The plains of Giza where the pyramids and Sphinx - among the world's seven wonders - are located, is expected to unveil another tourist attraction once the construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is completed in 2015. GEM, also known as the Giza Museum, will showcase artefacts from ancient Egypt.
Described as the largest archaeological museum in the world, the USD 550 million museum is scheduled to open on 50 hectares of land located some two kilometres away from the Giza pyramids.
"GEM will also be an international centre of communication between museums, to promote direct contact with other local and international museums," Dr Tareq El Awady, Director of Egyptian Museum, said.
He said GEM will also include a children's museum, conference centre, training centre and workshops similar to the old Pharaonic places. The GEM will be a beautiful space in which visitors can experience the art and artefacts of ancient Egypt in the shadow of the pyramids.
Dr Tareq was met by this writer during a recent visit organised by Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) to Egypt.
When fully completed, a major portion of the 160,000 artefacts from the Egyptian Museum will be moved to GEM to pave the way for renovation work on the former.
It was learnt that the treasures of King Tut, of some 5,000 artefacts which are in the hands of Egyptian authorities, will be exhibited in a hall of 4,000 square metres in GEM.
Renovating the Egyptian Museum
On the renovation of Egyptian Museum, Dr Tareq said the museum authorities have asked for the assistance of experts from France and Germany.
"The renovation will cost lots of money as we have to deal with monuments and the 110-year-old building," Dr Tareq, who is also a member of the Egypt Supreme Council of Antiquities, added.
The Egyptian Museum is the world's first museum. It was built in 1898 and completed in 1902. The museum holds priceless treasures, including mummies, monuments, royal jewellery and artefacts during the rule of the Pharaohs.
During the revolution which erupted last January, looters broke into the museum and stole 54 priceless artefacts apart from causing damage to other treasures.
According to foreign news agencies, among the damaged artefacts were two Pharaoh mummies and a small statue recovered from King Tutankhamun's (King Tut) tomb.
Dr Tareq also said the looters had broken 13 showcases to steal the 54 objects but the police recovered 23 of the stolen items several weeks later.
"We hope to recover the other artifacts soon... I am so grateful that the demonstrators took turn to protect our museum from the looters (during the revolution)," he said.
The Egyptian government and people really protect and care for the museum's treasures as the items depict the country's history right from the time of the Pharaohs, including the famed gold mask of King Tut, which is world renowned.
Priceless Treasures
This writer was excited at being "transported" back to the golden years of ancient Egypt, as she visited the Egyptian Museum, laden with priceless and historic treasures. The entry fee to the museum is LE 60 (RM30). The museum is divided into seven sections.
The first holds Tutankhamun's treasures, while the second exhibits artefacts from the pre-dynasty and Old Kingdom era. Treasures of the Early and Middle Kingdom are in the third section while the fourth displays treasures from the modern era.
The end of the Pharaoh rule as well as the rule of the Greek and Roman empire is showcased in section five. The collection of coins and papyrus is in section six while section seven has stone tombs.
The three-storey museum, which has pink stone walls, exhibits the artefacts in 107 halls. The museum receives two million visitors annually.
The mummies have been displayed in the second floor of the museum. This zone exhibits stone carvings, royal jewellery, weapons, tombs, bedroom of the Pharaoh right from his childhood to adult years, among others.
One of the bed is coated with gold and has two deer-shaped headposts. And the visit to the mummy's royal room proved to be very exciting as there are 20 royal mummies from several generations of the Pharaoh. Visitors need to pay an extra LE 100 each in order to enter the two rooms which are under tight security.
This writer only had the opportunity to take a peek at King Tut's tomb, the only pharaoh tomb with its full complements.
King Tut was the 12th pharaoh who ruled for 10 years and died at the age of 19 from a mysterious disease 3,000 years ago. His mummy was removed from its original tomb in 1922 and transferred into a specially-made coffin which can control the temperature for continued preservation.
Pyramids of Giza
This writer also took the opportunity to visit the pyramids - Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure which are also located in the Giza plains.
The Khufu pyramid is believed to be constructed as the tomb for Pharaoh Khufu (2606-2583 BC). It took 20 years to be completed.
The tour guide said only 100 visitors are allowed to go into Khufu Pyramid in a day and the LE 100 admission ticket should be purchased as early as 7am.
Located enroute to Giza Plains is the Sphinx, a 20-metre tall statue of a lion with the face of a man, believed to be built by the fourth pharaoh, Khafre.
Visitors to the Giza Plains can also enjoy camel rides at LE 50 each. There also souvenirs like mini-pyramids, papyrus paintings, T-shirts and wall decorations among others, for sale.
The light and sound show, which begins at 7.30pm, narrates the history of ancient Egypt while there is another spectacular show on Nile River civilisation.
With pyramids and ancient artefacts amidst the architechtural splendor, Egypt indeed is a tourist attraction not to be missed.
