Seven things you must see at the world's largest archaeological museum
Seven wonders within the Grand Egyptian Museum
The world's largest archaeological museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), is officially opening next month. Here are seven of the must-see highlights.
1 Hanging obelisk
Of the GEM's 100,000 artefacts, only one is found outside. The 19-metre-tall obelisk, billed as the world's first hanging obelisk, stands in the entrance courtyard atop a basalt plinth. Step into the plinth and look up through a window to view a rare carving in the base of the obelisk – a cartouche bearing the name of King Ramses II. Until the 70-tonne obelisk was placed at this spot in 2018, the carving hadn't been seen for 3300 years.
2 Statue of Ramses II
Dominating GEM's vast entrance hall, the 11-metre-high statue of one of the most famous of Egypt's pharaohs was discovered in six pieces in 1882 in the former Egyptian capital of Memphis. Rebuilt, it stood sentinel in a central Cairo square for 50 years, but is now the centrepiece of a hall so capacious that the 80-tonne red-granite statue almost loses its sense of scale. Stand beneath it, however, and you'll know you're in the presence of ancient greatness.
3 Pyramid view
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The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
Seven things you must see at the world's largest archaeological museum
Seven wonders within the Grand Egyptian Museum The world's largest archaeological museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), is officially opening next month. Here are seven of the must-see highlights. 1 Hanging obelisk Of the GEM's 100,000 artefacts, only one is found outside. The 19-metre-tall obelisk, billed as the world's first hanging obelisk, stands in the entrance courtyard atop a basalt plinth. Step into the plinth and look up through a window to view a rare carving in the base of the obelisk – a cartouche bearing the name of King Ramses II. Until the 70-tonne obelisk was placed at this spot in 2018, the carving hadn't been seen for 3300 years. 2 Statue of Ramses II Dominating GEM's vast entrance hall, the 11-metre-high statue of one of the most famous of Egypt's pharaohs was discovered in six pieces in 1882 in the former Egyptian capital of Memphis. Rebuilt, it stood sentinel in a central Cairo square for 50 years, but is now the centrepiece of a hall so capacious that the 80-tonne red-granite statue almost loses its sense of scale. Stand beneath it, however, and you'll know you're in the presence of ancient greatness. 3 Pyramid view
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
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Seven things you must see at the world's largest archaeological museum
Seven wonders within the Grand Egyptian Museum The world's largest archaeological museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), is officially opening next month. Here are seven of the must-see highlights. 1 Hanging obelisk Of the GEM's 100,000 artefacts, only one is found outside. The 19-metre-tall obelisk, billed as the world's first hanging obelisk, stands in the entrance courtyard atop a basalt plinth. Step into the plinth and look up through a window to view a rare carving in the base of the obelisk – a cartouche bearing the name of King Ramses II. Until the 70-tonne obelisk was placed at this spot in 2018, the carving hadn't been seen for 3300 years. 2 Statue of Ramses II Dominating GEM's vast entrance hall, the 11-metre-high statue of one of the most famous of Egypt's pharaohs was discovered in six pieces in 1882 in the former Egyptian capital of Memphis. Rebuilt, it stood sentinel in a central Cairo square for 50 years, but is now the centrepiece of a hall so capacious that the 80-tonne red-granite statue almost loses its sense of scale. Stand beneath it, however, and you'll know you're in the presence of ancient greatness. 3 Pyramid view
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Ancient Egyptian tombs from more than 3,500 years ago unearthed in Luxor
Three ancient Egyptian tombs from around 3,500 years ago have been unearthed in the Dra Abu el-Naga necropolis in the city of Luxor, Egypt. One of the tombs belonged to Amum-em-Ipet from the Ramesside period, dating between approximately 1292 – ~1077 BCE. The remaining tombs could be dated to the 18th Egyptian Dynasty between approximately 1550 – 1292 BCE, belonging to a man named Baki, and the other to an individual named S. Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities says further investigations are required to gain a deeper understanding of the tombs.
