Coptic Museum, Cairo
View inside the Coptic Museum. Photo
jaywaykay.
18th-century Coptic scroll. Photo © Coptic Museum
6th- or 7th-century Coptic fresco. Photo © Coptic Museum
6th-century ivory carving of Christ. Photo © Coptic Museum
Housing the world's largest collection of Coptic Christian artwork, the Coptic Museum in Cairo is a must-see for visitors interested in Christian art or Egyptian history after the pharaohs.
History
The Coptic Museum was founded in 1910 and recently reopened after extensive renovations.
What to See
The Coptic Museum is generally arranged by artistic medium. The first floor has carved stone and stucco, frescoes, and woodwork. The second floor includes textiles, manuscripts, icons, and metalwork.
The collection includes many exquisite works of art, as well as some artifacts notable for their religious syncretism - the gradual transformation of the Egyptian ankh into the cross and divine sun discs into halos, Christian scenes incorporating Egyptian gods, and ancient Egyptian columns transformed into baptismal fonts.
Some of the Nag Hammadi manuscripts, important early copies of Gnostic-Christian writings like the Gospel of Thomas, are upstairs.
Quick Facts
| Site Information | |
| Names: | Coptic Museum |
| Location: | Cairo, Egypt |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Coptic |
| Category: | Museums |
| Visitor Information | |
| Address: | Shara Mari Girgis, Cairo, Egypt |
| Coordinates: | 30.00589° N, 31.230623° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Phone: | 02/33628766, 02/33639742 |
| Public transport: | Metro: Mar Girgis |
Travel Resources
- Cairo Map - our detailed interactive map of Cairo, plus hand-picked links to more
- Cairo Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, and book at the guaranteed lowest price
- Cairo Guided Tours - sightseeing tours and activities in Cairo
- Cairo Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Cairo Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Coptic Museum. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Cairo Map.
Article Sources
- The Coptic Museum - official website
- Coptic Museum - Fodor's Egypt
- Coptic Museum - Frommer's Egypt
- Reviews of the Coptic Museum - TripAdvisor traveler reviews & tips
- The Coptic Museum - Egypt State Information Service
Last updated on August 19, 2009.
