Beyond the Pyramids: The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is partially open

• Travel Information
• Map
• Why is the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) famous?
• What hidden treasures are in the Grand Egyptian Museum?
• Are there any secret chambers?
• What exceptional piece can you see in the museum?
• When is the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum?

Travel Information

Map

Why is the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) famous?

In January 2002, the Egyptian government decided to build the greatest archeology museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. It announced a worldwide competition for the design of The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The competition winner was the Irish firm Heneghan Peng Architects.

The location of this great museum is only 2 kilometers away from the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt’s greatest monument, and the only remaining wonder of the ancient world.

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is designed as a cultural and touristic destination, offering a conference center, a theater, restaurants, cafeterias, retail areas, gift shops, bookshops, and gardens.

What hidden treasures are in the Grand Egyptian Museum?

The museum contains more than 100,000 artifacts, with many being exhibited for the first time. This includes about 5,000 pieces from King Tutankhamun’s tomb. This means that even those familiar with Egyptology will see new artifacts.

The museum’s facade is made of translucent alabaster, which glows at night, creating a mystical connection with the symbolism of the ancient Egyptian sunlight. Additionally, the building’s triangular shape mirrors the shape of the pyramids, providing a seamless visual connection to the nearby Giza Plateau.

The museum will feature augmented reality and virtual reality experiences, allowing visitors to interact with the exhibits.

Are there any secret chambers?

There are secret underground chambers not accessible to the public. Rumor has it that these rooms conceal mysterious artifacts we may see in the future.

What exceptional piece can you see in the museum?

105 showcases and two halls were allocated for King Tutankhamun’s artifacts in the Grand Egyptian Museum.

In January 2018 a 100-ton, nine-meter-tall, 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II was placed in the Grand Egyptian Museum. It was the first artifact to be installed in the Museum, during construction. The statue almost reaches the vaulted ceiling of the cement structure.

The cost for this museum was $795 million.

The museum includes unique spaces like the Khufu Boat Museum, which is specially designed to house the solar bark of Pharaoh Khufu, an ancient Egyptian ship discovered in 1954. This structure has been meticulously moved and preserved within the GEM, making it a centerpiece of the collection

 

The main galleries are organized chronologically and are divided into four eras: Pre-Dynastic (up to 3100 B.C.) and Old Kingdom (the pyramid builders), Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom (Tutankhamun, Ramses, and Co), and Greco-Roman. 

When is the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum?

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is set to have its grand opening sometime between October 2024 and February 2025. The exact date is yet to be confirmed.

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