A procession of floats carried the mummified stays of 22 pharaohs, like Egypt’s most strong ancient queen, by way of Cairo Saturday night, in an eye-catching parade to a new resting location.
Underneath significant protection, the mummies have been driven on floats seven kilometers (four miles) across the money from the iconic Egyptian Museum to the new Countrywide Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.
Dubbed the “Pharaohs’ Golden Parade”, the 18 kings and 4 queens travelled in purchase, oldest very first, each and every aboard a separate car or truck adorned in ancient Egyptian style.
(Ahmed Mahmoud/Sputnik/AFP)
Both pedestrians and automobiles had been barred from Tahrir Sq., web-site of the existing museum, and other sections of the route.
Visuals of the slick parade and an similarly cautiously choreographed opening ceremony ended up broadcast dwell on state television, to rousing tunes.
The mummies entered the grounds of the new museum to a 21-gun salute, immediately after a a little bit shorter than predicted journey time of all-around fifty percent an hour.
(Ahmed Mahmoud/Sputnik/AFP)
“This grandiose spectacle is additional proof of the greatness… of a exceptional civilization that extends into the depths of heritage,” mentioned President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi just in advance of proceedings.
Seqenenre Tao II, “the Brave”, who reigned above southern Egypt some 1,600 a long time in advance of Christ, was on the initially chariot, though Ramses IX, who reigned in the 12th century BC, brought up the rear.
A further excellent warrior, Ramses II, who ruled for 67 years, and Queen Hatshepsut, the most highly effective woman pharaoh, ended up also on the short voyage.
Emblazoned with the title of their allocated sovereign, the gold and black colored carriages were fitted with shock absorbers for the trip, to make certain none of the precious cargos had been unintentionally disturbed by uneven surfaces.
(Ahmed Mahmoud/Sputnik/AFP)
‘Upgraded cases’
Uncovered around Luxor from 1881 onwards, interesting new details of the pharaohs’ lives – and fatalities – are nonetheless rising.
A large-tech analyze of Seqenenre Tao II, involving CT scans and 3D images of his fingers and lengthy-analyzed skull fractures, show he was likely killed in an execution ceremony, after getting captured in struggle.
For their procession by way of Cairo’s streets, the mummies ended up put in particular containers crammed with nitrogen, under problems very similar to their frequent screen conditions.
(Mahmoud Khaled/AFP)
The new resting location, the Countrywide Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in the Fustat district of Old Cairo, is composed of modern, minimal-increase buildings topped with a pyramid amid expansive grounds.
The mummies will undergo 15 days of laboratory restoration just before they are showcased separately in their new household, in an setting redolent of underground tombs.
They will be accompanied by a quick biography.
In their new home, they will occupy “a bit upgraded cases”, mentioned Salima Ikram, professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo.
Temperature and humidity manage will also be improved.
The “museum has what it takes to maintain (mummies), the finest laboratories… it is just one of the most effective museums we have,” Waleed el-Batoutti, adviser to the tourism and antiquities ministry, told state tv.
(Ahmed Mahmoud/Sputnik/AFP)
‘Curse of the Pharaoh’
The Countrywide Museum of Egyptian Civilisation opened its doorways to confined exhibits from 2017 and will open up fully on Sunday, just before the mummies go on display screen to the common general public two months later on.
In the coming months, the state is because of to inaugurate an additional new showcase, the Grand Egyptian Museum, around the Giza pyramids.
It way too will house pharaonic collections, which includes the celebrated treasure of Tutankhamun.
(Ahmed Mahmoud/Sputnik/AFP)
Discovered in 1922, the tomb of the young ruler, who took the throne briefly in the 14th century BC, contained treasures such as gold and ivory.
A so-known as “curse of the pharaoh” emerged in the wake of Tutankhamun’s unearthing in 1922-23.
A vital funder of the dig, Lord Carnarvon, died of blood poisoning months just after the tomb was opened, whilst an early visitor also died abruptly in 1923.
With the parade coming only days following quite a few disasters struck Egypt, some inevitably speculated on social media about a new curse provoked by the hottest go.
