Explore the breathtaking artifacts housed in the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the world's largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilization. This video showcases iconic masterpieces, including treasures from King Tutankhamun's tomb and other significant relics that narrate the rich history of ancient Egypt. Join us on this captivating journey as we delve into the stories behind these remarkable pieces and their cultural significance. Don't miss out on experiencing Egypt's glorious past!
The Grand Egyptian Museum New Era for Ancient Egyptian Heritage
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located near the iconic Giza pyramids, represents a monumental leap in the preservation and presentation of ancient Egyptian artifacts. After years of anticipation and delays, the GEM officially opened its doors to the public on October 16, 2024. This blog post will explore the museum's significance, its extensive collections, architectural marvels, and what visitors can expect from this world-class institution.
A Brief History of the Grand Egyptian Museum
The concept of a new museum dedicated to ancient Egyptian artifacts was first proposed back in 1992. The goal was to alleviate overcrowding at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and provide a dedicated space for the nation’s rich archaeological heritage. Construction began in 2012, but various challenges—including political upheaval, economic instability, and the COVID-19 pandemic—led to significant delays. Despite these obstacles, the GEM has finally emerged as a beacon of Egypt's cultural identity.
Architectural Design and Features
Spanning an impressive 500,000 square meters (approximately 120 acres), the GEM is now the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. The museum's design is a modern homage to ancient Egyptian architecture, featuring a stunning alabaster and glass façade that reflects the pyramidal forms of its surroundings.
Key architectural highlights include:
The Grand Staircase:
A six-story structure adorned with over 60 royal statues and artifacts that lead visitors through an immersive experience of ancient Egypt.
Hanging Obelisk:
An iconic feature at the entrance that symbolizes Egypt's historical grandeur.
Atrium:
Home to colossal statues, including an 82-ton statue of Ramses II, welcoming visitors into the museum's vast spaces.
Collections and Galleries The GEM houses over 100,000 artifacts from various periods of ancient Egyptian history, making it a treasure trove for historians and enthusiasts alike. The museum is divided into several main galleries that are organized both chronologically and thematically.
The GEM is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring ramps and elevators throughout its expansive layout. Visitors can explore various interactive exhibits that utilize virtual reality technology to enhance their understanding of ancient Egyptian life and culture.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is not just a repository of artifacts; it serves as a cultural hub that fosters education and appreciation for ancient Egyptian civilization. By showcasing artifacts in context—through themes such as kingship, society, and beliefs—the GEM allows visitors to grasp how these elements shaped daily life in ancient Egypt.
The Grand Egyptian Museum stands as a testament to Egypt's enduring legacy and cultural richness. With its grand architecture, extensive collections, and commitment to accessibility and education, it promises to be a transformative experience for all who visit. As we look forward to witnessing more treasures unveiled within its walls, the GEM is set to become not only a center for historical preservation but also an inspiring destination for millions around the world.
Bab-Zuweila is one of the gates of the Fatimid Cairo's walls, located on the southern side. It was built by the Fatimid Vizier Badr al-Gamali during the reign of the Fatimid Caliph al-Mustansir in 485 AH/1092 AD, about five years after the construction of the Bab al-Nasr and Bab al-Futuh on the northern side. Together, these gates stand as enduring evidence of the grandeur of military architecture in Egypt during the Fatimid era.
The gate consists of two semi-circular towers and the entrance lies between them. it measures approximately 4.82 meters wide. 300 years later, the Mamluk Sultan al-Mu’ayyad Shaykh used the bases of these two towers to build the two minarets of his mosque adjacent to the gate in 818–824 AH / 1415–1421 AD.
The gate was named Zuwayla after the tribe of Zuwayla, that came from North Africa with Jawhar al-Siqilli and quartered near the gate. Bab Zuwayla was also known as Bawabat al-Mitwalli (the gate of al-Mitwalli), after the Mitwalli al-Hesba, the official in charge of finances and tax collection based here.
Bab Zuwayla witnessed the end of Mamluk rule when the Ottoman Sultan Selim I, hanged the last Mamluk Sultan Tumanbay, in 923 AH/1517 AD.
