Egypt Puts On Parade To Transport 22 Mummies To New Museum

A parade was held in Egypt as 22 mummies were transported from central Cairo to a new museum.

The mummies are some of the country's most famous pharaohs and were transported in a ceremony that made its way from the Egyptian Museum to the newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, Cairo.

The eighteen pharaohs and four other royal figures were transported in special climate-controlled trucks filled with nitrogen to ensure their safe arrival.

The vehicles had been decorated with wings and fitted with lights for the occasion.

It took around an hour to make the journey, which also included a 21-gun salute, live musical performances and was attended by Egyptian dignitaries, including President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

PA

PA

Writing on Twitter, the president said: "This majestic scene is new evidence of the greatness of [the Egyptian] people, the guardian of this unique civilisation that roots back into the depth of history.

"I invite all Egyptians and the whole world to follow this unrivalled event - evoking the spirit of the great ancestors who preserved the homeland and created a civilization in which all humanity takes pride - to keep on our path that we have started: the path of construction and humanity."

Salima Ikram, an Egyptologist from the American University in Cairo said: "By doing it like this, with great pomp and circumstance, the mummies are getting their due.

"These are the kings of Egypt, these are the pharaohs. And so it is a way of showing respect."

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Anany said: "This parade is a unique global event that will not be repeated."

Most of the mummies were part of the ancient New Kingdom, which ran between 1539 BC and 1075 BC - amongst them is Ramses II, Seti I and Queen Hatshepsut.

PA

PA

The oldest mummy in the collection is Seqenenre Tao, the last king of the 17th Dynasty who ruled in the 16th century BC.

Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass said the new museum was chosen to be the new resting place for the mummies because 'we want, for the first time, to display [the mummies] in a civilized manner, an educated manner and not for amusement as they were in the Egyptian Museum'.

The mummies will go on display in the Royal Hall of Mummies, which opens to the public on 18 April.

Topics: egypt, Interesting

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19