Latest news with #Tutankhamen
The Star
21-05-2025
- The Star
In Egypt, the world's most anticipated museum is finally open... mostly
I was drawn to the outskirts of Cairo by the colossal complex in the desert – a towering site that arose over decades, built at unimaginable expense, with precisely cut stones sourced from local quarries; a set of buildings whose construction, plagued by extraordinary challenges, spanned the reigns of several rulers; a collective cultural testament, the largest of its kind, teeming with royal history. No, I'm not referring to Giza's famous pyramids. I came to see the Grand Egyptian Museum. There is perhaps no institution on Earth whose opening has been as wildly anticipated, or as mind-bogglingly delayed, as the Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo. Its construction has been such a fiasco – mired by funding lapses, logistical hurdles, a pandemic, nearby wars, revolutions (yes, plural) – that it begs comparison to that of the pyramids that lie just over a mile away on the Giza Plateau. (The 4,600-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza, built from around 2.3 million stone blocks and without the use of wheels, pulleys or iron tools, took 25 years to build, by some estimates. So far, the Grand Egyptian Museum has taken more than 20.) Visitors in the Grand Hall of the museum, where a colossal statue of Ramses II – moved from downtown Cairo in 2006 – now stands. Planned openings have come and gone since 2012. (Even The New York Times got it wrong; its list of 52 Places To Go in 2020 prematurely referred to the 'fancy new digs for King Tut and company.') In time, frustrations bubbled over for would-be visitors, many of whom had planned vacations around the new museum. The wait is now over. Well, mostly. Visitors take in the ancient pyramids of Giza, framed through a set of windows at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, in February 2025. The Grand Egyptian Museum, outside Cairo, has been delayed by revolutions, wars, financial crises and a pandemic. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times) When I visited in mid-February, 11 of the 12 main exhibition galleries were open, along with the cavernous entrance hall and a broad staircase strewn with dozens of artefacts. But arguably the museum's biggest draw, the Tutankhamen galleries, which will showcase more than 5,000 artefacts from the boy king's tomb, remained closed. (For now, Tutankhamen's gold funeral mask, among the most iconic archaeological artefacts in the world, is still on display at the old Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square.) A collection of ushabti, the figurines left as servants for the dead, on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, in February 2025. Summarizing the exhibition halls would be a thankless task — and besides, the joy of visiting any vast museum is uncovering the peculiar selection of items that stands out to you alone. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times) Also inaccessible was a separate annex that will showcase two royal boats discovered near the Great Pyramid in 1954. Those portions of the museum are expected to open this summer, with an official ceremony scheduled for July 3. (You might take that date with a grain or two of salt.) Still, even the museum's incomplete offerings – along with the building itself and its billion-dollar views – are staggering. A limestone statue of the pharaoh Djoser on display at the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square in Cairo. Entering the main hall, I was struck by both the scale of the structure and the textural allure of its surfaces. Just inside the pyramidal entryway (the motifs aren't exactly subtle), I was greeted by one of the museum's many showstoppers: a 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II, widely regarded as the most powerful of ancient Egypt's pharaohs, that stands about 10m tall and weighs more than 80 tonnes. The red-granite figure has a fabled modern history: It was found – lying on its side, broken into six pieces – by an Italian Egyptologist in 1820; in 1954 it was installed at a traffic circle in downtown Cairo, where it stood for half a century before being painstakingly transported to the new museum site in 2006. The innermost coffin of Tutankhamen, currently displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, will soon be part of the complete collection exhibited at the museum. From the atrium I ascended the Grand Staircase, first via a long escalator and then again on foot, having returned to the bottom for a closer look at the dozens of large-scale statues, columns and sarcophagi that line the ascent. Atop the stairs was another breathtaking surprise: an unobstructed view of the Giza pyramids, perfectly framed in a set of floor-to-ceiling windows. I stood before the windows, helplessly transfixed, for the better part of an hour. If there's a better human-made view on the planet, I've yet to take it in. A painted limestone statue of Meryre, an Egyptian high priest, and his wife, Iniuia, on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, in February 2025. Billed as the largest archaeological museum in the world, as well as the largest museum devoted to a single civilization, it was initially proposed by Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's longtime authoritarian president, who announced his plans for a new flagship institution in 1992. