7 Archaeological Museums to Visit in Egypt

Discover Egypt's rich history and culture by visiting these 7 unmissable archaeological museums. Explore ancient artefacts and discover the country's fascinating past.    

Egyptian statues
Egyptian statues

THEEgypt it is one of the most interesting countries in the world. Rich in history and culture, it is a land of legends, myths, ancient civilizations and Pyramids of Giza. That said, it is a fascinating country to visit if you love history and artefacts.

As it is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, you can find many historical places and symbols in Egypt. These include the famous pyramids and the Valley of the Kings. There are approximately 118 pyramids that have been discovered in Egypt. Most of them were built to house the tombs of the pharaohs. Hence, these are considered sacred and precious by the Egyptians.

In addition to the pyramids, Egypt is also known for the River Nile, the gold deposits, the Sphinx and the endless deserts. Also, due to its rich and long history, you can find many Egyptian museums that showcase ancient Egypt and its development. Here are some of the best archaeological museums in Egypt to learn more about the ancient world and explore the country.

Visiting Egypt and exploring its culture and history can be a fantastic experience. These Egyptian museums are some of the places you should visit for an absolutely wonderful and unique experience in the country. Eventually you will understand why many people are fascinated by the idea of ​​learning more about Egypt.

1. The Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum it is the oldest museum of ancient artifacts in the world. It is located close to Tahrir Square, in the center of Cairo. It showcases many important pieces of ancient Egyptian history and the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world. You can find many things from before the dynasties to the Greco-Roman era.

The Egyptian government built the museum in 1835 near the Garden of Ezbekieh. However, he was later transferred to the Citadel of Cairo. On the ground floor you can see ancient coins, displays of papyrus, metal artifacts and more. At the same time, the first floor is dedicated to the excavation carried out in the Valley of the Kings. You can see some pieces of work such as the death mask of King Tutankhamun.

Furthermore, the museum houses the fantastic statues of the great kings Khafe, Khufu and Menkaure, the founders of the pyramids on the Giza plateau. It holds more than 100.000 objects, and many artifacts have never been displayed because the museum is crowded.

Egyptian Museum, Cairo
Egyptian Museum, Cairo

2. Nubian Museum

Il Nubian Museum it is one of the most important museums in Egypt. This award-winning Egyptian museum focuses on the cultural and historical heritage of nubian. It was created through the combined efforts of local researchers and archaeologists with the help ofUNESCO to preserve the ancient Egyptian monuments saved from the waters of the Nile.

It has over 500.000 displays showing the history and culture of Nubia. The museum allows visitors to understand the complicated history of the region. And each exhibit has a description written in English and Arabic. Most visitors are drawn to the museum's garden, which houses over 80 historic rocks and statues. Some of these rocks and figures are dedicated to the gods of ancient Nubia.

Furthermore, some waterfalls and artificial lakes demonstrate the Nile River and its flow towards the lands of Nubia. There is also a theater where visitors can watch Nubian dances to see the unique customs of the Nubian people.

The museum has a section showing the history of the new civilization in Nubia after the decline of the pyramid building period or the sixth pharaonic dynasty. It also displays several masterpieces, such as tulip vases from the Kerma culture, a Meroitic offering table, a statue of Harawa and King Taharq, and many others.

Nubian Museum
Nubian Museum

3. The Luxor Museum

From the capital of Cairo , you can reach luxor by plane, cruise or express train, where you can see the big one Luxor Museum . However, many visitors prefer to travel to Luxor city by night train. Purchasing these cheapest train tickets offers a more economical way to travel than other modes of transportation.

The Luxor Museum was launched as the first modern museum in Egypt. It is one of Egypt's most valuable collections of Egyptian antiquities dating from the Old Kingdom to the Mamluk period. Most of its pieces are collected from the Theban necropolis and temples. Highlights sculptural representations of Amenhotep III. During his reign, several temples in Luxor were built.

Some objects from the opening of the tomb of are also on display in the exhibition Tuntankhamun. The mummies of the pharaohs Ramesses I e Ahmose I they were unveiled in 2004 and have become major attractions. They were displayed without their bandages, which is quite scary but fascinating.

Luxor Museum
Luxor Museum

4. Alexandrian Library

Here we have the reincarnation of the ancient Library of Alexandria, built during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus but destroyed during the Roman occupation in the 1995rd century AD Construction of the new library began in XNUMX and was officially reopened after seven years. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina hosts four Egyptian museums: the Museum of Rare Books and ManuscriptsSadat MuseumHistory Science Museum and Museum of Antiquity.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina aims to be the world's window on Egypt and vice versa. It is dedicated to being the center of excellence, a premier institution of the digital age and a center of learning.

The current library has plenty of space to store 8 million books and a 20.000 square meter reading room. There is also a conference centre, as well as specialist libraries for multimedia, visually impaired, children and maps. Plus, it has more space for a manuscript restoration lab, four art galleries, and more.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

5. The Coptic Museum

Il Coptic Museum of Cairo is a large and secure building with thousands of artifacts and works of art. It contains the most extensive Christian-Egyptian artifacts and chronicles in Egyptian history.

The museum focuses on the artifacts and art of Egypt's Coptic civilizations, the discovery of their faith by Christians in the XNUMXst century AD, and the evangelical work of St. Mark. It exhibits sculptures from the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries showing subjects borrowed from Greco-Roman mythology contaminated by Christian symbolism.

Coptic Museum of Cairo
Coptic Museum of Cairo

6. Great Egyptian Museum

Il Grand Egyptian Museum it was designed by Heneghan Peng Architects, who won the architectural design competition. Construction on the new museum began in earnest in 2005. It is located just a mile from the monumental Great Pyramids of Giza and is scheduled to open in late 2023.

This Egyptian museum was organized to be the largest archaeological museum complex in the world dedicated to the Egyptian civilization, displaying more than 100.000 artifacts. The statue of Ramesses II is located in the center of the large courtyard.

This cultural center is engaged in years of Egyptology and research. It will house artefacts, ruins and antiquities, showcasing Egypt's rich history and culture. It will also include a children's museum, exhibition space, educational facilities, a conference and a large conservation centre.

Meanwhile, the main galleries will be organized according to these themes: royalty and power, beliefs and eternity, and society. The museum will display an entire narrative to show King Tut's lifestyle, from what and when he ate to what he wore.

Grand Egyptian Museum
Grand Egyptian Museum

7. Islamic Museum of Cairo

Il Islamic Museum of Cairo It is located in the center of Islamic Cairo. It is one of the largest museums in the world dedicated to Islamic artifacts and art. However, many of their relics were acquired outside Egypt. These masterpieces represent most of the significant events in Islamic history and most regions of the Islamic world.

Its collections include significant artifacts, such as rare Qur'ans, an engraved jug, and a restored Maluk mosaic fountain. It is an ideal place for historians, researchers and visitors interested in learning more about the intricacies of Islamic sciences, such as engineering, medicine and astronomy.

Islamic Museum, Cairo
Islamic Museum, Cairo
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