Grand Egyptian Museum Launches Pilot Touring Program

Varieties

November 17th, 8:42am

Cairo - Asharq Al-Awsat

The golden sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun in his burial chamber is seen in the Valley of the Kings, in Luxor, Egypt. Photo:Reuters

The Grand Egyptian Museum announced Tuesday that it started hosting limited events and small groups visits to some areas of the museum, paving the way for the to-be-announced official opening. Located two kilometers from the Giza pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum stretches over an area of 500,000 square meters, and displays the world’s largest collection of Egyptian artifacts. It was designed to exhibit an inclusive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities, and its halls include thousands of unique artifacts that date back to thousands of years. The museum reflects the large diversity in Egyptian history and culture, and offers its visitors an enjoyable experience of knowledge by mixing culture, entertainment, and advanced learning methods, as well as many other services that allow visitors to explore the esteemed past of Egypt, and to partake in its promising future. The museum features the Hanging Obelix Square, a first-of-its-kind artifact in the world that welcomes visitors and guides them into the Grand Hall embracing an 80-ton statue of Ramses II. From there, the visitors can start their tour to explore the great Egyptian history through thousands of antiquities. They will also have the chance to enjoy the full collection of Tutankhamun’s treasures, which are displayed for the first time since the discovery of his famous tomb. The Grand Egyptian Museum features a children's museum, a temporary gallery, a library, an educational center, and a center for antiquities’ restoration equipped with the latest scientific technologies. It also houses offices, a large theater, a conference hall, a commercial zone, and fancy restaurants. The exterior part of the museum features several gardens including the sculptures garden, the palm garden, and the uniquely designed terrace garden. According to the official statement, the Grand Egyptian Museum will be partially open for a limited number of visitor groups and selected private events. During this phase, visitors will be able to experience parts of the Grand Egyptian Museum, specifically the Hanging Obelix Square in front of the museum, the Grand Hall, the Children’s Museum, the Immersive Hall, the outdoor areas, and retail and food and beverage outlets, which include leading Egyptian brands. Entry to the Grand Hall will provide access to a selection of remarkable antiquities, including the Statue of Ramesses II, the 10 Statues of Senusret, the Sakkara Cannon, the victory column of Mr-N-Ptah, in addition to two statues of Ptolemaic Kings. All other museum interior spaces, including access to main galleries and the two Tutankhamun galleries, will remain closed until the full site opens

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3992096/grand-egyptian-museum-launches-pilot-touring-program