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times) From the top of the stairs I entered the first of the museum's 12 main galleries, which are organised both chronologically and by theme, spanning from prehistory to the Roman era. The arrival of the Grand Egyptian Museum establishes a trio of must-see museums in and around Cairo. In Tahrir Square stands the oldest: the Egyptian Museum, a beautiful beaux-arts building that for more than a century has showcased one of the world's great collections of antiquities. (Largely unmodernised, the museum has transferred, and will continue transferring, many of its most prized items to Giza, prompting concerns about its future.) Hieroglyphic motifs and translucent stone adorn the exterior of the museum. Also in the mix is the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, another landmark that fully opened in 2021 and whose main draw is its haunting collection of royal mummies. All three are worthy of extended visits. In many respects, the Grand Egyptian Museum now stands alone. Billed as the largest archaeological museum in the world, as well as the largest museum devoted to a single civilisation, it was initially proposed by Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's longtime authoritarian president, who announced his plans for a new flagship institution in 1992. A ceremonial foundation stone was laid 10 years later, and Dublin-based Heneghan Peng Architects won a competition to design the building in 2003. Construction began in 2005. A golden figure that dates to around the Naqada III period, about 5,000 years ago, made with lapis lazuli inlays around the eyes, on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, in February 2025. The Grand Egyptian Museum, outside Cairo, has been delayed by revolutions, wars, financial crises and a pandemic. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times) Then came the long series of spectacular setbacks: the 2008 global economic crisis, the Arab Spring (and the subsequent decimation of Egypt's tourism industry), the pandemic, and wars in the Gaza Strip and Sudan. Over time, excitement for the museum was eclipsed by coverage of its postponement. But I doubt the epic delays will get the spotlight for much longer. If my experience is any indication, then all it takes to overlook the long wait is a leisurely stroll through the museum's timeless collection – and an extended gaze from the top of its staircase. – By STEPHEN HILTNER/©2025 The New York Times Company
Observer
26-04-2025
- Observer
The world's most anticipated museum is finally open
I was drawn to the outskirts of Cairo by the colossal complex in the desert — a towering site that arose over decades, built at unimaginable expense, with precisely cut stones sourced from local quarries; a set of buildings whose construction, plagued by extraordinary challenges, spanned the reigns of several rulers; a collective cultural testament, the largest of its kind, teeming with royal history. No, I'm not referring to Giza's famous pyramids. I came to see the Grand Egyptian Museum. The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, in February 2025. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times) Visitors at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, in February 2025. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times) The innermost of Tutankhamens three nested coffins, on display at the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, in February 2025. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times) A crocodile mummy dating to the Greco-Roman era on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, in February 2025. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times) There is perhaps no institution on Earth whose opening has been as wildly anticipated, or as mind-bogglingly delayed, as the Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo. Its construction has been such a fiasco — mired by funding lapses, logistical hurdles, a pandemic, nearby wars, revolutions (yes, plural ) — that it begs comparison to that of the pyramids that lie just over a mile away on the Giza Plateau. (The 4,600-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza, built from around 2.3 million stone blocks and without the use of wheels, pulleys, or iron tools, took about 25 years to build, by some estimates. So far, the Grand Egyptian Museum has taken more than 20.) Planned openings have come and gone since 2012. (Even The New York Times got it wrong; its list of 52 Places to Go in 2020 prematurely referred to the 'fancy new digs for King Tut and company.') In time, frustrations bubbled over for would-be visitors, many of whom had planned vacations around the new museum. 'I have canceled two trips to Cairo because of anticipated opening dates and then delays,' one traveler wrote on the museum's Instagram page this year. 