Grand Egyptian Museum partially opens to public

The Grand Egyptian Museum, a highly awaited cultural institution, has recently opened some of its galleries to the public. This museum is remarkable as it houses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the world. After more than two decades of construction, the museum is situated on a vast 120-acre site near the iconic pyramids of Giza. Once fully operational, it will showcase over 100,000 items, including the treasures from the tomb of the young pharaoh, Tutankhamun. Although the priceless collection of the boy-king is not yet on display, visitors can explore a variety of fascinating items, such as pharaonic statues, sarcophagi, and mummified remains. The museum was originally set to open in 2012, but various challenges, including financial issues, political unrest, and the Covid-19 pandemic, led to multiple delays. To date, the mega-project has cost more than $1 billion. The partial opening serves as a trial run, following the unveiling of the main hall and stairway last year. The official date for the grand opening has yet to be announced. The museum features striking galleries filled with ancient treasures. In ancient Egypt, rulers and wealthy individuals were often buried in beautifully decorated sarcophagi, which are stone coffins. The museum displays numerous sarcophagi, showcasing the intricate designs that adorned these final resting places. Visitors can also admire an impressive array of statues, each depicting warriors holding spears and shields, standing in formation. Once the museum is fully operational, it will display more than 100,000 artefacts, providing a comprehensive view of ancient Egyptian civilization. Behind glass, dozens of small statuettes are on display, allowing visitors to appreciate the craftsmanship of ancient artisans. Wall paintings played a significant role in ancient Egyptian culture, and the museum features these stunning artworks in various galleries. Visitors can relax on benches while taking in the beauty of the ancient wall paintings, which depict scenes from daily life and religious rituals. The museum allows guests to walk among the pharaonic statues, creating an immersive experience that transports them back in time. Many visitors are eager to capture photographs of the ancient stone walls adorned with hieroglyphs, which tell stories of the past. In ancient Egypt, it was common for rulers and the wealthy to decorate their coffins with gold and precious gems, believing that these treasures would accompany them into the afterlife. One of the most famous artefacts is the gold burial mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, a stunning piece from the New Kingdom period that symbolizes the opulence of ancient Egyptian burial practices.