In part one of our tour inside the Grand Egyptian Museum, we explored the museum’s monumental entrance, the Grand Staircase, the Tutankhamun galleries, the Khufu Solar Boat, and the earliest chapters of Egyptian civilization from prehistory through the Middle Kingdom. In part two today, we continue this journey through Egypt’s golden age and beyond — from the power and artistry of the New Kingdom to the cosmopolitan influences of the Greco-Roman world — before stepping into the immersive, child-friendly universe of the GEM’s interactive children’s museum.

GALLERIES 7–9: NEW KINGDOM

Known as Egypt’s golden age, this period produced some of Egypt’s most famous pharaohs, including Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, and Ramses II. The era featured territorial expansion, wealth accumulation, and the construction of grand temples.

The New Kingdom stood as an age of unparalleled power, creativity, and monumental architecture that reflects the religious beliefs that defined Egypt at its height. The remarkable statuary of that era captures the power and divinity of New Kingdom rulers, with colossal figures demonstrating the empire’s wealth and artistic achievement.

Temple and tomb objects reveal religious practices at their most elaborate, including ritual implements, offering tables, and sacred vessels used in daily temple ceremonies. Religious texts and papyri document complex theological beliefs, magical spells, and the Book of the Dead, which guided souls through the dangerous journey to the afterlife.

Daily life items show how ordinary Egyptians lived during this prosperous period, from cosmetic containers and mirrors to furniture and household tools that reveal surprisingly sophisticated living standards.

Military equipment and victory monuments document Egypt’s imperial expansion, including chariots, weapons, and stelae commemorating successful campaigns in Nubia and the Levant.

Statues of Queen Hatshepsut show her depicted with traditional male king regalia, including the false beard and nemes headdress, emphasizing her unprecedented claim to full pharaonic authority.

The head of King Akhenaten displays a distinctive artistic style that broke from tradition, with elongated features and unusual proportions that marked his radical religious revolution.

GALLERIES 10–12: THIRD AND LATE INTERMEDIATE PERIODS TO GRECO-ROMAN PERIOD

This period demonstrates Egypt’s adaptability and enduring cultural strength even as it came under the influence of Libyan, Nubian, Persian, Greek, and Roman powers. As Egypt mingled with Greece and Rome, new gods and customs were woven seamlessly into the ever-evolving spiritual tapestry.

These final galleries portray Egypt as a vibrant crossroads, shaped by influences from Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Near East. Visitors can see Egypt under changing dynasties and foreign rule, with transforming art, religion, and daily life.

Sculptures and temple fragments show blended artistic styles that combine traditional Egyptian forms with Greek naturalism and later Roman realism, creating unique hybrid artworks.

Jewelry and coins from various ruling periods demonstrate both continuity with ancient traditions and adaptation to new rulers’ preferences, with Greek and Roman iconography appearing alongside pharaonic symbols.

Colossal statues of Ptolemaic kings and queens recovered from the Mediterranean Sea, crafted from exquisite pink granite, show rulers adopting Egyptian royal conventions while maintaining Greek cultural identity.

Religious artifacts show the integration of Greek and Roman deities with traditional Egyptian gods, creating syncretic figures like Serapis who combined attributes of multiple divine beings.

Cultural exchange objects demonstrate Egypt’s cosmopolitan character, from Hellenistic pottery to Roman glasswork found alongside traditional Egyptian amulets and scarabs.

Victory columns commemorate military achievements, displaying elaborate carvings with historical narratives in both Egyptian and Greek artistic styles.

Royal regalia includes crowns and ceremonial objects that show how foreign rulers adopted pharaonic symbolism to legitimize their rule over Egypt, the treasures from their royal tombs at Tanis showcasing the continued excellence of Egyptian metalworking, with silver and gold objects rivaling earlier periods in their technical sophistication.

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

The Children’s Museum at GEM is an interactive space for children aged 6 to 12, emphasizing learning through play rather than traditional exhibits. It covers 5k square meters, with experiences including interactive screens, augmented reality (AR), and hands-on games, as well as various visual exhibits and guided programs.

What children will experience: The entire Children’s Museum is delightfully Egyptian in theme, simulating the daily life and activities of the ancient Egyptians with brightly colored exhibits lining the inviting space. Areas for role playing allow young visitors to drive a chariot or dine with a pharaoh, stepping into a vibrant, sensory-rich environment where kids explore ancient Egyptian life through visuals, sounds, touch, and movement.

Activities include exploring digital and AR exhibits that make mummies and temples come to life, participating in mummy workshops with educational demonstrations of the mummification process, and visiting hieroglyphic writing stations where children learn to write their names in hieroglyphics.

Each of the museum’s five sections accommodates different learning styles, with visual learners enjoying vivid educational panels inspired by hieroglyphics and tomb paintings, while overscale furniture and props invite children to interact. Multimedia technology and games draw them into the lifestyle of Egyptians from thousands of years ago.

Every weekend, the museum hosts special workshops for children, including mummy-making sessions, hieroglyphic writing classes, and ancient Egyptian craft activities. The museum offers special programs that blend storytelling, music, art and hands-on crafts, including time to explore the Children’s Museum for a truly immersive day. Tell Tales Day programs feature storytelling and doll-making adventures, while music-focused programs help children discover how music shaped ancient Egyptian life through interactive games and crafting instruments.

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