On November 1st, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest in the world, next to the pyramids, officially opens its doors, which had been tentatively opened a year ago.

On the occasion of the opening, the distinguished professor of Egyptology at the University of Cairo, Tarek Tawfik, who organized it as director, states in his interview with APE-MPE that he is very satisfied with the final result. He even characterizes it “modern day pyramid”.

Occupies 50,000 sq.m., includes “only” 30,000 exhibits and cost $1.4 billion.

From the 14 roomsthe two are dedicated exclusively to Tutankhamunthe “big star of the new museum”, as he describes it and “6,000 artefacts are exhibited in them, i.e. the totality of Tutankhamun’s archaeological findings, which happens for the first time».

OR golden mask of Tutankhamun is displayed in a large glass display case so that visitors are not crowded and more people can see it at the same time.

tutankhamun museum

In Tutankhamun’s wing are also exhibited the 6 chariots, found in his tomb.

He adds that “thanks to the exhibits of the other twelve rooms, the visitor follows the history of Egypt from prehistoric times to the Greco-Roman era”.

Tarek Tawfik, who is also the president of the International Union of Archaeologists, lists some important exhibits of the museum among which, the “colossal statue of Ramses IItwelve meters high” in the huge entrance and the grand staircase, like the one in the Acropolis Museumwhich is flanked by seventy colossal statues and very impressive architectural members.

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moyseio

There was also placed “a statue of the god Serapis, who is depicted as a Greek god”.

At the end of the majestic staircase, “is a 25 meter high glass facade from which you can see the pyramids“, he adds.

For her Queen Hetferis Imother of Cheopa, whose “grave she was found next to her son’s pyramid”, she explains that she “was placed directly opposite so that she was facing that way”.

aegyptos

The professor reveals that “the Canopy Decree” written in hieroglyphics and ancient Greek is also on display, that is the Rosetta column of the museum. There are a total of six, but they were found after the Rosetta Column in the British Museum.”

In the German argument not to return the Nefertiti because she is a very good ambassador of Egyptian culture in Berlin, she replies “that Egypt reserves the right to recall its ambassador in Cairo whenever it wishes”. Regarding the Rosetta Column of the British Museum, he emphasizes “that Egypt did not stop asking for it”.

For the return of the Parthenon sculptures

Finally, Professor Tarek Toufik is in favor of the return of the Parthenon sculptures and their permanent exhibition in the new Acropolis Museum.

” Greece has the right museum where they can be exposed to a dignified and safe environment overlooking their authentic position. So the data is currently there to be returned, especially because as it is displayed in the British museum it does not reflect what it really represents in the first place. That is why it would be highly desirable for them to come to the new Acropolis Museum.