The long-awaited – and much-delayed – state-funded Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) next to the Giza Pyramids is finally open, but only partially.
GEM houses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun, across 120 acres of floor space (the equivalent of around 90 American football fields). The complex, billed as the world’s largest archeological museum and two decades in the making, opened some of its galleries last month.
Initially slated to open in 2012, the $1 billion project has suffered setback after setback, from political turmoil to spiraling costs and the pandemic.
Last year, the museum opened its grand lobby, where a huge statue of the pharaoh Ramses II holds court. A few weeks later, it was possible to traverse its six-story staircase decked out with more big sculptures and a view of the pyramids, but the galleries remained closed.
Now, though, 12 galleries displaying at least 15,000 artifacts each are welcoming 4,000 visitors as part of a trial, according to Egypt’s assistant to the minister of antiquities, Al-Tayeb Abbas. He said the test run will help GEM to identify areas susceptible to overcrowding and other operations-related issues.
Any visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of Tutankhamun’s gold mask and sarcophagus will have to wait, or travel to the old Egyptian Museum (aka the Museum of Cairo) in Tahir Square where they remain. So far, over 5,000 of the pharaoh’s treasures have been moved to GEM, but they are not yet on show.
Another highly-anticipated highlight, a 42m-long cedar wood boat known as a “solar barge” and buried beside the Great Pyramid in about 2,500BC, is also not ready.
The 12 galleries are divided into chronological eras, including the third intermediate period (about 1070-664 BC), late period (664-332BC), Graeco-Roman period (332BC-AD395), new kingdom (1550-1070BC), middle kingdom (2030-1650BC), and old kingdom (2649-2130BC).
Egypt’s minister of antiquities, Khaled el-Enany, described GEM as “a gift from Egypt to the whole world.” The country is banking on the museum boosting its struggling economy, with officials saying they hope it will draw five million visitors each year. In 2023, Egypt welcomed almost 15 million tourists.
GAM also comprises a 250-seat 3D cinema, a children’s museum, and is equipped with technology like virtual reality.
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