Cairo Museum of Egyptian Antiquities

The Cairo Museum of Egyptian Antiquities was built around the turn of the 20th century and is the most important museum in Egypt.  It houses an unbelievable collection of treasures organized chronologically into four sections devoted to the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms as well as the Greco-Roman period.  

It was a beautiful day and we were excited to see statues and important pieces of ancient Egyptian history that date back thousands of years. While we were waiting for the museum to open, we had the opportunity to learn more about Ahmed, one of our guides. He spoke such perfect English I asked him where he learned to speak so well. He explained that when he was 12, his father sent him to England to get a good education.

He said he is married and has two children, ages 12 and 14, and that his family is living now in Canada because he feels obliged to do for his children what his father did for him. He misses his family terribly and works hard to provide them the best education so they will have a more secure future.

Ahmed, guide in Egypt.

In 2011, during the Egyptian Revolution, looters decided to break into the museum and steal gold and other artifacts and he was one of the many guides who rallied to protect the museum. At that time, he was shot in the leg and the medical doctor from the Jerusalem Center took him to the hotel where they were staying, removed the bullet and stitched up his leg. What a story! Apparently the looters damaged some of the artifacts and about 50 objects were lost and only 25 were recovered. Among the artifacts damaged and recovered was a statue of King Tutankahum which was made of cedar wood and covered with gold. The statue of King Akhenaten was also recovered along with  mummy of a child and some other artifacts. 

I asked him what he enjoyed most about working with the student Jerusalem Center tours and he said, "I love it when they sing . . . and I don't want them to stop."

We were also interested in seeing the mummies and the large statues and as many other artifacts possible.  I took so many photos it was hard to choose which ones to include in this entry.  

Photo: Looking up from the ground floor to the rotunda. There are two main floors in the museum, the ground floor and the first floor. On the ground floor, there is an extensive collection of papyrus and coins used in the Ancient world.  The coins found on this floor are made of many different metals, including gold, silver, and bronze. The coins are not only Egyptian, but also Greek, Roman, and Islamic. This collection has helped historians research the history of Ancient Egyptian trade. However, I was more interested in other artifacts so I didn't take time to take photos of them.

Also on the ground floor are artifacts from the New Kingdom, the time period between 1550 and 1069 BC. These artifacts are generally larger than items created in earlier centuries. Those items include statues, tables, and coffins (sarcophagi).

Photo:  Replica of the Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone is a text of hieroglyphics written by a group of priests in Egypt to honor the Egyptian pharaoh. It lists all of the things that the pharaoh had done that were good for the priests and the people of Egypt. Carved in 196 BC, it was first discovered in a town called Rosetta in 1799 AD. This stone is written in two languages (Egyptian and Greek) but uses three scripts of hieroglyphics so that the priests, government officials and the rulers could read what it said.

We saw many statues of pharaohs.  Our guide explained that whether or not the statue had a beard and the shape of the beard was significant.  Facial hair was common on men in the pre-dynastic era but it faded out when the early dynastic period came about.  

A curved beard in this statue indicates it was made after the death of the pharaoh. Beards were also associated with the gods and regardless of their gender (yes, some females were pharaohs), false beards were worn for this exact purpose. These beards, however, were usually put on for ceremonies to indicate their ranking and importance and were usually made of goat hair. The false beards were often placed over the coffins of the pharaohs, as the coffins frequently featured illustrations of their faces.

Ancient Egyptians thought that beards gave an impression of intelligence, especially for those older pharaohs so it was important for them to have them.  The straight beard in this statue signifies the pharaoh was alive when it was crafted. Beards in Ancient Egypt were also a sign of masculinity, intelligence, and years of experience as a pharaoh. 

Although ancient Egyptian men could just have easily grown authentic beards, they opted for fake hair out of concern for hygiene. They considered thick mustaches, beards and eyebrows indications of a lack of cleanliness. Not only did ancient Egyptians keep their faces mostly hair-free, but they usually didn't have much in the way of body hair either. Ancient Egyptians cared a lot about looking meticulous and tidy.

This pharaoh's beard is braided and the statue looks very female.

Notice the square beard on the pharaoh.  

Kfhare Statue

If you recall in my previous post about the Great Pyramids, Kfhare was the son

of Khufu, and also the pharaoh who built the 2nd pyramid at Giza and the Sphinx.  

Pharaoh Khafre Statue carved from green marble.

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The Cairo Museum is the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities. The original museum was built in 1835 but was later moved to Cairo.   We were told a new museum will be opening in Cairo in the coming months and soon this museum will be closed.

Mohammed was our other guide and has been leading tours for 15 years.  At age 42, he is engaged to be married in September to a woman, age 36. Neither have been married previously. Both work very hard in their occupations so they seldom see each other. He said "unwed mothers" are unheard of in Egypt because of high morality in Egypt.  The population of Egypt is 88% Muslim with a population of 80 million and the remaining are most likely Christian.

Statue of Sheikh el-Balad.

Look closely at his eyes inlaid with quartz crystals. 
Garth thought he was really scary to look at.

