What to see at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo: timetables, prices and advice

An unmissable stop for fans of Egyptian history as this museum, currently located in Cairo, is regarded as the most complete exhibition of archaeological finds dating back to ancient Egypt. You will be amazed by the room of the Mummies and, in particular, the area dedicated to the treasures of Tutankhamun, with his famous funerary mask still intact, probably the most famous symbol of Egypt in the world. The new exhibition hall is expected in 2020, on the Giza plateau.

Index

1. What to see and how to visit the Egyptian Museum
2. Tutankhamun's funerary mask
3. Tutankhamun as Nefertum
4. Statuette of Cheops
5. Chefren enthroned
6. Isis, mother of Thutmose III
7. White queen
8. Funerary mask of Tuia
9. Oshiriform statue of Mentuhotep II
10. Userkaf in greywacke
11. Khasekhemui statue
12. Hours and prices
13. Online tickets and guided tours
14. User questions and comments

What to see and how to visit the Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum of Cairo, known all over the world for the presence of the most complete collection of archaeological finds from ancient Egypt, despite its fame is actually divided into only two floors, which exhibit more than 130.000 works mostly dating back to the Pharaonic era.

• On the ground floor, arranged in chronological order, the works ranging from the Old Kingdom to the Greco-Roman age, passing through the Middle and the New Kingdom are preserved.
• The first floor, on the other hand, which can be reached via a large staircase, is organized into thematic areas and the most famous are undoubtedly the Hall of Mummies and the one dedicated to the treasures of Tutankhamun.

1 - Tutankhamun's funerary mask

This mask represents one of the best known works in the world and was discovered by a British Egyptologist in the pharaoh's burial chamber, in the Valley of the Kings. The work highlights the unusual detail of the lobe holes, which at that time were reserved only for to women and children. The headdress with the insignia of the cobra and the vulture symbolize the power of the pharaoh

• Materials: gold
• Dimensions54 cm 39,3 cm x 49 cm

2 - Tutankhamun as Nefertum

Tutankhamun's head was found in the pharaoh's tomb in the Valley of the Kings and it represents the young Tutankhamun as a child rising from a blue lotus flower and therefore associated with Nefertum, god of the rising sun. As with his funerary mask, here too the lobes are designed to house earrings.

• Materials: wood, stucco, paint
• Dimensions: 30 cm high

3 - Statuette of Cheops

This statuette is the only three-dimensional work of the pharaoh that has remained intact. It depicts Cheops seated on a throne, which is less worked than the human figure, holding a scepter in the shape of a flagellum.

• Materials: ivory
• Dimensions7,5 cm 2,9 cm x 2,6 cm

4 - Chefren enthroned

The depiction of the pharaoh presents Chefren not with his recognizable features, but in his idealization of a divine figure, with a perfect body, well-defined and ageless muscles. Moreover, the complete absence of emotions or intentions of movement, wants to represent the eternity of the pharaoh, as immobile as his rigid posture.

• Materials: diorite
• Dimensions168 cm 57 cm x 96 cm

5 - Isis, mother of Thutmose III

The sculpture of the queen mother Isis was made to be dedicated to her son and is portrayed in a classic pose of Egyptian art, that is with hands on the legs, a floral scepter resting in the left hand and a large wig on the head with equal braids length.

• Materials: black granite
• Dimensions98,5 cm 25 cm x 52,5 cm

6 - White Queen

The headdress with the cobras of this sculpture clearly highlights the rank of the subject, that is a queen, in particular of the pharaoh Ramses II. Probably, thanks to the detail of the necklace with the goddess Hathor resting on her breast, the woman could also be a priestess.

• Materials: painted limestone
• Dimensions75 cm 44 cm x 44 cm

7 - Funerary mask of Tuia

The Egyptian noble Tuia was Tutankhamun's great-grandmother and her face is represented with a light but graceful smile, made even brighter by her eyes in quartz and blue glass, with hints of red. Her heavy wig is held back by a floral headband.

• Materials: gilded cartonnage, stones and glass
• Dimensions: 40 cm x 28 cm

8 - Osiriform statue of Mentuhotep II

This sandstone sculpture represents the ancient pharaoh Mentuhotep II, who plays the very important role of being the man who accomplished the great feat of reuniting Egypt after disintegration, inaugurating the Middle Kingdom. The statue is intact and depicts the pharaoh in the guise of the god Osiris; hence, the black color of the skin, typical of the god of the dead.

• Materials: sandstone
• Dimensions138 cm 47 cm x 101 cm

9 - Userkaf in greywacke

Userrkaf's head is the fragment of what was once an entire statue of the pharaoh, known to be the founder of the th dynasty of Egypt. This work is stylistically comparable to those performed for King Micerino, thanks to the minutiae in the details and to the eyes surrounded by a line of makeup.

• Materials: greywacke
• Dimensions45 cm 26 cm x 25 cm

10 - Statue of Khasekhemui

Probably the oldest Egyptian royal statue, it already depicts the pharaoh Khasekhemui with skilled craftsmanship and attention to detail. Today it is exhibited with the right side of the head completely missing, without a nose and with the crown in the middle, but it is still possible to admire the details scratched into the hard stone, such as the eyes and the corners of the mouth.

• Materials: green shale
• Dimensions56,5 cm 13,3 cm x 30 cm

Hours and prices

• every day from 09:00 to 19:00, on Fridays from 09:00 to 11:00 and from 13:30 to 19:00. During the Ramadan period, the museum may close at 17pm
• Best time to avoid queues: early in the morning, as the museum is already very crowded in the late morning
• 60 EGP (approximately € 3,00) - Hall of Mummies 100 EGP (approximately € 5,00)
• Reductions: 30 EGP (around € 1,50) for students with an ISIC card, 50 EGP (around € 2,50) for the Sala delle Mummie
• Free: free admission for residents

Online tickets and guided tours

Useful tips for visiting the attraction

1. Get up early: it is important to reach the museum early in the morning, as it is already very crowded with tourists at lunchtime
2. Watch out for restrictions: in this museum it is not possible to take pictures freely. Remember to buy the photo ticket at the entrance, so you can use the camera in some areas
3. Minimum time: we advise you to consider a minimum of two hours for the visit
4. Currency exchange: remember to bring some local currency with you, as they may not accept euros or other foreign money

Where is it and how to get there

• On foot: located in the center of Tahrir square, recognizable by its red color - Get directions
• By metro: reachable by line 1 and line 2, Sadat stop

Historical notes and curiosities: what to know in brief

In 2011, during the period known as the Arab Spring, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo suffered a sacking which resulted in the destruction of two pharaonic mummies and the damage to other works, which then returned to the Museum's availability, thanks to the intervention. of the government. It is estimated that in 2020 the Egyptian Museum can be moved to Giza, next to the pyramids, in a complex of about 500.000 square meters.