The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has officially opened near the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. This institution, described as the world's largest archaeological museum, houses approximately 100,000 artifacts spanning seven millennia of Egyptian history, from pre-dynastic to the Greek and Roman eras. A primary feature of the GEM is the complete collection of artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb, marking the first time all items have been displayed together since their discovery.
Museum Overview and Key Exhibits
The Grand Egyptian Museum, costing approximately $1.2 billion, is projected to attract up to 8 million visitors annually, potentially boosting Egyptian tourism. The museum's full public opening is scheduled for November 4, following a partial opening of most galleries since last year.
A central attraction is the display of all 5,500 pieces from the intact tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered by British Egyptologist Howard Carter in 1922. Previously, around 1,800 pieces were on display. The collection includes Tutankhamun's gold mask, throne, and chariots.
Another significant exhibit is the 4,500-year-old funerary boat of Khufu, considered one of the oldest and best-preserved vessels from antiquity.
Scale and Architectural Features
The museum complex spans 500,000 square meters (5.4 million sq ft). Its exterior incorporates hieroglyphs and translucent alabaster cut into triangles, featuring a pyramid-shaped entrance.
Notable artifacts include a 3,200-year-old, 16-meter-long suspended obelisk of Ramesses II, and his 11-meter-high statue, which was relocated in 2006 in preparation for the museum's opening. A grand staircase within the museum is lined with statues of ancient kings and queens, while an upper-floor window provides a view of the Giza pyramids.
Project Development
The Grand Egyptian Museum was first proposed in 1992, with construction beginning in 2005. The project experienced delays due to financial crises, the 2011 Arab Spring, the Covid-19 pandemic, and regional conflicts.
Calls for Repatriation of Antiquities
The opening of the GEM has coincided with renewed calls from prominent Egyptologists for the return of key Egyptian antiquities currently held in other countries. Dr. Zahi Hawass, former minister of tourism and antiquities, has initiated online petitions for the repatriation of three specific items:
- The Rosetta Stone: Housed in the British Museum, it was discovered in 1799 by the French army and subsequently seized by the British as war booty. This artifact provided the key to deciphering hieroglyphics.
- The Dendera Zodiac: Located in the Louvre Museum, this ancient Egyptian celestial map was removed from the Temple of Hathor in Upper Egypt by a French team in 1821.
- The Bust of Nefertiti: Displayed in Berlin, Egyptian archaeologists have accused German archaeologists of smuggling this bust, depicting the wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten, out of the country over a century ago.