'I have wanted to visit since I was a child, and the promise of the museum and constant delays is ruining that experience for so many people.' Another wrote: 'We'll all be dead longer than King Tut himself by the time this place is open!' The wait is now over. Well, mostly. When I visited in mid-February, 11 of the 12 main exhibition galleries were open, along with the cavernous entrance hall and a broad staircase strewn with dozens of artifacts. But arguably the museum's biggest draw, the Tutankhamen galleries, which will showcase more than 5,000 artifacts from the boy king's tomb, remained closed. (For now, Tutankhamen's gold funeral mask, among the most iconic archaeological artifacts in the world, is still on display at the old Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square.) Also inaccessible was a separate annex that will showcase two royal boats discovered near the Great Pyramid in 1954. Those portions of the museum are expected to open this summer, with an official ceremony scheduled for July 3. (You might take that date with a grain of salt.) Still, even the museum's incomplete offerings — along with the building itself and its billion-dollar views — are staggering. Entering the main hall, I was struck by both the scale of the structure and the textural allure of its surfaces. Just inside the pyramidal entryway (the motifs aren't exactly subtle), I was greeted by one of the museum's many showstoppers: a 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II, widely regarded as the most powerful of ancient Egypt's pharaohs, that stands more than 30 feet tall and weighs more than 80 tons. The red-granite figure has a fabled modern history: It was found — lying on its side, broken into six pieces — by an Italian Egyptologist in 1820; in 1954 it was installed at a traffic circle in downtown Cairo, where it stood for half a century before being painstakingly transported to the new museum site in 2006. From the atrium I ascended the Grand Staircase, first via a long escalator and then again on foot, having returned to the bottom for a closer look at the dozens of large-scale statues, columns and sarcophagi that line the ascent. Atop the stairs was another breathtaking surprise: an unobstructed view of the Giza pyramids, perfectly framed in a set of floor-to-ceiling windows. I stood before the windows, helplessly transfixed, for the better part of an hour. If there's a better human-made view on the planet, I've yet to take it in. From the top of the stairs, I entered the first of the museum's 12 main galleries, which are organized both chronologically and by theme, spanning from prehistory to the Roman era. Summarizing the exhibition halls would be a thankless task, and besides, the joy of visiting any vast museum is uncovering the peculiar selection of items that stand out to you alone. A few highlights cling to me like burrs: The dizzying display of blue ushabti, the figurines left as servants for the dead. An immense mummified crocodile. A 3,100-year-old wig made from braided human hair. The wig in particular dragged the ancient world to the fore, bridging what at many museums feels like an unbridgeable divide. Leave it to a delicate human feature, quietly preserved for thousands of years, to bring the past to life. The arrival of the Grand Egyptian Museum establishes a trio of must-see museums in and around Cairo. In Tahrir Square stands the oldest: the Egyptian Museum, a beautiful beaux-arts building that for more than a century has showcased one of the world's great collections of antiquities. (Largely unmodernized, the museum has transferred, and will continue transferring, many of its most prized items to Giza, prompting concerns about its future.) Also in the mix is the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, another landmark that fully opened in 2021 and whose main draw is its haunting collection of royal mummies. All three are worthy of extended visits. But in many respects, the Grand Egyptian Museum now stands alone. Billed as the largest archaeological museum in the world, as well as the largest museum devoted to a single civilization, it was initially proposed by Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's longtime authoritarian president, who announced his plans for a new flagship institution in 1992. A ceremonial foundation stone was laid 10 years later, and Dublin-based Heneghan Peng Architects won a competition to design the building in 2003. Construction began in 2005. Then came the long series of spectacular setbacks: the 2008 global economic crisis, the Arab Spring (and the subsequent decimation of Egypt's tourism industry), the COVID-19 pandemic, and wars in the Gaza Strip and Sudan. Over time, excitement for the museum was eclipsed by coverage of its postponement. But I doubt the epic delays will get the spotlight for much longer. If my experience is any indication, then all it takes to overlook the long wait is a stroll through the museum's timeless collection — and an extended gaze from the top of its staircase. This article originally appeared in
New York Times
16-04-2025
- New York Times
The World's Most Anticipated Museum Is Finally Open. (Well, Mostly.)