In the 1990s, the gate underwent its first restoration by the Committee for the Conservation of Arab Monuments. Later, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, in collaboration with the American Research Center in Egypt, successfully restored the gate as part of a five-year conservation project between 1998 and 2003.
Its name comes from Bab, meaning "gate", and Zuwayla, a Berber tribe originally from the Fezzan. This name was given because Fatimid soldiers from this tribe were lodged in this area when the gate was first created in 969 during the Fatimid founding of Cairo. In Coptic tradition the name was associated with Biblical Zebulun (Coptic: ⲍⲉⲃⲩⲗⲱⲛ).
The gate later acquired the popular name Bab al-Mitwali or Bawabbat al-Mitwali. According to art historian Caroline Williams, this name dates from the Ottoman period, while according to Nairy Hampikian the name dates from the 15th century around the time of the construction of the nearby al-Muayyad Mosque, by which time the original association with the Zuwayla tribe in the Fatimid period had faded. The name Mitwali comes from Mitwali al-Qutub, a Muslim saint (wali), possibly fictional, who became associated with the area of the gate.
Cairo was founded in 969 to serve as the new capital of the Fatimids right after their successful conquest of Egypt. The original walls of the city and their gates were built in mudbrick. The southern gate was called Bab Zuwayla, also known as Bab al-Qus, and it was originally located at a site about 100 metres (330 ft) north of the current gate, close to the present-day mosque of Sam Ibn Nuh.
In 1092, the Fatimid vizier Badr al-Jamali refortified the city with slightly expanded city walls. The southern gate was rebuilt in stone at its current location and today's structure dates from this time.
The upper gate was accessed via an L-shaped staircase on its northeast side.
Amir Taz palace is located on al-Suyufiyya Street in the al-Khalifah neighborhood. It was commissioned by Prince “Saif al-Din Taz”, Dawadar of Sultan al-Saleh Ibn al-Nasir Mohammad Ibn Qalawun and deputy of Aleppo, in 753 AH / 1352 AD.
In recent years, a monumental restoration project breathed new life into the palace. With a vision to restore the building in a manner befitting its noble founder, the project sought to create a centre for culture and learning, seamlessly blending traditional arts with modern technology. The structure was stabilised, and damage inflicted by inappropriate additions and long-term misuse was meticulously stripped down.
Prince Taz Palace is one of the finest and most beautiful examples of Bahari Mamluk palace architecture. It is also the largest in area. Its most important characteristic is the maq’ad or the seat which overlooking the large inner courtyard and its beautifully decorated halls.
The ceilings of El Amir Taz Palace are decorated with geometric and plant motifs, while the walls bear bands that record the titles of the prince and his emblem, the cup which indicates to his job as sultan’s cupbearer.
One of the halls that annexed to the maq’ad is decorated with an inscription band consisting Persian calligraphy from passages from Imam al-Busiri’s Burda (poem in praise of Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace), executed in white.
The Amir Taz Palace lies on Seyoufia Street off Saliba Street, Khalifa District roughly between the Sultan Hassan and the Ibn Tulun mosques.
Nilometers, as their name suggests, were used to measure flood levels so that dykes and canals could be prepared accordingly. Flood levels affected agricultural productivity, so another major purpose of Nilometers was to set taxation levels.
Built on the order of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mutawakkil in 247 AH/861 AD, the Nilometer on Rawda Island is one of the oldest in Egypt. It is also the oldest structure built after the Arab conquest (20 AH/640 AD) that survives in its original form. The annual seven-day celebration of the Nile flood, which took place from the medieval period down to the end of the nineteenth century, was attended by the sultan himself along with his senior officials.
The Rawda Island Nilometer consists of a marble octagonal column 19 cubits in length in the middle of a stone-lined well that is rectangular at the top, and circular at the bottom. Qur’anic texts relating to water, vegetation, and prosperity are carved on the walls of the well, as are measuring marks on the column, which were used to determine the height of the flood as the water rose through the well. A stairway spirals down to the bottom.
Egypt, the gift of the Nile Egypt would not exist without the river and its periodical flooding which regulated life, work in the fields, religious and civil feastdays.
