The opening of the GEM marks an important cultural milestone that can fundamentally reshape the landscape of Egyptology, tourism, and national heritage. EnterpriseAM spoke to three internationally renowned Egyptologists to get their take on what the long-awaited opening means to them and what they hope to see transpire as this new chapter in Egypt’s cultural history begins.

FAYZA HAIKAL

Fayza Haikal is an Egyptian Egyptologist and a Professor Emerita of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo (AUC). She is a pioneer in her field, notably being the first Egyptian woman to earn a PhD in Egyptology (from Oxford University in 1965). She was also the first Egyptian woman to work in Nubia during the UNESCO Campaign to salvage monuments threatened by the construction of the Aswan High Dam and became the first female President of the International Association of Egyptologists in 1988.

Haikal served as a deputy jury member for the international architectural competition that selected the design for the GEM in the early 2000’s and was later involved in the academic planning for the museum, which included moving and displaying some of the collections.

“The museum has been open for a long time now without actually being open,” Haikal says. “Many people have had the chance to experience some of its galleries already. Without a doubt, the modern architecture, the technology, and the sheer vastness of the space is a marvel and there is space for more which was precisely the idea behind building it. Egypt still has much to unveil under the ground.”

The repatriation of artifacts is a sticky political issue which isn’t likely to be resolved anytime soon, with or without the GEM, she adds.

“We need to make sure that Egyptians feel that they are part of the narrative. The world’s eyes are on us, we will have more visitors because of this huge accomplishment, but we need to not neglect the fact that this is an Egyptian story and ordinary Egyptians need to feel like they are not excluded. If the GEM manages to instill a sense of pride in Egyptians and sparks their curiosity to learn more about their ancient past, that would be a true achievement.”

SALIMA IKRAM

Salima Ikram is a renowned Pakistani scholar and archaeologist who has participated in many archaeological projects in Egypt, Turkey, Sudan, Greece, and the United States. She is currently a Distinguished University Professor of Egyptology at AUC and a Research Fellow at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum. Her research interests include funerary archaeology (especially mummification), the role of animals in ancient Egypt (archaeozoology), daily life, rock art, and cultural heritage and museology.

There are two things that particularly stand out for Ikram, the first is the museum’s star attraction, the Tutankhamun galleries.

“The entire Tutankhamun collection will be displayed in one area for the first time which will allow visitors to experience the richness of the tomb and better understand — from both the grand beautiful things to the humble items — what a pharaoh thought was important and what their daily life might have looked like. It will allow us to extrapolate based on these objects. It really takes us from the very basics to the extreme heights of understanding religion.”

“The second thing that’s really important is the GEM conservation and research labs,” says Ikram who has herself worked in the labs that have been open since 2010. “My friend André J. Veldmeijer [Dutch archaeologist] and I were fortunate enough to have carried out research there while we were working on some of the Tut materials.”

The GEM labs use state-of-the-art technology and machinery like those used by the world’s top institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum, according to Ikram. The availability of the new technology has helped researchers and conservators dig deeper and learn new things about ancient Egyptian scientific prowess as new materials are identified and pieced together to tell new stories about trade networks, religious ideology, and daily life in ancient Egypt.

“The collections and objects that have been on display thus far are phenomenal and the lighting makes it so much easier to view them, so it has been a treat to be able to enjoy and appreciate some of ancient Egypt’s finest works of art,” says Ikram.

The opening of the GEM coincides with global conversations about the repatriation of Egyptian artifacts including archival materials now that there is a proper place to house them. “I feel that archival material is very tricky and that it should not all be in one place because it’s too risky. But I do think copies should be sent to Egypt if they are not online,” said Ikram. “As for the return of artifacts, I think it depends. Many artifacts should stay where they are because they act as Egypt’s best ambassadors both socially and economically. There are of course certain artifacts like the Bust of Queen Nefertiti in Germany that should be returned.”

“I hope to see the GEM develop as not just a place to view artifacts. It should be integrated into daily life and remain a hub of cooperation where Egyptian colleagues can work alongside their foreign counterparts to reveal more about this extraordinary and scintillating civilization.”

MONICA HANNA

Monica Hanna is a prominent Egyptian archaeologist, Egyptologist, and cultural heritage activist known for her strong advocacy for the decolonization of Egyptology and the repatriation of key Egyptian objects held in foreign museums. She is the author of the book, The Future of Egyptology, where she presents a vision for reclaiming Egypt’s lost heritage. She holds a BA in Egyptology and Archaeological Chemistry from AUC and a PhD in archaeology from the University of Pisa, Italy. Hanna is currently the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the American University in Baghdad.

Hanna has intentionally not yet visited the GEM galleries that have been open for the past year because she wants to see things with fresh eyes and experience the museum in its entirety.

“The world knows more about our ancient culture than we do and that needs to change,” says Hanna. “This will require a different policy towards heritage management and towards the past, it’s not a job for the museum alone. It will take at least 5 years post-inauguration to really be able to judge the impact. Will the museum just be nice displays for tourists or is it an Egyptian public space where heritage is negotiated, where the present and the past meet through art, exhibitions and academic work?”

You can’t judge a book by its cover. While the grandeur of the space and the overwhelming amount and beauty of the treasures that it houses is undisputable, Hanna is careful before passing final judgement. “As a scholar, I’m waiting to see how accessible the museum will be to researchers.”

“Having an institution like the GEM strengthens our position when it comes to the repatriation of artifacts, but we don’t just want the objects back, we want to repatriate the agency of Egyptians to produce knowledge about the past,” said Hanna who puts forth the premise that “the knowledge is more precious than the gold.”

“I would like to see the GEM as a space for knowledge production.” For Hanna that doesn’t just mean access for researchers, it also means seeing things like weekly public lectures on different aspects of ancient Egypt, hosting exhibitions that blend art and antiquity linking ancient and modern Egypt and making the museum accessible for more Egyptians by coming up with a pricing mechanism that makes it more affordable. “I think the museum should be free to the public one day a month, for example.”

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