Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian government established a museum in 1835 near the Ezbekieh Garden. Youssef Diaa Effendi, the Director of the Antiquities Department, began inspecting antiquities shortly after assuming his position. He focused on items discovered by farmers in Middle Egypt. In 1848, Muhammad Ali Pasha assigned Linan Bek to compile a report on archaeological sites. This effort failed due to the death of Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1849. The collection shrank and moved to a single hall in the Cairo Citadel. Khedive Abbas I donated the entire contents to Archduke Maximilian of Austria during a visit in 1855. These artifacts now reside in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Auguste Mariette founded a new museum at Boulaq in 1858 within a former warehouse on the riverbank. An 1878 Nile flood damaged the building, prompting calls for a permanent location away from the water. By 1889, overcrowding forced artifacts into boats in Upper Egypt. Khedive Ismail offered a palace in Giza as a temporary home. De Morgan reorganized the collections there between 1889 and 1892. Loret succeeded him until 1899 when Maspero returned to manage operations.
The architectural design was created by French architect Marcel Dournon in 1897. The foundation stone was laid on the 1st of April 1897 before Khedive Abbas Hilmi II. German architect Hermann Grabe completed the project after Dournon left. Italian architects Giuseppe Garozzo and Francesco Zaffrani constructed the building. Alessandro Parazenti received the keys on the 9th of March 1902 and began transferring collections. Five thousand wooden carts moved items while two trains made nineteen round trips. The first shipment carried approximately forty-eight stone coffins weighing over a thousand tons total. The transfer finished by the 13th of July 1902. Mariette's tomb moved to the museum garden per his wishes. The Egyptian Museum officially opened on the 15th of November 1902. The new structure adopted an exhibition style based on gradual hall arrangements without allocating rooms for periods of turmoil. Large statues occupied the ground floor while funerary items filled the first floor chronologically. Each day staff arranged new artifacts by theme across various rooms. The facility became so full it resembled a storage facility rather than a traditional gallery space.
The museum houses over 170,000 items spanning prehistoric times to Roman rule. Ground floor displays feature large-scale works in stone including statues and reliefs. These pieces arrange chronologically from predynastic to Greco-Roman periods in a clockwise fashion. First floor exhibits smaller works like papyri coins textiles and wooden sarcophagi. Prehistoric Period pottery jewelry hunting tools reflect early settlement life across north central and southern regions. Early Dynastic Period includes the Narmer Palette and statue of Khasekhemwy alongside vessels and tools. Old Kingdom Period showcases statues of Djoser Khafre Menkaure and King Pepi I with son Merenre. Queen Hetepheres I collection appears here too. Middle Kingdom Period features Montuhotep II statues plus treasures of princesses Mereret Sithathoriunet and Khenmet. Faiyum region pyramid fragments join daily life tools and coffins. New Kingdom treasures include Tutankhamun's items Hatshepsut Thutmose III Ramesses II chariots papyri Akhenaten's collection Israel Stele Amenhotep III Ti amulets writing tools agricultural instruments. Late Period holds Tanis treasures Psusennes I funerary masks Shoshenq II stela Baiankh Nubian artifacts. Roman Period contains Dush Treasure discovered in 1989.
In August 2004 authorities announced thirty-eight artifacts had disappeared from the museum. The incident went to public prosecution for investigation. During the security turmoil following the 25th of January Revolution, unidentified individuals broke into the museum on the 28th of January 2011. Fifty-four artifacts were stolen that night. Zahi Hawass then director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities stated his heart was broken and blood boiling. Thieves looking for gold broke seventy objects including two sculptures of Tutankhamun. They took two skulls from a research lab before being stopped leaving the museum. Activists reported men tortured with electric shocks whips wires while women tied to fences trees. Singer activist Ramy Essam among those detained and abused. Two mummies destroyed one damaged by fire several other artifacts harmed. Twenty-five missing objects found soon after on museum grounds. Six of seven Ushabtis of Yuya recovered plus statuette retrieved in 2014. One shabti remains missing restored artifacts displayed September 2013 exhibition titled Damaged and Restored. In September 2025 authorities announced theft of three thousand year old gold bracelet dating reign King Amenemope. Four people arrested including restoration specialist who confessed stealing artifact from safe selling it succession jewellers melting down gold foundry worker.
In 1983 the museum building registered as heritage site for architectural value. August 2006 major renovation began including cultural center administrative commercial annex western side removing informal settlements. Ministry launched initiative May 2012 create rehabilitation plan addressing pollution heavy traffic obscuring original appearance. German Foreign Ministry funded studies International Environmental Quality Association participated implementation. Project included architectural engineering restoration redevelopment surrounding Tahrir Square area completed 2016 restoring eastern northern wings lighting issues reorganizing displays. First phase sampled original color restoring walls wall surface decorations column decorations replacing window glass UV protective safeguarding artifacts. Restoration work relied 257 preserved panels library displaying original designs. July 2016 Ministry upgraded internal external lighting systems enabling nighttime visits. November 2018 final phase inaugurated new exhibition layout Yuya Thuya collections upper floor Tutankhamun artifacts until rest moved Grand Egyptian Museum. Works involved repainting walls upgrading outlets updating lighting system restoring display cases committee directors Turin Louvre United Museums Berlin oversaw redistribution artifacts.
Until 2021 two rooms contained several mummies kings other New Kingdom royal family members. On the 3rd of April 2021 twenty-two mummies transferred National Museum Egyptian Civilization Fustat grand parade dubbed Pharaohs' Golden Parade. Royal mummies now displayed climate controlled cases better regulate temperature humidity. Twenty-two royal mummies include eighteen kings four queens. Transfer marked end of long display tradition at original museum location. Climate control measures designed protect fragile remains from environmental damage. New facility offers improved preservation standards compared to previous conditions. Public witnessed historic procession moving ancient rulers to modern home. Event highlighted ongoing efforts balance public access with scientific conservation needs. Remaining artifacts continue transfer process Grand Egyptian Museum Giza including all items found inside Tutankhamun tomb. Overcrowding criticized making experience cumbersome visitors despite rich historical significance.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was the Egyptian Museum established and by whom?
The Egyptian government established a museum in 1835 near the Ezbekieh Garden. Youssef Diaa Effendi served as Director of the Antiquities Department to begin inspecting antiquities shortly after assuming his position.
Who designed the current building of the Egyptian Museum and when did it open?
French architect Marcel Dournon created the architectural design for the Egyptian Museum in 1897. The facility officially opened on the 15th of November 1902 after Alessandro Parazenti received the keys on the 9th of March 1902.
What artifacts are currently housed inside the Egyptian Museum collection?
The Egyptian Museum houses over 170,000 items spanning prehistoric times to Roman rule. Ground floor displays feature large-scale works in stone including statues and reliefs while first floor exhibits smaller works like papyri coins textiles and wooden sarcophagi.
How many artifacts were stolen from the Egyptian Museum during the 2011 revolution?
Fifty-four artifacts were stolen from the Egyptian Museum on the 28th of January 2011 during security turmoil following the 25th of January Revolution. Thieves broke seventy objects including two sculptures of Tutankhamun before being stopped leaving the museum.
When was the renovation project for the Egyptian Museum completed and what changes occurred?
The final phase of the renovation project for the Egyptian Museum was inaugurated in November 2018 with a new exhibition layout. Restoration work involved repainting walls upgrading outlets updating lighting systems and restoring display cases across the eastern northern wings.