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Topics Covered:
- Ancient Museum History
- Ground Floor Highlights
- The Royal Mummy Room
- Top Tips
- First Floor Treasures
Ancient Museum History
You cannot visit Egypt and miss the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known as the Egyptian Museum in Cairo houses the world’s most exquisite and extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, covering more than 3,000 years, from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period in Egypt. It’s said that if you allowed one minute for each exhibit, it would take nine months to see everything here. But if that’s a little too long, take at least a morning ( or better still two ) to see the museum’s many highlights, even though the exhibits are often badly lit and displayed. The ground floor is arranged chronologically, moving clockwise from the entrance hall, while exhibits on the first floor are grouped thematically.
If you're planning your visit as part of a broader discovery of Egypt, many Egypt tours include a guided stop at the museum, making it easier to appreciate its vast collection.
Ground Floor Highlights
The beginnings of Egyptian art are marked by the Narmer Palette which records the unification of Egypt by King Menes, and by the museum’s oldest statues- that of the seated King Zoser was found near his step pyramid at Saqqara. The smooth black statue of the pyramid builder Khafre is a masterpiece, as is the striking wooden man is known as the Sheikh al Balad or Village Chief.
Room 32 is dominated by the striking double statue of the harmonious couple Rahotep and Nofret, which has exceptionally well-preserved colors. Rather more bizarre is the statue of the dwarf Seneb and his wife, with his children placed to hide his short legs. The remarkably colorful chapel of Hathor, with a life-size statue of the cow goddess, was found at Hatshepsut Temple, Deir al Bahari, in Luxor.
One of the museum’s most fascinating collections shows the ground-breaking realistic art from the time of the rebellious Pharaoh Akhenaton.
The First Floor
The biggest crowd-puller among the museum’s many world-class treasures is undoubtedly Tutankhamun’s treasure. Akhenaton’s son-in-law ruled for only nine years, but he became famous when the English archaeologist Howard Carter (1874- 1939 )discovered his intact tomb in 1922 in the valley of the kings, packed to the roof with the dazzling objects that were intended to see him through the afterlife. You may have to queue in Room 3 to see the biggest treasure of all, Tutankhamun’s solid-gold death mask, encrusted with semi-precious stones, his golden sarcophagus, and his jewelry.
The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb added to the allure of Luxor and the many Nile cruises that journey between this ancient city and Aswan.
The Royal Mummy Room
Room 56 houses the mummies of Egypt’s most illustrious pharaohs, including Seti I, his son Ramses II and Tuthmosis II.
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Plan Your TripTop Tips
- - Most tour buses get to the museum around 10 am, so avoid the crowds by going earlier, or later in the afternoon. The amount of things to see is staggering so try to spread your visit over at least two half days, maybe exploring one floor at a time.
- - Ones to miss: The eastern wing of the ground floor, mostly devoted to the Late Period, is badly labeled and less interesting than the rest, except for the Graeco-Roman art in Room 34. You could also skip the western outer galleries of sarcophagi on the first floor and the astern inner galleries (except Room 14) for the same reasons.
- - Hidden gems: Room 14 on the first floor is rather poorly presented but has a superb collection of Graeco-Roman mummies with beautifully painted face masks, known as the Fayoum Portraits. Do not miss the museum on your holiday to Egypt
A visit to the museum is often a highlight of many Egypt tours, especially for those who want to see the legacy of the pharaohs before exploring the temples of Upper Egypt.
For travelers seeking a deeper connection to Egypt’s past, combining a museum visit with one of the immersive Nile cruises is a perfect way to follow the journey of ancient civilization from Cairo to the heart of the Nile Valley.
When & where were the Great Pyramids of Giza Built? Who Discovered & Who Built the Giza Pyramids? What were the Great Giza Pyramids made of? Read to Know!
Covering more than 3,000 years, from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period in Egypt. It’s said that if you allowed one minute for each exhibit, it would take nine months to see everything here.
Existing since the Fatimid rule of Egypt, Khan el Khalili is the oldest Bazaars in Cairo always been a purveyor of all that is Precious & rare. Know more about the origins of this mystic bazaar
The Giza plateau is filled with Relics of ancient Egypt but few have shared the Reverance and Mysterious origins of the Mighty Sphinx, Dive into the Interesting details about this historical monument.
At Wekalet Al-Ghouri, the Tannoura Troupe performs music and dance from the Sufi traditions. The traditional Egyptian dance, music, and singing at the Tanoura Show is a wonderfully intriguing event. a hugely well-attended event that draws both visitors and residents.