Photographing through glass is not the best way to get a high quality photo, but I was anxious to have a visual of Pharaoh Khufu whose great pyramid is in Giza.  The Greeks nicknamed Khufu "Cheops" and he is probably best known throughout history by this name rather than Khufu.  The sign below explains more when the statute  was discovered.

When we went to the Cairo Museum, we were all so excited and overwhelmed with so many artifacts and information that we didn't connect the dots.  After the fact, I realized who Pharaoh Khufu was and his son, Khafre, who had built two of the Great pyramids we visited the day before.  Therefore, I was grateful I had photos to go back and review.

Do you notice that the legs are disconnected to the body?

This pharaoh was a midget and to make him appear taller, our guide explained 

his statue was done this way so he would look of more normal height. 

Photo:  This mural of Meidum Geese was found in a tomb near the Meidum Pyramid in 1871. The painting depicts three kinds of geese:  white-fronted geese, bean geese and red-breasted geese.  The ancient Egyptians drew animals in different sizes to convey their importance.  Sculptors cut the design deep into the plaster and then filled it in with colored paste.  These are particularly lovely and considered to be one of the great works of art of the Old Kingdom.

When the arms  of a pharaoh are folded, it means he was the 
king of all the country, from the south to the North.

Twin pharaohs.

One again, folded arms indicate this pharaoh

was king of the entire country, from north to south.

Mummification and burial was important to Egyptians because they believed if they preserved the body, it would guarantee the survival of their soul in the afterlife.  As soon as a pharaoh assumed his/her throne, the pharaoh began building his tomb. The tombs as well as their sarcophagus were decorated inside and out of the pharaoh's journey of his afterlife.  

Egypt is the land of Cleopatra and the birthplace of one of the most prominent ancient civilizations. 

The statue at the left is believed to have been discovered in Alexandria, Egypt, at the site of Cleoopatra's Palace which was sunken in the waters off the island of Antirhodos.  It is now on exhibit in Rome.  It is believed that her empire was demolished and sunken due to an earthquake and tidal waves.

Born in Alexandra in 69BC, into a Greek family which had ruled Egypt for three centuries, Cleopatra acceded to the throne at 17. She was the third child of King Ptolemy XII. Three years later she seduced Julius Caesar and bore him a son, Caesarion.  She spoke 9 languages and ruled Egypt for about 20 years.  

After Caesar was assassinated, she courted Mark Antony before committing suicide on his death. Legend has it that she put a venomous serpent, to her breast. 

Depiction of Cleopatra on a temple wall. 

Cleopatra, was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. 

Photo:  Bust of Akhenaten, the father of King Tut. 

Our time was limited at the museum and we wanted to make sure we saw King Tut's treasures.  His tomb was not robbed as were all the other tombs of pharaohs so we were anxious to see his throne, chariot, coffins, jewelry and much more which are located on the 2nd level of the museum.

Hieroglyphics on tomb walls and papyrus indicate that preparing for death was an elaborate endeavor.  For those who could afford it, preparations might take up to one year or even longer because not only a tomb would be constructed but also elaborate sarcophagi which fit inside each other.

Mummies found with arms folded signified the person was a pharaoh.  Wooden sarcophagus
were beautifully painted with colorful designs which have lasted for thousands of years.

• Photo: Wooden sarcophagus  

Ancient Egyptians were wrapped in strips of cloth, usually linen and mummification was regarded as a temporary phase before eternal life. According to legend, the first mummy was the god Osiris, who had been slain by his brother Seth and all his body parts were scattered all over the world. Osiris's wife Isis collected the pieces and wrapped them in linen, allowing Osiris to be reborn as the god of the dead and this custom continued through the centuries.

The Royal Mummy Room on the  2nd floor of the Egyptian Museum contains eleven royal mummies of pharaohs and their wives who ruled Egypt between 1552 and 1069 B.C. Among those included were those of Ramses the Great, Seti I, Amenhotep I, and his wife Meryt-Amon.   

Looking down at sarcophagi. 

After death, the pharaohs of Egypt usually were mummified and buried in elaborate tombs. Members of the nobility and officials often received the same treatment, and occasionally, common people. However, the process was an expensive one, beyond the means of many.

The methods of embalming or treating the dead body that the ancient Egyptians used removed all moisture from the body, leaving only a dried form that would not easily decay.

It was important in the religion of the Ancient Egyptians to preserve the dead body in as life-like a manner as possible. So successful were they that today we can view the mummified body of an Egyptian and have a good idea of what he or she looked like in life, 3000 years ago.

Mummification process took seventy days. Special priests worked as embalmers, treating and wrapping the body. Beyond knowing the correct rituals and prayers to be performed at various stages, the priests also needed a detailed knowledge of human anatomy.

Sarcophargus (coffin) which more than likely contains a smaller sarcophargus in which the mummified body was placed. 

Ancient Egyptians mummified their animals and 

the mummy room of animals was quite an eye opener! 

