Standing at the threshold of the Grand Egyptian Museum, visitors encounter something unprecedented in the history of museums: over 50k artifacts arranged chronologically from approximately 3100 BC to 400 CE, representing the largest collection ever assembled to tell the story of a single civilization. This is not only a museum, but a monument to human achievement, where millennia of artistic brilliance, technological innovation, and cultural sophistication unfold across gallery after gallery.

Alongside larger-than-life statues of pharaohs and gods stand everyday objects that humanize our ancestors: cosmetic containers revealing ancient beauty practices, children’s toys speaking to timeless play, tools demonstrating technological sophistication, and jewelry showcasing artistic mastery. This democratic approach to curation acknowledges that understanding a civilization requires examining not just its kings and gods, but its farmers, artisans, merchants, and families.

THE BEGINNING OF ETERNITY: THE GRAND STAIRCASE

Before entering the galleries themselves, visitors ascend the museum’s centerpiece: a six-story Grand Staircase. This transitional gallery features more than 60 artifacts — anchored by ten limestone statues of King Senusret I from the 12th Dynasty — creating a narrative spine through Egyptian history. Along the ascent, visitors encounter statues of King Seti I carved from pink granite, a quartzite statue from the Middle Kingdom, statues of King Seti II and Amenhotep III from the New Kingdom, and a rare depiction of Queen Hatshepsut.

At the top, visitors are rewarded for the climb with a stunning panoramic view of the Giza Pyramids through a soaring glass wall.

THE TUTANKHAMUN GALLERIES

The opening of the two galleries dedicated to the famous boy king represents the crowning moment of the Grand Museum’s inauguration after years of anticipation. These spaces hold priceless treasures from his tomb, discovered intact in Luxor in 1920 by Egyptian child Hussein Abdel Rasoul, whose name was honored during the opening ceremony as the tomb’s true discoverer.

Tutankhamun’s tomb stands as the twentieth century’s most significant archaeological discovery. The artifacts and treasures found within reveal the genius of ancient Egyptian artistry, golden masterpieces that continue to mesmerize the world today.

The Tutankhamun galleries span an impressive 7.5k square meters, roughly six times larger than their previous home at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir. They showcase more than 5.5k golden artifacts, many displayed publicly for the first time.

The golden funerary mask remains the museum’s crown jewel, transferred from Tahrir for this historic opening. Weighing approximately 11 kilograms and measuring 54 cm in height by 39 cm in width, the mask captivates every visitor.

The galleries also feature golden necklaces, funerary furniture including ornate coffins, and personal possessions that accompanied the young king on his journey to the afterlife, alongside exhibits documenting his family and dynasty.

THE SOLAR BOAT MUSEUM

Beyond the Tutankhamun galleries lies the home to King Khufu’s legendary vessels. This museum houses ancient funerary ships, discovered near the Great Pyramid at Giza. Known as Solar Boats in reference to the sun god Ra, these vessels were buried alongside Khufu to serve him in the afterlife. Remarkably, these ships were constructed entirely from cedar wood without a single nail, representing a true engineering marvel of the ancient world.

If a visitor were to spend one minute looking at each artifact on display, it would take almost 70 sleepless days to view the entire collection. Here through these 12 galleries, for the first time, objects scattered across Egypt’s museums and storage facilities in Cairo, Luxor, Minya, Sohag, Assiut, Beni Suef, Fayoum, the Delta, and Alexandria are reunited to take visitors on an extraordinary journey through seven millennia of Egyptian civilization. The galleries are organized both chronologically and thematically around three pillars: society, kingship, and beliefs.

GALLERIES 1–3: PREHISTORIC TO FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD

These opening galleries chronicle the ancient Egyptian’s discovery of life along the Nile’s banks and the founding of one of humanity’s oldest civilizations. The collection includes statues of ancient Egypt’s officials and scribes, crafted in both wood and marble. Most notable is the statue of the scribe Metry, carved from red wood with remarkably lifelike eyes. Found at Saqqara in 1925, this Fifth Dynasty masterpiece draws countless admiring glances.

The galleries present Egypt’s two oldest statues of a ruler or important figure, slender golden figures of remarkable craftsmanship. Visitors can examine hunting tools used by ancient Egyptians, primarily fashioned from flint stone, alongside detailed displays of food preparation, clothing, and daily life. A particularly fascinating section traces the evolution of Egyptian tombs, from simple mastabas to the revolutionary Step Pyramid at Saqqara, culminating in the three great pyramids at Giza.

Among the gallery’s treasures stands a striking black stone statue of King Khafre seated regally on his throne in full royal regalia, and a marble statue of King Menkaure. The queens’ jewelry collections dazzle visitors, their golden storage boxes testament to ancient craftsmanship. The galleries conclude by documenting the Old Kingdom’s gradual decline during the First Intermediate Period, setting the stage for the Middle Kingdom’s subsequent revival of Egyptian power and civilization.

GALLERIES 4–6: MIDDLE KINGDOM AND SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD

The Middle Kingdom is a somewhat unsung era of Egyptian history, when tough bureaucratic kings sought to recentralize the country after civil war with a string of great fortresses along the Nile. This period saw funerary practices become more democratic, extending beyond the pharaoh to the common people.

These galleries showcase Egypt’s remarkable bureaucracy, refined artistic expression, and extended diplomatic ties.

Colossal statues of Middle Kingdom pharaohs dominate these galleries, particularly the impressive collection of Senusret I pieces displayed through the museum, showing the king in various poses that emphasize his divine status and role as Egypt’s protector. Bureaucratic records and administrative artifacts demonstrate Egypt’s sophisticated governance system, with detailed documentation of taxation, resource management, and military campaigns.

Jewelry and personal items from Egyptian princesses show the technical brilliance of Middle Kingdom craftsmen, with delicate goldwork and semi-precious stone inlays creating dazzling pectorals and diadems.

Sphinx during that time were characteristically serious, with frowning expressions that represent the more psychologically complex portraiture of this era.

Funerary items show how beliefs about the afterlife became more inclusive, with the Coffin Texts allowing non-royal Egyptians to navigate the underworld and secure their own eternal existence.

** In our next issue, we’ll continue our tour inside the GEM.

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