Egyptian Museum, Cairo
Entrance to the Egyptian Museum by night. Photo © Peter Brubacher
The famed King Tut sarcophagus. Photo
John Spier.
Closer look at the King Tut mask. Photo licensed under GFDL.
Papyrus of Osiris weighing a heart. Photo licensed under GFDL.
Wood ka statue of Pharaoah Hor Awibra (13th Dynasty). Public domain.
The Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo, known more commonly as the Egyptian Museum, houses the largest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world.
History
The Egyptian Museum owes its existence to the Egyptian Antiquities Service, established by the Egyptian government in 1835 to limit the looting of Egypt's priceless artifacts.
The museum opened in 1858 with a collection assembled by Auguste Mariette, the French archaeologist retained by Isma'il Pasha. It was originally housed in an annex of the palace of Ismail Pasha in Giza, the museum moved to its present location in 1900.
What to See
The Egyptian Museum's collection includes over 120,000 items. As at the Louvre Museum in Paris, it is necessary to be selective during a visit.
One major highlight is the famous Pharaoh Tutankhamen tomb collection on the museum's upper floor. The tomb of "King Tut" (as he is better known) was found remarkably intact by Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings in 1923. Artifacts on display include the gold funerary mask and sarcophagus, four huge gilded boxes that fit inside each other, an ancient trumpet, thrones, and even a royal toilet seat.
Also upstairs is the royal Mummy Room, which houses 11 royal mummies from pharaonic times. It has a significant entrance fee and does not allow photos, but the adjacent (free) room has a nice assortment of mummified animals and birds.
Quick Facts
| Address: | al-Mathaf al-Masri, Maydan Tahrir, Cairo, Egypt |
| Phone: | 02/575-4319 |
| Hours: | Daily 9-4:30 |
| Cost: | £e20; Mummy Room £e40; additional £e10 to use your camera and £e100 to use your video recorder. |
Travel Resources
- Map of Cairo - our own interactive map plus links to more online maps
- Cairo Hostels - search and book budget lodgings
- Cairo Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews from fellow travelers
- Guided Tours of Cairo - sightseeing tours and excursions
- Cairo Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Cairo travel
Article Sources
- Egyptian Museum in Cairo - official website
- Egyptian Antiquities Museum - Fodor's
More Information
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Egyptian 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 or get our free Google Earth download.
