinary artifacts and objects, and that is why it has a huge section in the museum.

Some of the most important achievements of that period are the Pyramids of Giza, the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, the Pyramids of Dahshur and the Pyramids of Abu Sir.

As part of the Old Kingdom, there is that statue of King Khafre which is made of alabaster. It is displayed in the second half of the ground floor of the museum.

The Egyptian Antiquities Museum also houses a huge collection of small statues of servants performing their daily duties and responsibilities, as a representation of the daily life of that time.

The Middle Kingdom exhibits:

The museum houses ten of the most notable statues that date back to the Middle Kingdom. The ten statues portray King Xenoserth I, who belongs to the 12th Dynasty and are all made of limestone.

The Middle Kingdom period began in Egypt after the fall of the Old Kingdom and was not really a great period in the history of ancient Egypt in any respect.

At the beginning of the 12th Dynasty, the living conditions of the ancient Egyptians improved greatly and even the arts, industries and artifacts saw a great improvement.

However, when the living conditions worsened, Egypt went through a period of transition again, as the nobles fought among themselves.

Such corruption and chaos led to the Hyksos invading the country. King Ahmose was able to defeat the Hyksos and bring freedom to Egypt. After that, Ahmose founded the 18th Dynasty, which was the first dynasty of the New Kingdom.