I was drawn to the outskirts of Cairo by the colossal complex in the desert — a towering site that arose over decades, built at unimaginable expense, with precisely cut stones sourced from local quarries; a set of buildings whose construction, plagued by extraordinary challenges, spanned the reigns of several rulers; a collective cultural testament, the largest of its kind, teeming with royal history. No, I'm not referring to Giza's famous pyramids. I came to see the Grand Egyptian Museum. There is perhaps no institution on earth whose opening has been as wildly anticipated, or as mind-bogglingly delayed, as the Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo. Its construction has been such a fiasco — mired by funding lapses, logistical hurdles, a pandemic, nearby wars, revolutions (yes, plural) — that it begs comparison to that of the pyramids that lie just over a mile away on the Giza Plateau. (The 4,600-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza, built from around 2.3 million stone blocks and without the use of wheels, pulleys or iron tools, took about 25 years to build, by some estimates. So far, the Grand Egyptian Museum has taken more than 20.) Planned openings have come and gone since 2012. (Even The Times got it wrong; our list of 52 Places to Go in 2020 prematurely referred to the 'fancy new digs for King Tut and company.') In time, frustrations bubbled over for would-be visitors, many of whom had planned vacations around the new museum. 'I have canceled two trips to Cairo because of anticipated opening dates and then delays,' one traveler wrote on the museum's Instagram page this year. 'I have wanted to visit since I was a child and the promise of the museum and constant delays is ruining that experience for so many people.' Another wrote: 'We'll all be dead longer than King Tut himself by the time this place is open!' The wait is now over. Well, mostly. When I visited in mid-February, much of the museum was open: 11 of the 12 main exhibition galleries, along with the cavernous entrance hall and a broad staircase strewn with dozens of artifacts. But arguably the museum's biggest draw, the Tutankhamen galleries, which will showcase more than 5,000 artifacts from the boy king's tomb, remained closed. (For now, Tutankhamen's gold funeral mask, among the most iconic archaeological artifacts in the world, is still on display at the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square.) Also inaccessible was a separate annex that will showcase two royal boats discovered near the Great Pyramid in 1954. Those portions of the museum are expected to open this summer, with an official ceremony scheduled for July 3. (You might take that date with a grain or two of salt.) Still, even the museum's incomplete offerings — along with the building itself and its billion-dollar views — are staggering. Entering the main hall, I was struck by both the scale of the structure and the textural allure of its surfaces. Just inside the pyramidal entryway (the motifs aren't exactly subtle), I was greeted by one of the museum's many showstoppers: a 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II, widely regarded as the most powerful of ancient Egypt's pharaohs, that stands more than 30 feet tall and weighs more than 80 tons. The red-granite figure has a fabled modern history: It was found — lying on its side, broken into six pieces — by an Italian Egyptologist in 1820; in 1954 it was installed at a traffic circle in downtown Cairo, where it stood for half a century before being painstakingly transported to the new museum site in 2006. From the atrium I ascended the Grand Staircase — first via a long escalator and then again on foot, having returned to the bottom, for a closer look at the dozens of large-scale statues, columns and sarcophagi that line the ascent. Atop the stairs was another breathtaking surprise: an unobstructed view of the Giza pyramids, perfectly framed in a set of floor-to-ceiling windows. I stood before the windows, helplessly transfixed, for the better part of an hour. If there's a better man-made view on the planet, I've yet to take it in. From the top of the stairs I entered the first of the museum's 12 main galleries, which are organized both chronologically and by theme, spanning from prehistory to the Roman era. Summarizing the exhibition halls would be a thankless task — and besides, the joy of visiting any vast museum is uncovering the peculiar selection of items that stands out to you alone. A few highlights cling to me like burrs: The dizzying display of blue ushabti, the figurines left as servants for the dead. An immense mummified crocodile. A 3,100-year-old wig made from braided human hair. The wig in particular dragged the ancient world to the fore, bridging what at many museums feels like an unbridgeable divide. Leave it to a delicate human feature, quietly preserved for thousands of years, to bring the past to life. The arrival of the Grand Egyptian Museum establishes a trio of must-see museums in and around Cairo. In Tahrir Square stands the oldest: the Egyptian Museum, a beautiful Beaux-Arts building that for more than a century has showcased one of the world's great collections of antiquities. (Largely unmodernized, the museum has transferred, and will continue transferring, many of its most prized items to Giza, prompting concerns about its future.) Also in the mix is the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, another landmark that fully opened in 2021 and whose main draw is its haunting collection of royal mummies. All three are worthy of extended visits. But in many respects the Grand Egyptian Museum now stands alone. Billed as the largest archaeological museum in the world, as well as the largest museum devoted to a single civilization, it was initially proposed by Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's longtime authoritarian president, who announced his plans for a new flagship institution in 1992. A ceremonial foundation stone was laid 10 years later, and the Dublin-based firm Heneghan Peng Architects won a competition to design the building in 2003. Construction began in 2005. Then came the long series of spectacular setbacks: the 2008 global economic crisis, the Arab Spring (and the subsequent decimation of Egypt's tourism industry), the Covid-19 pandemic, and wars in Gaza and Sudan. Over time, excitement for the museum was eclipsed by coverage of its postponement. But I doubt the epic delays will get the spotlight for much longer. If my experience is any indication, then all it takes to overlook the long wait is a leisurely stroll through the museum's timeless collection — and an extended gaze from the top of its staircase.
