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In the collecting market, many collectors and museums collect mummies because in ancient Egypt, mummies were seen as a symbol of eternal life and were placed in pyramids and other tombs to protect the body of the deceased. It should be noted that there are ethical and legal issues involved in the collection and preservation of mummies due to their cultural and historical value, and some countries have corresponding regulations and restrictions.
The Egyptian Museum is a historical and cultural museum located in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. It houses the world's largest and most famous collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts and artworks, making it one of the best places to learn about ancient Egyptian culture and art.
Designed and constructed by the famous French archaeologist Mariette in 1858, who was called the "father of the Egyptian Museum," the museum has a unique architectural style with Renaissance and Arabic features. It has several exhibition halls, including the Mummy Hall, the Antiquities Hall, and the Gold Hall. In addition, the museum has supporting facilities such as a library, research center, and gift shop.
The museum's collection includes more than 300,000 items, with 63,000 of them on display. It covers artifacts and artworks from the ancient Egyptian period to the Roman period, including sculptures, stone inscriptions, jewelry, coffins, mummies, papyrus paintings, ceramics, and more. These exhibits are grand and exquisite, dazzling visitors.
One of the museum's most famous exhibits is the gold mask of Tutankhamun. In addition, the museum also displays other famous ancient Egyptian artifacts such as the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the statue of Queen Nefertiti.
Unmissable Artifacts:
1. Tutankhamun's Golden Mask
Tutankhamun's golden mask is one of the most famous artifacts in the Egyptian Museum and is also a symbol of ancient Egyptian culture. This mask was made for the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt in the 14th century BC and ascended to the throne at the age of nine. His tomb was buried in the Valley of the Kings until it was discovered in 1922.
The golden mask of Tutankhamun was found in his tomb and is made of gold and precious stones, exceptionally exquisite. The front of the mask is a lifelike portrait of Tutankhamun, and the back of the mask is decorated with a golden serpent, representing an important deity in ancient Egyptian culture.
This mask is of special significance as it showcases the ancient Egyptian belief in death and immortality. The ancient Egyptians believed that only by preserving and protecting the body could the soul be reborn and continue to exist in the afterlife. Therefore, they used mummies and precious ornaments to decorate and protect tombs, ensuring the eternal existence of the body and soul.
As an important part of Tutankhamun's tomb, this golden mask has become one of the most representative and famous ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world.
2. The Mummy of Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III was one of the pharaohs of the 18th dynasty of ancient Egypt, who ruled from 1386 BC to 1349 BC, representing an important period in Egyptian history. During his reign, the country was powerful and prosperous, and art and culture reached their peak, making him a representative of the "Golden Age Dynasty".
The mummy of Amenhotep III has significant historical and cultural value. Firstly, his mummy is well-preserved, and is one of the most famous exhibits in the Egyptian Museum. Secondly, his tomb was grand and magnificent, and its artifacts, such as murals and sculptures, represent the pinnacle of ancient Egyptian art, and are known as "one of the greatest tombs in the world." In addition, by dissecting and analyzing the mummy of Amenhotep III, scientists can gain insight into the body structure, health status, diet, and lifestyle habits of ancient Egyptians, making his mummy an important material for studying ancient Egyptian history and culture.
3. Jacques-Joseph Tissot's Collection
Jacques-Joseph Tissot was a French artist and collector of the 19th century who amassed a large collection of art and artifacts from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Middle East, as well as European paintings and decorative arts. His collection is known as the "Tissot Collection."
In the Egyptian Museum, Jacques-Joseph Tissot's collection is one of the most important collections, containing thousands of artifacts from ancient Egyptian to Islamic periods. The collection includes many rare and unusual objects, such as bronze statuettes, metalwork, jewelry, pottery, manuscripts, and decorative arts from medieval Islamic periods. These exquisite crafts and decorations are of great historical significance, reflecting the social, cultural, and religious life of ancient Egypt and the Islamic Middle Ages.
The historical and archaeological value of the Tissot Collection is extremely high, containing many rare artifacts and art pieces, such as sculptures, pottery, and metalwork from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, reflecting the art, religion, and social life of these civilizations. Additionally, the collection includes many precious Middle Eastern manuscripts, seals, stamps, and other items of great importance for the study of the history, culture, and art of the Middle East. The Tissot Collection is currently dispersed in museums and private collections around the world, with some pieces exhibited in famous museums such as the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the British Museum in London.
4. The Giant Statue of Ramses II and the Statue of Queen Nefertari
The giant statue of Ramses II is a 9-meter-tall seated statue made of sandstone. Weighing 75 tons, it is one of the largest exhibits in the entire museum. Ramses II was a powerful pharaoh of the 19th dynasty of ancient Egypt, who ruled from 1279 to 1213 BC, a period known as the "New Kingdom." He was a visionary leader who led Egypt to prosperity and power, and was also an outstanding architect and artist, responsible for many magnificent buildings and sculptures created during his reign.