Saqqara was one of Egypt's greatest burial cemeteries, and it had been in use for for 3,000 years. The majority of it is still unexplored, but among the wonders on display is the spectacular Step Pyramid of Zoser.
The Valley Temple was buried beneath the sand until it was discovered in 1852 by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette.
Once the place from which Sultan Salah el dein Governed, the citadel, and Mosque is bursting with history awaiting your discovery. Explore its rich history with our article & Read on.
One of the many marvels of ancient Egypt is the Khufu Solar Boat, Residing in the Khufu ship museum. Discover more about this masterpiece, its history, discovery and purpose
Saint George Church was constructed by Athanasius during the time of Ibn Marwan, Governor of Egypt, and is referenced in the History of the Coptic Patriarchs and by Al-Maqrizi.
You enjoy the light and sound spectacle near the pyramids and Sphinx. The Sphinx retells history, revealing the world's most ancient mysteries.
The greatest tomb in Saqqara is that of King Zoser (Djoser), whose Step Pyramid marked the beginning of the Pyramid Age.
The most well-known church in Cairo is the Al Muallaqa church and one of the oldest in Coptic Egypt. Because it was built above the Babylon Fortress, it is named Al Muallaqa and is devoted to the Virgin Mary.
The Old Kingdom pharaoh Snofru ordered the construction of the Bent Pyramid, which was found in the Dahshur Necropolis. The shift in the angle at the summit of Snofru's ultimate resting place sets it apart from all other pyramids.
One of the oldest inhabited parts of the city is Masr el Qadima (Old Cairo), the Coptic neighborhood that provides a fascinating link between Egypt’s pharaonic and Islamic civilizations.
This church is located to the east of the Church of Saint Sergius and to the north of the Coptic Museum. It was presumably rebuilt in 1072–1073, when Saint Barbara's relics were moved from the Church of Al-Mo'allaqa, and it was initially dedicated to Saint Cyrus (Abu Qir).
Babylon Fortress is an Ancient Roman fortress on the eastern bank of the Nile, erected approximately 30 BC with the advent of Emperor Augustus in Egypt.
Memphis was the world's first Imperial City, founded by King Menes in 3100 BC under the Old Kingdom of the Pharaohs. It was Egypt's first capital and, at the time, a prosperous hub of commerce and the Cult of the God Ptah.
Cairo's Al Azhar Mosque is claimed to be the world's oldest university, specializing in Islamic academics. It is normal to observe Muslim students from all over the world sitting and reading inside the Mosque at the entrance.
Teti, a smooth-sided Pyramid, is located in Cairo, Egypt. It was one of the earliest original Pyramids erected, dating back to the 6th Dynasty.
Essam Azzam Street, which in old Arabic reads 'Sharia al-Muizz li-Deen Illah,' is one of Cairo Egypt's oldest streets, measuring around one kilometre in length. According to a United Nations survey, it has the highest concentration of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world.
The Al Hussein Mosque is noteworthy for containing the world's oldest complete manuscript of the Holy Quran. It is also located on a very busy street near Khan Khalili Bazaar, which attracts many visitors from all over the world as well as Muslim pilgrims.
A wide open gate in the manner of North African Medina gateways from the Ottoman times. An intriguing edifice that still hosts an annual event commemorating the Hajj in the Muslim calendar.
Bab Zwayla was the city's major southern entrance during Fatimid rule. It was built in the 1090s to enhance the Fatimid city's defences (with sixty gates) using Anatolian or Mesopotamian Christian architects and Egyptian labour.
In the centre of Old Cairo, in one of the city's oldest squares, and at the base of the iconic Saladin Citadel, is an ancient mosque. They complement one another as they are positioned next to the Sultan Hassan Mosque, which is likewise ancient and historically significant.
Ibn Tulun's Mosque is one of the few structures from the 9th and 10th centuries, when the Abbasid caliphs dominated the Muslim world from Iraq, that have survived.
When construction on the Mosque of Sultan Hassan began in 1356, it was incredibly large in scale, and numerous design problems quickly became obvious.
Before the 167 Km (140 miles) Suez Canal opened in 1869, European ships had to cruise around southern Africa to reach the East, therefore it halved the distance between Europe and Asia. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.
One of Egypt's most renowned tyrants is honoured in the al-Hakim Mosque, which is located next to the Northern Walls. The sixth Fatimid caliph, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
In close proximity to Saint Barbara's and to the east of the Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus is the synagogue of Ben-Ezra. Originally a Coptic church, it was sold to the Jews after Patriarch Michael III was blackmailed into paying Ahmed Ibn Tulun money.
The largest of the three main pyramids at the Dahshur necropolis, the Red Pyramid of Snofru is named for the colour of the limestone from which it was constructed.