Egyptian Antiquities Museum of Egypt commonly known as the Egyptian Museum is
located in the capital city of Cairo. This museum houses the most extensive collection
of ancient Egyptian antiquities. Established by Egyptian government in 1835 to
protect the rich heritage of ancient Egyptian antiquates. Earlier the museum was
in the annex of palace of Isma'il Pasha in Giza but in 1900 under Gaston Maspero,
museum moved to its present location of Tahrir Square in Cairo's city center.
Built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II in 1897 and opened in 1902,
the Egyptian Museum has 107 halls. The ground floor of the museum has huge statues
while the upper floor of the museum houses small statues, jewels, Tutankhamun
treasures and the mummies. Besides of its collection halls it also comprises
of a section on photography and a large library.
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities display an 'Object of the Month', which
is the prime center of attraction between the visitors. Behind it there is a
display of some of the valuable and rare items from the time of unification
of Upper and Lower Egypt. The most famous item among them is the slate palette
of King Narmer-considered as one of the earliest documents of Egyptian history.
Along with it other smaller gems of sculpture art are also on display.
The four gilded shrines of Tutankhamun's tomb nested one inside the other is
also on display in the Egyptian Museum. These shrines are lined in decreasing
size. Along with these four shrines, chariots, gloves, jewellery and the famous
golden mask of Tutankhamun and many other antiquities of his tomb are on display.
The upper floor of the Museum also houses a specific Mummy Room, which has mummies
of some of the great rulers of Ancient Egypt.
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