The statue of Queen Nefertari, on the other hand, is a seated limestone statue measuring 1.8 meters in height. Queen Nefertari was a famous woman in the history of ancient Egypt, and was the wife of Ramses II. Her support and assistance to Ramses II allowed him to successfully rule over ancient Egypt. This statue displays the grace and beauty of Queen Nefertari, and is one of the masterpieces of ancient Egyptian sculpture.
Egypt has a long history dating back to the Neolithic period around 5000 BCE. Over the next few thousand years, Egypt went through many dynasties and periods that had a profound impact on its culture and history.
Around 3100 BCE, the Upper and Lower kingdoms of Egypt were united into one country, marking the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period. Around 2650 BCE, the Middle Kingdom began, during which Egypt reached the peak of its political and economic power, and arts, architecture, and literature flourished. Around 1550 BCE, the New Kingdom period was one of the most glorious in Egypt's history, with famous pharaohs like Tutankhamun, Ramesses II, and Hatshepsut ruling the country. During the New Kingdom, Egyptian culture, religion, and art continued to flourish. It wasn't until 332 BCE when Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and established Alexandria that the Hellenistic period began, during which Egypt was influenced by Greek culture and art. In the 7th century CE, Arabs conquered Egypt, marking the beginning of the Islamic period. During this time, Egypt became an important center of Islamic culture and art.
In the collecting market, many collectors and museums collect mummies because in ancient Egypt, mummies were seen as a symbol of eternal life and were placed in pyramids and other tombs to protect the body of the deceased. It should be noted that there are ethical and legal issues involved in the collection and preservation of mummies due to their cultural and historical value, and some countries have corresponding regulations and restrictions.
The British Museum, for example, has collected dozens of ancient Egyptian mummies. Most of these mummies were brought back from Egypt in the early 19th century, when Europeans became greatly interested in ancient Egyptian culture and many explorers and archaeologists began to excavate tombs and artifacts in Egypt. These mummies have become one of the most popular and famous collections in the British Museum. Additionally, museums around the world, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, have also collected many ancient Egyptian mummies and related artifacts. These museums collect these bodies and artifacts because they can showcase ancient Egyptian culture and religious beliefs, providing a unique historical and cultural experience for people.
Additionally, we highly recommend visiting the ancient tombs in the Saqqara Necropolis, located about 100 kilometers north of Cairo in Egypt. The tomb of Ahmed Ibn Tulun is a well-preserved Islamic cultural heritage site. While it is not located in a museum, it is still an important part of Egyptian culture and has significant value for understanding the history and culture of Egypt.
Ahmed Ibn Tulun was a renowned theologian and poet in Islam. The construction of his tomb dates back to the 13th century. The tomb contains numerous artifacts, with the most famous being his mausoleum, consisting of a rectangular building and a dome. The walls of the building are adorned with many exquisite paintings and Arabic texts. The interior of the dome is decorated with gold hanging decorations and gemstones. In addition, there are many handwritten copies of poems and other literary works created by Ahmed Ibn Tulun.
These artifacts reflect the cultural and religious traditions of Islam in ancient Egypt. Ahmed Ibn Tulun was an important scholar and thinker in Islam, and his poetry and writings had a profound impact on the development of Islamic culture. His tomb is not only a memorial to him, but also a treasure trove of valuable artifacts related to Islamic culture and art.
The tomb of Ahmed Ibn Tulun is special because it is one of the most well-preserved tombs in the Islamic world and an intact Islamic cultural heritage site. In Islamic culture, tombs hold significant religious and historical significance, and the preservation and protection of the tomb of Ahmed Ibn Tulun is of great value for studying and understanding the culture and history of Islam.
Also, the famous giant stone columns of the Temple of Amun at the Luxor Temple complex, located in the city of Luxor. Built between the 14th and 11th centuries BC, the Temple of Amun was one of the most important religious centers of the New Kingdom period in Egypt and is one of the most well-preserved ancient temples in the world. The giant stone columns, some of which stand over 20 meters tall, have a diameter of around 3 to 4 meters and weigh several tons. They are intricately carved and decorated. Giant stone columns such as these were a crucial element in ancient Egyptian architecture, not only in the Temple of Amun but also in many other temples throughout Egypt. Creating and transporting such large columns required immense engineering and technical expertise, reflecting the prosperity and advancement of ancient Egyptian civilization.
In addition to their practical architectural function, the giant stone columns of the Temple of Amun also had important religious significance. In ancient Egypt, people believed that the temple was a connection between the gods and humans, and the columns were considered the passageways between heaven and earth. The carvings and decorations on the columns also reflected the religious and mythological beliefs of ancient Egypt, depicting gods, pharaohs, and deities from mythology. Therefore, the giant stone columns not only served a practical purpose in the Temple of Amun, but also served as important vehicles for religious worship and cultural transmission.
Tips:
- The Egyptian Museum is open every day from Monday to Sunday (except December 25th). The opening hours are Monday from 09:00-14:00, and Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00-18:30.
- The full price ticket costs 18 euros, and the family ticket costs 36 euros."