The banks flooded by the river when it was in spate were transformed into arable lands. Before the great modern dams were built, the average width of these banks varied between 100 m in Sudanese Nubia and 1000 m in Egypt. The floods were devastating when a certain limit was exceeded, when they were very late or when the floods did not reach the minimum required level. It is nearly always towards the 10th June that the Nile starts to rise, rolling its "green waters" full of the decomposed grasses from the great equatorial lakes. But the river rises almost imperceptibly and its waters are unhealthy. It is in the middle of July that the rise in water level becomes evident due to the "red waters" from the disaggregation of the rocks from the torrents of Ethiopia which are driven towards the Nile by the violent summer storms. At the end of August the river is in full spate and maintains its highest point until about 7th October.
The level then goes down gradually without any abrupt oscillations.As in all alluvium valleys, the Nile's banks are higher than the plains which stretch from each side of its bed and which dip towards the mountain chains along the desert. The river's overflowing water would thus rush towards the low terraces and transform them into immense lakes (Gaston Migeon, Cairo, 1909). Thanks to this cycle of flooding, the Nile regulated life and determined the calendar.
The nilometre according to StraboStrabo (about 58 BC-21/25 AD) gave the following definition of a nilometre: "the nilometre is a well built of squarred stones in which are marks indicating the flooding of the Nile, because the water in the well rose and fell in line with the water of the river. That is why there are marks on the wall which are examined by inspectors and their observations are passed on to the rest of the population. Indeed, they know well in advance, from these signs, when the next flooding is going to take place.
This information is useful to the farmers and for regulating the distribution of public revenue, as the revenues are higher the greater the flood". (Geography, XVII, 1). · Historical background The nilometres of ancient Egypt were still used for at least half-a-century after the Arab conquest of the country by Amr Ibn Al As who repaired some of them, such as those in Aswan, Dendera and especially in Halwan (25 km from Cairo, above Memphis on the right bank of the Nile). Some historians attribute the construction of the well to him, while others, on the contrary, attributed it to Abdelmalek Ibn Marwan, the Ommayad Caliph of Damascus in 699 AD.
The nilometre of Halwan, restored or built entirely in 699, was shortlived as already in 714, 17 years after its presumed construction, it was in such a bad state that the Caliph of Damascus, Al Walid Ibn Abdelmalik, decided to have it replaced by a new one and ordered the governor of Egypt to see to it near Fostat. The work was done extremely quickly and the new well was completed in 715 under the reign of Soliman who had just succeeded Al Walid. This is the Ar-Raoudha nilometre whose site was judiciously chosen on the tip of the island which still bears his name today. ·
Chronology: 714-715: first works overseen by Oussama Ibn Zayd at-Tannoughi, the tax official (kharadj). 814: renovation under the Abbasid Caliph al-Ma'moun. 847 and 86 : great works undertaken twice more under the Abbasid Caliph al-Moutawakil and the last works were supervised by the engineer Ahmed Ibn Mohamed al-hassib.Abdallah ar-Raddad from Basra in Iraq was responsible for its management as the designated official for the "miqiyas" and this job remained in his family for centuries.
1092 : last great works by the Fatimid al-Mustansir who added the nearby mosque. After the end of the XIth century under the Seljukides and the Mamelukes, no works of great importance were undertaken, except perhaps under Baybars and Qaitbey. It was not until the reign of the Ottomans, Selim I, Soliman the Magnificent and Selim II that restoration work was carried out again. Recorded work was done in 1756, then during the French expedition (1798-1801). In 1887 the Ministry of Public Works restored the monument and added a pyramidal cupola in 1925. Recent exhaustive work restored the monument to its former splendour. This permanent attention paid to the monument during thirteen centuries of its existence at least bears witness to the importance it had for the governments throughout the different periods of time. ·
The Monument There are two basic parts: - the 3-storey well and in its axis the graduated marble pilaster, the instrument for measuring the flood. - Tunnels which communicate with the Nile through three openings, each opening is on a storey and turned towards a direction different from the other. The well is in a deep square hole dug to at least a depth of 13 m and 10 m wide, necessitating the removal of at least 1300 m² of earth and hard clay. The construction was raised on a foundation made of thick tree trunks, which stabilized the construction and stopped it from sinking into the clay.