We saw dogs, cats, fish, bugs of all sizes, alligators and all kinds of animals that had been mummified. Animals were viewed not only as pets, but as incarnations of gods. Therefore, ancient Egyptians buried millions of mummified cats, birds, and other creatures at temples to honor their deities.

In addition to house pets buried alongside their owners, there was a market for mummified animals intended as sacred offerings to Egypt’s many gods. The industry became so big that researchers believe that there more than 70 million animal mummies between 800 B.C. and 400 A.D. were sold.

Ancient Egyptians created animal mummies for various reasons. Some were household pets buried alongside their deceased owners, or other animals that held special importance to the humans around them. Some mummified animals were intended as food offerings to humans in the afterlife. Many others were created to serve as sacred offerings to the gods, who in ancient Egypt often took animal form, including cats, cows, falcons, frog, baboons and vultures, among many others.

NOTE: The linen was wrapped carefully around the body of the cat, creating an interesting pattern or design.

For all cat lovers, you'll be pleased to know that in ancient Egypt, cats were treated as if they were gods and were protected under very strict laws. If an individual harmed a cat, intentional or unintentionally, the punishment was so harsh they were put to death. The people would gather around and kill the person. There were also laws forbidding the cats from being exported and when the cats were illegally exported, armies were sent out to get the cats back from the foreign lands. 

Tradition says that ancient Egyptians were once at war with the Persians so the Persian general sent his soldiers to steal as many cats as they could. Instead of having their cats harmed, the Egyptians surrendered and gave the city to the Persians. The loss was devastating but this shows their affection and respect for cats.  

A mummified fish . . .  seriously?

Mummified and gilded animals.

Pottery jars containing mummified animals.

Kyle, one of our students, stands on the 2nd level of the museum.

Looking down at the entrance where bags were scanned by security.  Cameras are allowed inside but you have to pay an extra fee to take photos and keep the ticket displayed where guards can see it.  If you do not buy a photo ticket, you can be given $150 fine.

The most famous objects in the museum come from the tomb of Tutankhamun. The discovery of King Tut's tomb was the most spectacular ever found in the 

Valley of the Kings in Luxor. (We are leaving the next day for Luxor and will

see the Valley of the Kings.)

Photos below: We are looking at golden chariots outside King Tut's exhibit.

Tut's Chariot.

King Tut reigned 1332-1323 BC.  This funerary face mask was discovered in 1925 in his tomb and is one of the most well known works of art in the world.  Notice the braided, curved beard indicating the mask was made after Tut's death. 

Tut's burial chamber was found in the Valley of the Kings in 1922 and opened 3 years later. However, another 2 years passed before archaeologist Howard Carter was able to open the heavy sarcophagus which contained Tut's mummy.  

The mask is 21" tall, 15.5" wide and 19" deep.  It is fashioned from two layers of high-karat gold. The face represents the pharaoh's standard image and he wears a head cloth topped by the insignia of a cobra and a vulture symbolizing Tut's rule of upper and lower Egypt.  The ears are pierced to hold earrings.  Archaeologists believe this funerary masque was not originally intended for King Tut but for one of his female relatives.  The mask contains inlaid glass and many gemstones.

On Oct. 28, 1925, they opened the innermost of three coffins to reveal the gold mask, seen by people for the first time in 3,250 years.  Carter wrote in his diary:  

The pins removed, the lid was raised. The penultimate scene was disclosed – a very neatly wrapped mummy of the young king, with golden mask of sad but tranquil expression, symbolizing Osiris … the mask bears that god's attributes, but the likeness is that of Tut.Ankh.Amen – placid and beautiful, with the same features as we find upon his statues and coffins. The mask has fallen slightly back, thus its gaze is straight up to the heavens.
In December 1925, the mask was removed from the tomb, placed in a crate and transported 395 miles to the this museum in Cairo.

Many items were found inside Tut's tomb. Look carefully and you will see  several beds, his chair, and many personal items that gave him comfort when he was alive.

Benny was thrilled to have a photo with Tut's funerary mask inside 
the glass case behind him.

Tut's carriage.

Tut's throne.  

Jewelry exhibit for King Tut.

Tut's bed.

Another one of Tut's less formal beds.  

Jewelry found in one of the tombs of a pyramid. (Not Tut's)

Ramses the Great

Just a little more information about mummies. Mummies found with their arms crossed are believed to be pharaohs.

Mummies can be dated by looking at the arm positions and by examining the embalming and mummification techniques. 

Those from around the time of Ramses the Great (1279 - 1213 BC) are made of the finest linens close to the body with courser ones around the skull.  The linen is also folded in a distinctive way in the chest cavity. Ramses ruled Egypt for 67 years and was the third ruler of the 19th Dynasty.  

Mummies with their arms crossed are believed to be pharaohs.  Those with their arms crossed lower on the body date to the period around Ramses the Great.  Those with arms crossed high up are from a later period.

I suppose if you wanted a great conversation piece, you might 

want to buy this Replica of Tut's Coffin from the gift shop.

After a couple of hours exploring, we were off to some other cites in Cairo.  

To be continued . . . .