The previous days have seen a deadly rail collision and a creating collapse in Cairo, while international headlines have been dominated by the battle to refloat the huge container ship MV At any time Given which blocked the Suez Canal for virtually a week.
The mummies’ re-housing “marks the conclude of a lot do the job to improve their conservation and exhibition,” claimed UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who was in Cairo for the parade.
“This raises thoughts that go considerably further more than the mere relocation of a selection – we will see the record of Egyptian civilization unfold before our eyes.”
(Vassilis A. Poularikas / NurPhoto / NurPhoto by using AFP)
Who are the pharaohs who moved house in Cairo?
Here is a listing of the pharaohs remaining rehoused at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation and a description of each and every.
1 – Seqenenre Tao II, identified as “the Brave”, he reigned about southern Egypt some 1,600 years just before Christ and led a war against the Hyksos, a Semitic men and women who had invaded the nation.
2 – Queen Ahmose-Nefertari, his highly effective and influential daughter, she was married to her brother Ahmose I who was the first monarch of the 18th Dynasty.
3 – Amenhotep I, 2nd pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, he was a boy or girl when he became king and ruled with the help of his mother, Queen Ahmose-Nefertari.
4 – Ahmose-Meritamun, Ahmose-Nefertari’s daughter, she was both the more mature sister and spouse of Amenhotep I.
5 – Thutmose I, the 3rd pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, he ascended the throne just after Amenhotep I died without the need of an heir and helped increase Egyptian rule in the south.
6 – Thutmose II, son of the previous king, married his 50 {0841e0d75c8d746db04d650b1305ad3fcafc778b501ea82c6d7687ee4903b11a}-sister Hatshepsut.
7 – Queen Hatshepsut, regarded as the “foremost of noble women”, she declared herself pharaoh whilst in historic Egypt females could not accede to that part. But she rose to develop into a impressive monarch below whose rule numerous projects had been crafted and trade with other nations around the world flourished.
8 – King Thutmose III was remembered as 1 of the excellent warrior kings of the New Kingdom, whose battle at Megiddo is considered a model of armed service tactic.
9 – King Amenhotep II, his son, was recognized as an exceptional charioteer and all-round athlete as nicely as qualified with bow and arrow.
He secured Egypt’s borders and fought armed forces strategies that secured huge prosperity and electrical power, and was also acknowledged for growing the Karnak temple intricate close to Luxor.
10 – Thutmose IV, son of the previous king.
11 – Amenhotep III dominated for 37 or 38 years. His reign was recognised for its opulence and the grandeur of its monuments, together with the Colossi of Memnon – two large stone statues around Luxor that characterize him and his wife.
12 – Queen Tiye was married to Amenhotep III.
13 – Seti I, son of Ramses I, dominated for at the very least 21 many years for the duration of which he led numerous military campaigns to reimpose Egypt’s authority outside the house its borders.
His functions and victories have been recorded in the temple of Amun at Karnak. His tomb in the Valley of the Kings is 1 of the most effective preserved royal sepulchres with vivid colours.
14 – Ramses II dominated for 67 a long time through which he was identified as a excellent warrior and prolific builder who requested the construction of temples across Egypt, together with the popular Abu Simbel and the Ramessseum, his mortuary temple.
15 – King Merenptah, son of Ramses II, dominated 11 a long time.
16 – King Seti II, son of King Merenptah.
17 – King Siptah came to the throne all through the 19th Dynasty as a child and his stepmother Taworset, spouse of Seti II, acted as regent.
18 – Ramses III, king of the 20th Dynasty, was recognised as the final of the good warrior pharaohs of the New Kingdom.
Quite a few papyri recount a so-identified as “harem conspiracy” involving higher officers by his spouse, slight queen Tiye, plotting to kill him to place her son Pentawer on the throne.
CT scans of his mummified physique have shown that the king’s throat had been lower from behind.
19 – Ramses IV succeeded his father Ramses III but only ruled for six or 7 years.
20 – Ramses V dominated for only about four several years and died without having an heir to the throne.
21 – Ramses VI, 1 of the sons of Ramses III, ruled for 8 yrs.
22 – Ramses IX was the 8 king of the 20th Dynasty who dominated for about 18 a long time.
© Agence France-Presse