South China Morning Post
16-03-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Egypt uncovers 3,500-year-old tomb of King Thutmose II
Content provided by British Council [1] Egypt's antiquities authority has unearthed the ancient tomb of King Thutmose II. It is the first royal tomb found since the famous discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922. The tomb was found near the Valley of the Kings in Luxor in southern Egypt. It belonged to King Thutmose II of the 18th dynasty, who lived nearly 3,500 years ago. [2] Thutmose II was an ancestor to Tutankhamen himself, and his half-sister and queen consort was Pharaoh Hatshepsut. Her giant mortuary temple stands on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor, a few kilometres from where the tomb of Thutmose II was found. [3] Initial studies indicate that the contents of the tomb were moved in ancient times. Because of this, the tomb does not contain the famous mummy or the gold treasures found in Tutankhamen's tomb. However, the antiquities ministry said this discovery is 'one of the most significant archaeological breakthroughs in recent years.' [4] The entrance to the tomb was first discovered in 2022 in the Luxor mountains, west of the Valley of the Kings. Initially, it was thought to lead to the tomb of a royal wife. However, the team later found small pieces of alabaster jars inscribed with the name of Pharaoh Thutmose II, referred to as the 'deceased king.' They also found inscriptions that included the name of Hatshepsut, his chief royal consort. This confirmed the identity of the tomb, according to the ministry. [5] Shortly after the king was buried, water flooded the burial chamber. This caused damage to the interior and left pieces of plaster that had parts of the Book of Amduat, an old text about the underworld. Some funerary items that belonged to Thutmose II have also been found in the tomb. It is being described as 'the first-ever find' of its kind, according to the ministry. [6] Mission leader Dr Piers Litherland stated that the team will keep working in the area, aiming to uncover the original contents of the tomb. In recent years, there has been a rise in significant archaeological discoveries as Egypt aims to enhance its tourism sector, which is an important source of foreign income. [7] Last year, Egypt hosted 15.7 million tourists and aims to attract 18 million visitors in 2025. The crown jewel of the government's strategy is the long-delayed inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum at the foot of the pyramids in Giza, which Egypt has said will finally open this year. Source: Agence France-Presse, February 19 Questions 1. Who was King Thutmose II, according to paragraph 1? 2. In paragraph 4, the inscriptions confirmed that the tomb … A. belonged to a member of the Egyptian royal family B. was built 3,500 years ago. C. was located near the Valley of the Kings D. none of the above 3. Based on your understanding of paragraph 5, what particularly interesting find was discovered in the tomb, and why? 4. What is one of Egypt's primary sources of income from other countries according to paragraph 6? 5. What does the 'crown jewel' in paragraph 7 refer to? 6. Below is a summary of the story. Two of the sentences have a grammar mistake. Find the errors and write the corrections. If there is no mistake, put an x. The first one has been done for you. (3 marks) Example: Egyptian archaeologists have discover the tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal burial site found since Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922. Correction: discovered (i) Thutmose II was an ancestor of Tutankhamen and the half-brother of Pharaoh Hatshepsut. (ii) The king's tomb flooded after his buried, and it was badly damaged. (iii) The discovery is considering significant and is part of Egypt's effort to boost its tourism industry. Archaeologists uncovered King Thutmose II's tomb near Luxor, marking the most significant breakthrough in Egyptian archaeology since Tutankhamen's discovery. Photo: AFP Answers 1. He was a king during the 18th dynasty in ancient Egypt. 2. D 3. Some funerary furniture because they are 'the first-ever find' of its kind to be recovered. (accept all similar answers) 4. tourism 5. the Grand Egyptian Museum 6. (i) x; (ii) he was/burial (any one); (iii) considered
South China Morning Post
11-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
Twice as big as Paris' Louvre, how Grand Egyptian Museum is expected to increase tourism
Nestled near the Giza pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), featuring a towering statue of Ramses II and more than 100,000 artefacts, including Tutankhamen's golden treasures, is preparing for a lavish opening. Advertisement After two decades of planning, the GEM is set to open fully on July 3, following a partial opening in October. Its long-awaited debut comes after years of delays caused by political instability, economic crises and the global Covid-19 pandemic. Ahmed Ghoneim, the museum's director, said the inauguration could span several days, with celebrations extending beyond the museum and pyramids to sites across Egypt and abroad. An ancient Egyptian statue, one of the more than 100,000 artefacts that will be displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt. Photo: AFP 'It will be a spectacular showcase of Egypt's historical and touristic potential,' Ghoneim told Egypt's ON TV.