Images by heneghan.peng.architects
Author: Nurul Afida Kamaludin | Source: Bernama [July 22, 2011]
Described as the largest archaeological museum in the world, the USD 550 million museum is scheduled to open on 50 hectares of land located some two kilometres away from the Giza pyramids.
"GEM will also be an international centre of communication between museums, to promote direct contact with other local and international museums," Dr Tareq El Awady, Director of Egyptian Museum, said.
He said GEM will also include a children's museum, conference centre, training centre and workshops similar to the old Pharaonic places. The GEM will be a beautiful space in which visitors can experience the art and artefacts of ancient Egypt in the shadow of the pyramids.
Dr Tareq was met by this writer during a recent visit organised by Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) to Egypt.
When fully completed, a major portion of the 160,000 artefacts from the Egyptian Museum will be moved to GEM to pave the way for renovation work on the former.
It was learnt that the treasures of King Tut, of some 5,000 artefacts which are in the hands of Egyptian authorities, will be exhibited in a hall of 4,000 square metres in GEM.
Renovating the Egyptian Museum
On the renovation of Egyptian Museum, Dr Tareq said the museum authorities have asked for the assistance of experts from France and Germany.
"The renovation will cost lots of money as we have to deal with monuments and the 110-year-old building," Dr Tareq, who is also a member of the Egypt Supreme Council of Antiquities, added.
The Egyptian Museum is the world's first museum. It was built in 1898 and completed in 1902. The museum holds priceless treasures, including mummies, monuments, royal jewellery and artefacts during the rule of the Pharaohs.
During the revolution which erupted last January, looters broke into the museum and stole 54 priceless artefacts apart from causing damage to other treasures.
According to foreign news agencies, among the damaged artefacts were two Pharaoh mummies and a small statue recovered from King Tutankhamun's (King Tut) tomb.
Dr Tareq also said the looters had broken 13 showcases to steal the 54 objects but the police recovered 23 of the stolen items several weeks later.
"We hope to recover the other artifacts soon... I am so grateful that the demonstrators took turn to protect our museum from the looters (during the revolution)," he said.
The Egyptian government and people really protect and care for the museum's treasures as the items depict the country's history right from the time of the Pharaohs, including the famed gold mask of King Tut, which is world renowned.
Priceless Treasures
This writer was excited at being "transported" back to the golden years of ancient Egypt, as she visited the Egyptian Museum, laden with priceless and historic treasures. The entry fee to the museum is LE 60 (RM30). The museum is divided into seven sections.
The first holds Tutankhamun's treasures, while the second exhibits artefacts from the pre-dynasty and Old Kingdom era. Treasures of the Early and Middle Kingdom are in the third section while the fourth displays treasures from the modern era.
The end of the Pharaoh rule as well as the rule of the Greek and Roman empire is showcased in section five. The collection of coins and papyrus is in section six while section seven has stone tombs.
The three-storey museum, which has pink stone walls, exhibits the artefacts in 107 halls. The museum receives two million visitors annually.
The mummies have been displayed in the second floor of the museum. This zone exhibits stone carvings, royal jewellery, weapons, tombs, bedroom of the Pharaoh right from his childhood to adult years, among others.
One of the bed is coated with gold and has two deer-shaped headposts. And the visit to the mummy's royal room proved to be very exciting as there are 20 royal mummies from several generations of the Pharaoh. Visitors need to pay an extra LE 100 each in order to enter the two rooms which are under tight security.
This writer only had the opportunity to take a peek at King Tut's tomb, the only pharaoh tomb with its full complements.
King Tut was the 12th pharaoh who ruled for 10 years and died at the age of 19 from a mysterious disease 3,000 years ago. His mummy was removed from its original tomb in 1922 and transferred into a specially-made coffin which can control the temperature for continued preservation.
Pyramids of Giza
This writer also took the opportunity to visit the pyramids - Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure which are also located in the Giza plains.
The Khufu pyramid is believed to be constructed as the tomb for Pharaoh Khufu (2606-2583 BC). It took 20 years to be completed.
The tour guide said only 100 visitors are allowed to go into Khufu Pyramid in a day and the LE 100 admission ticket should be purchased as early as 7am.
Located enroute to Giza Plains is the Sphinx, a 20-metre tall statue of a lion with the face of a man, believed to be built by the fourth pharaoh, Khafre.
Visitors to the Giza Plains can also enjoy camel rides at LE 50 each. There also souvenirs like mini-pyramids, papyrus paintings, T-shirts and wall decorations among others, for sale.
The light and sound show, which begins at 7.30pm, narrates the history of ancient Egypt while there is another spectacular show on Nile River civilisation.
With pyramids and ancient artefacts amidst the architechtural splendor, Egypt indeed is a tourist attraction not to be missed.
Images by heneghan.peng.architects
Author: Nurul Afida Kamaludin | Source: Bernama [July 22, 2011]