On this socle are the stone foundations which are circular in shape on the first storey, where there is the first connection with the Nile through a first tunnel with a barrel vault oriented towards El Fostat (south-east). Then there is the second, square shaped storey, much larger than the one below and connected to the Nile through a tunnel oriented this time towards the east. Finally an even bigger third storey communicating with the Nile through a tunnel.
The whole construction is built of finely cut stone. Stairs close to the walls surround the circular space at the bottom and around the square shaped two storeys, and in the central axis rises a marble octagonal pillar graduated in cubits and in digits to gauge the water level. The following conclusions can be drawn from this description proving the exceptional importance of the monument: 1°) the engineer, doubtlessly heir to the well-established and remote Egyptian tradition of hydraulic constructions, (the previous description is reminiscent of that of Strabo in the 1st century BC) and especially that of nilometres, knew how to find the most appropriate solution to solve the thorny problem of pressure exerted on the walls of the structure; external pressure due to the movements of the Nile and internal pressure due to the rising water. 2°) This monument from the Arab period, the oldest in Egypt after the 'Amr Mosque in Cairo, has epigraphic texts, the oldest of which is the double frieze on the northern and eastern sides, inside the cage with the name of the person who supervised the works in 861, Ahmed In Mohamed al-Hassib.
This is indeed the first inscription on a monument in Egypt from the Moslem period which is still intact. 3°) The pointed arches with two angles which crown the four depressions in the four walls of the upper storey and the bases of the bell-shaped corner columns, are the oldest we have in Egypt. 4°) The construction of this masterpiece of Moslem architecture which reflects one of its first Egyptian manifestations, was a real technical feat as it had to be built extremely rapidly within six months which separate the period when the Nile is at its lowest and the period when the Nile starts rising and overflows. The builders presumably therefore must have had the necessary expertise and experience.
Description of Leo Africanus (end of XVth century beginning of XVIth century)In the middle of the Nile facing the old city of Al-Fostat, is an islet called the "al-Miqiyas islet" because it contains the instrument for measuring the levels of the Nile. This island is highly populated and has a big mosque, most pleasant as it faces the bank of the river. Beside it is an isolated and closed structure from the middle of which arises a pillar marked with 18 cubits. At the bottom of this deep well are underground canals which communicate with the river. When the Nile starts rising the water penetrates the canals and starts rising, two digits in one day, three digits another day.
Experts come every day to read the water level indicated on the pillar"."The Nile rises for forty days and then starts sinking for another forty days. During that period there is a reduction in foodstuffs which everyone starts selling secretly at any price they want until the prices are fixed officially.
This happened once a year and the officials had to make a distinction between well watered areas, those less well watered and those which were overflooded, depending on the nature of the terrain in which the farm was situated. The price of bread was fixed in accordance with this data".It was a fact that the year would be a good one if the pillar recorded 15 cubits and a bad one if it recorded between 12 and 15 cubits. When the level was between 10 and 12 cubits, the price of wheat cost ten mithquals and one kil. When the level exceeded 18 cubits the shops, boutiques, houses and fields were faced with the risk of flooding. The children, with yellow turbans, then started running in the streets to alert the population.
The Ar-Raoudha nilometre, the most important of all those built by the Arabs on the Nile, lasted the longest, has come down to us in a perfect state of preservation and is also the best documented. 1°) It was minutely described by the travellers who visited it as well as by the geographers and historians who often recorded the repairs and restoration work carried out. The scientific mission which accompanied the French expedition from 1798 to 1801, made a good and exhaustive study of it (its history, architecture, mode of functioning, rises in water level, economic aspects etc.) within the framework of a voluminous book on the description of Egypt.
"I can say, wrote in 1800, one of the members of the French mission, that this monument is the most important of all those ever built in Egypt by the Caliphs, not only because of the numerous inscriptions and their good state of preservation, but above all because of the role it played and the links it always had with the price of foodstuffs and State revenue".
This "thermometer" made it indeed possible not only, for at least thirteen centuries, to gauge the changing and capricious moods of the greatest river in the world, but also the hazards in the life of the people, starting with the leaders at the top right down to the humblest social categories. The Raoudha nilometre is thus an eminent example of a type of construction, a technology, architecture and art illustrating a significant period in the history of Egypt and the Moslem world. It is perfectly preserved and is the last one in Egypt of a great line of nilometres whose history is intimately linked to that of Egypt. It is of great symbolic and sentimental value linked to the Nile, for the people of Egypt.
