The Egyptian Museum in Cairo, or the Cairo Museum, is the history of Egyptology embodied in stone. Located on the legendary Tahrir Square in the very heart of modern Cairo, this neoclassical palace of pink granite was the main repository of the world`s greatest archaeological finds for over 120 years. Despite the opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the Cairo Museum remains one of the main attractions of the city.
History and Architecture: A Palace for Antiquities
The museum`s history began in the mid-19th century when the growing collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, assembled by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, required a proper home. The first building in Boulaq proved too small, and an international architectural competition was announced in 1900.
Winner and Construction: The competition was won by the young French architect Marcel Dourgnon. Construction according to his project took place from 1900 to 1902 on the new, then still empty, Ismailia Square (later Tahrir). The museum became one of the first in the world originally designed as a museum building.
Architectural Style: It is a vivid example of Neoclassicism with elements of the French Belle Époque. Its facade is distinguished by monumentality, symmetry, high windows, and an elegant dome crowning the central hall. Pink granite and cream limestone give it a noble, "palatial" look. Busts of great Egyptologists are placed on the facade, and a monument to Auguste Mariette stands in the courtyard under the shade of trees.
Collection: A Priceless Archive of Human Civilization
The museum`s collection numbers about 120,000 exhibits, covering 5,000 years of history—from the Predynastic Period (c. 5500 BCE) to the Ptolemaic era (30 BCE). Its main feature is not modern interactivity but the incredible density and concentration of authentic masterpieces.
After the transfer of the entire Tutankhamun collection to the GEM, the museum on Tahrir is by no means empty. On the contrary, it allows focusing on other, no less grand layers of history. Its exhibition is logically divided into two levels.
The Most Interesting Exhibits (After the Move of Tutankhamun)
Ground Floor: A Journey Through Time.
Here, exhibits are arranged chronologically and by size. This is the world of colossi and monumental art.
• Statues of the Old Kingdom Era: The famous statue of Pharaoh Khafre in diorite, protected by the falcon god Horus; the triumphant statues of Pharaoh Menkaure surrounded by goddesses; the wooden statue of Ka-Aper ("Sheikh el-Beled")—a masterpiece of realism.
• Treasures of the Middle Kingdom: Elegant jewelry inlaid with semi-precious stones, and statues of pharaohs with inspired faces, for example, statues of Senusret I and Amenemhat III.
• Hyksos and New Kingdom: Here one can trace the influence of foreign cultures.
First Floor: The World of the Refined and the Funerary.
This is the realm of exquisite objects, arranged thematically.
• Royal Mummy Hall (currently closed, mummies moved to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, NMEC): Although the mummies themselves have moved, the historical significance of this hall where they were stored remains.
• Treasures of Tanis: The pearl of the collection, remaining in the museum. Priceless finds from the intact royal tombs of the 21st–22nd Dynasties at Tanis: the gold funerary mask of Pharaoh Psusennes I, a silver sarcophagus, exquisite jewelry sets, matching the craftsmanship of the treasures of Tutankhamun but less known.
• Animal Mummies Hall: A unique collection demonstrating the cult of sacred animals: mummies of crocodiles, cats, ibises, dogs, and even a bull.
• Models from the Tomb of Meketre: Incredibly detailed wooden models depicting the daily life of Ancient Egypt (boats, bakeries, a cattle yard), found in the tomb of the nobleman Meketre (11th Dynasty).
• Items from the Tomb of Yuya and Thuya: Luxurious funerary belongings of the parents of Queen Tiye, including elegant furniture and inlaid caskets.
• Jewelry Halls: A stunning collection of jewelry from the earliest times to the Hellenistic era.
• Papyri and Everyday Objects.
Why does the Museum Remains a Must-See, Even After GEM?
Authenticity and Atmosphere: This is a pioneer museum. You walk through the same halls as the archaeologists of the early 20th century. High ceilings, wooden display cases, yellowed labels — there is no modern design here, but there is a unique aura of a "cabinet of curiosities" and scientific romance.
Unlike the gigantic GEM, the Cairo Museum is compact. Its collection, although huge, can be covered in one day, providing a holistic, albeit intensive, overview.
Historical Context: The building itself is a monument. Visiting it allows one to understand how Egyptology was born and developed as a science and how our predecessor’s perceived antiquity.
Location: Located in the city center, the museum is easy to include on any route, combining it with visits to other attractions of central Cairo.
Advice for Visitors: The museum requires preparation. Hire an official guide at the entrance or get a good guidebook, otherwise you risk drowning in a sea of artifacts. Focus on key halls: Tanis, Meketre, Old Kingdom statues. Arrive at opening time to avoid crowds.
The Cairo Museum on Tahrir is the classic foundation. The GEM is a grand modern epic. The first lets you feel the history of discoveries in its authentic, slightly chaotic form; the second systematizes it effectively. For the true connoisseur, they are not competitors but an ideal complement to each other in understanding Ancient Egypt.
