In celebration of its 121st anniversary, which falls on November 15th every year, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir is hosting a temporary archaeological exhibition. The museum is also organizing a range of educational and artistic activities to mark the occasion.
Ali Abdel Halim Ali, the General Director of the Egyptian Museum, explained that the exhibition features a collection of tools and equipment used in the process of transferring antiquities from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The museum's cultural and educational department will host an artistic performance in ancient Egyptian attire to welcome visitors. Additionally, a series of scientific lectures titled "The History of the Egyptian Museum" will be presented by Dr. Lotfy Abdel Hamid, the museum's Deputy Director for Antiquities and Scholars.
Egyptian guides will accompany visitors on informative tours of the exhibition to introduce them to its concept and exhibits. Educational guided tours for school children from various educational stages will also be conducted to shed light on the history of the Egyptian Museum and its most important pieces and exhibits. Furthermore, guided tours will be provided by the Friends of the Museum Association and the Training Department throughout the day.
The Egyptian Museum is undergoing a comprehensive development plan aimed at rehabilitating it to match its rich archaeological and historical value, not only in terms of its collections but also as an architectural heritage. The first phase of the project was completed in February of this year, and the project continues according to its scheduled timeline.
This is being accomplished through the efforts of the Egyptian Scientific Committee and museum curators in collaboration with a consortium of the world's five most significant museums: The Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy; the Louvre Museum in France; the British Museum in England; the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, Germany; and the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, the Netherlands.
The French Institute for Oriental Archaeology and the Federal Office for Regional Planning and Construction and the Central Institute for Antiquities are also involved in the project.
The goal is to restore and revive the museum while adhering to the original documents, maps, and designs created by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon, ultimately returning it to its original form.
Regarding the exhibition scenario, the museum has revamped its presentation style for several archaeological pieces and halls. This includes halls featuring prehistoric eras, ancient state displays, Greek and Roman periods, as well as the Tanis artifacts exhibition, which highlights archaeological pieces and showcases artistic creativity.
The first location chosen was Boulaq, but the antiquities collection was later moved in 1891 to Ismail Pasha Palace in Giza, before finally being transferred to its current location at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.
The museum consists of two main floors, with the first floor displaying heavy antiquities such as coffins, paintings, and statues arranged according to historical sequence.
The upper floor houses a diverse collection, including the Yuya and Thuya collection, Tanis treasures, and a large number of animal and bird mummies. It also includes archaeological pieces that reflect daily life, writing, and religion in ancient Egypt.
Source: State Information Service