Another type of nilometer, like the one that can be seen on Elephantine Island in Aswan, had evenly spaced steps that lead straight down to the Nile, and indicator markings on the walls at different levels for each step. This one was often the first to indicate what conditions to expect, being located near Egypt’s southern border. The third kind, an example of which can be seen at Temple of Kom Ombo, a little further north, brought the water away from the Nile by way of a canal that deposited it into a cistern. And again, the indicating markers were carved into the wall, accessible by staircases for the priests and rulers who predicted the fate of the Egyptian crop.
The idea for the National Museum of Suez was conceived after the collapse of the older museum during the war in 1967. Its collection was moved to the storage rooms of the Egyptian Museum, on Tahrir Square. The Suez National Museum was established to serve as a cultural beacon and a touristic landmark shedding light on the history of the Suez Canal, which connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The museum gives an account of the history of the city of Suez and its antiquities from prehistory to the modern era.
The National Museum of Suez was opened on a trial basis in January 2012, but was not officially opened to the public due to the security conditions at that time. It was officially opened to receive visitors on September 29, 2014.
The National Museum of Suez consists of two floors separated by an open exhibition hall that displays different styles of Greek, Roman and Islamic archaeological columns.
The National Museum of Suez sheds light on the digging of the Suez Canal as well as other canals and their role in sea trade, such as the "Canal of the Pharaohs" dug by Nekau II. It also highlights the spheres of mining and shipbuilding, Egypt’s commercial relationships, and the important part that Suez plays in the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
In addition to this is the mummification hall is one of the most important halls of the museum, as it simulates the cemetery from the inside and contains a complete depiction of the mummification process, including mummification tools, votive plaques, offering tables, and a group of colored coffins, in addition to a mummy of a priest with a magic spell.
One of the most prominent objects is a statue of King Senwosret III dating to the Middle Kingdom (Twelfth Dynasty). The museum also includes a stela of the Persian king Darius I, one of four that he set up along the canal connecting the Nile with the Red Sea in commemoration of its excavation.
National Museum of Suez also includes a library and an activities centre where different educational programs and events are held. The museum’s garden contains a modern replica of a ship from the reign of Hatshepsut (The New Kingdom,18th Dynasty) of the type that she used to send on trading expeditions to faraway lands.
The Suez National Museum is a captivating destination that offers a deep dive into Egypt’s rich maritime history and cultural heritage. Situated in the vibrant city of Suez, this museum stands as a testament to the importance of the Suez Canal and the region's pivotal role in connecting global trade routes. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a lover of archaeology, or simply curious about Egypt’s fascinating past, the Suez National Museum is a must-visit destination.
What Makes the Suez National Museum Unique?
The Suez National Museum isn’t just a collection of artifacts; it’s a journey through time. With over 2,500 items, the museum traces Egypt’s history from prehistoric times to the modern era. Each exhibit tells a story, showcasing the evolution of maritime trade, ancient Egyptian naval prowess, and the monumental impact of the Suez Canal on global commerce.
The museum’s architecture is equally impressive. Designed to reflect the Red Sea’s maritime culture, the building itself is a masterpiece, blending modern design with cultural symbolism. Located near the Suez Canal, the museum also provides visitors with stunning views of this engineering marvel, further enhancing the experience.
Why Visit the Suez National Museum?
The museum offers a unique opportunity to understand the intersection of history, geography, and innovation that has shaped Egypt’s identity. Unlike other museums focused solely on ancient artifacts, the Suez National Museum bridges the gap between the past and the present, making it an ideal destination for families, students, and researchers alike.
A Glimpse into Egypt’s Legacy
The Suez National Museum is more than a collection of artifacts—it’s a gateway to understanding the legacy of Egypt as a maritime nation. From the grandeur of ancient expeditions to the engineering marvel of the Suez Canal, this museum offers an immersive experience that connects the past with the present. Whether you're a history buff, a traveler seeking unique experiences, or someone passionate about maritime culture, the Suez National Museum promises an unforgettable journey.
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