The National Museum of egyptian civilization

 a center for preserving the Egyptian cultural heritage and protecting it from

looting and extinction. This heritage contains what is material and what is immaterial: material

heritage is tangible heritage, which is all things produced and created by the Egyptian man

throughout the ages in science, arts, literature, architecture, engineering, astronomy, language,

administration, beliefs and religions. Regarding immaterial heritage is intangible heritage or

oral heritage like customs, traditions, proverbs, folk tales, and literal skills inherited from

grandparents from the distant or near past.

The museum overlooks a Lake of Ein el-Sira with its natural water that flowsfrom the depths of the earth called the Eye of Life.

for the beginning of the idea of establishing the museum of civilization, it dates back

to 1939 under the reign of King Farouk. In fact, the museum was established in 1949 but  they stoped because of the revolution of nasser in 1952 and now it is the opera house

it was announced a design

competition among Egyptian architects in 1983. In 1984, The design project of Dr. El-Ghazali

Kassiba (The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization 2007, 3), Professor of Architecture at

the Faculty of Fine Arts of a Helwan University, was the winner of the best design. 

The area

of the fair land “Land of Exhibitions” or Aljazeera was initially designated for building the

museum project, but after the State of Japan provided a grant to rebuild the Egyptian Opera

House, which was burned down in 1971, the museum land was withdrawn for the construction

of the Opera House, and then the project was frozen until the end of the 20th century till

Choosing the location of the land of Al-Fustat in 1998

the new site of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

in the area of Al-Fustat - the first capital of Islamic Egypt - is truly a genius site to build this

museum. This site is characterized by its being located in an ancient cultural area and rooted in

the depth of Egyptian history, because it is surrounded by many cultural centers of different

ages in Egypt. To the south of it there are sites of civilizations of prehistoric times: the

civilizations of Maadi, Helwan, Jerzah and Atfih, to the far west of it, we can see from the glass

pyramid hall which is above the core exhibition gallery all the landmarks of greater Cairo such

as the Giza and Saqqara pyramids, near of it a fortress of the oldest military fortresses in Egypt:

One of the most important fortresses in the Persian and Greek Roman period, which was built

on top of the Hanging Church that is one of the most important and the oldest Christian

monuments in Egypt . Also we can see near of the museum one of the oldest mosques in Egypt

that was built by Amr ibn al-Aas, and the ruins of the ancient city of Al-Fustat. To the north of

the museum are many Islamic and historical landmarks of Cairo, such as the citadel of Salah

al-Din al-Ayyubi and the archaeological mausoleums in the Imam al-Shafei area, including the

Imam al-Shafi'i mausoleum, and the tombs of Muhammad Ali's family.

The Museum was designed by Egyptian architect El Ghazzali Kosseiba. The exhibition spaces are being designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The NMEC will showcase Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day, using a multidisciplinary approach that highlights the country’s tangible and intangible heritage.

The Museum’s collections will be displayed in a core permanent exhibition of the principle achievements of Egyptian civilization, with six thematic galleries covering the Dawn of Civilization, The Nile, Writing, State and Society, Material Culture, Beliefs and Thinking and the Gallery of Royal Mummies.

The Museum will also have generous temporary exhibition spaces, an auditorium and an education and research centre, as well as an exhibition on the development of the modern city of Cairo. It will act as a venue for a variety of events, including film screenings, conferences, lectures and cultural activities and will target broad local, national and international audiences.There are four aspects that make the NMEC different from all other museums in Egypt, 

Firstly, the museum comprises all the civilizations that passed through Egypt starting 35,000 years ago; going through the different families of the pharaonic era, and then through the Greek and Roman eras, the Coptic and Islamic eras, and then the contemporary period.

The NMEC takes the visitor on a journey through [all the] civilizations that passed by Egypt in one room, in one hour. It doesn’t just display pieces; there’s a story behind the displays, which might be a number of pieces or objects put together to tell you a story about motherhood, cooking, medicine, or music, and how [a piece in a certain era] is related to other eras that are displayed. There is something unique in this regard; normally when you go to any museum [in Egypt], it is focused on the Pharaonic era or the Coptic or Islamic [eras], so to have them all in one place and see the stories behind them makes it unique.

The third aspect is the use of technology. [With younger generations], whenever they were told that they’re going to a museum, they would usually go [for a school trip] and feel like it’s an obligatory activity. However, we speak the same language that the whole world speaks now, which is technology.

We have interactive and interdisciplinary [tech-driven] ways to deal with the visitor. There are videos next to the displayed objects which tell the story of why or how an artifact was used as well as its material, and there are interactive screens where you can easily access more information about it.

There are some QR codes that you’ll find when you go to the Mummies Hall, which you can scan to access information about the 20 queens and kings that we have here.

Number four, which is the most important, is that we are far more than a museum. We’re called a museum by law, but we see ourselves as a cultural hub. We see anything related to civilization, culture, and heritage as our role to promote.And finally, we have what we call a scientific research center such as up-to-date labs and some apparatus that you can find only in the Louvre in Paris and Abu Dhabi as well as restoration centers.

What’s the significance of the museum’s location in Al Fustat?

The location in itself is an attracting point. At the beginning, it was a negative point because the area was not renovated and reaching it was a bit difficult. But now, with the effort made by the Egyptian government to renovate the whole area, it has affected us positively. The NMEC became at the center of Al Fustat, the first Islamic capital of Egypt, and the government is intending to renovate the whole area, not only the museum. So this is benefiting us and you can see this all around; [renovation] is happening and most of the slums are being removed.

How many artifacts are in storage and how many are on display?

We have almost 50,000 pieces, and we can take up to 70,000 or 80,000. The ones that are displayed are 1,600 pieces in the main hall. We have other halls that we will open, one of which will depend more on multimedia and overseeing the whole of Cairo.

We will also open a temporary exhibition, ongoing for six months, and then it can be replaced by another exhibition. Hopefully, those are going to open within six months.

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 the challenges of moving artifacts here from other museums, particularly the mummies

With mummies, in general there are no big problems because we are part of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, so we are all one family. Exchanging artifacts is a normal occurrence. The problems are more related to bureaucracy because the Ministry of Interior has to be involved whenever a piece is transferred. Additionally, some of the pieces are extremely heavy, you need to make sure that the crane is able to move them and that the floor is able to carry them; there are more logistical challenges there.

The concern [with moving the mummies] was in the transportation phase; the only two big challenges were [road] bumps and [loading the mummies] into the cars, which is why they were placed in nitrogen capsules [to ensure their safe arrival].

 your favorite artifact or historical period in the museum

A number of pieces. Among them is [the mummy of] Akhenaton, another is the first [prosthetic limb] fabricated during the Pharaonic era. Those are the two pieces that are very dear to my heart, I would say.

the  diversity of the pieces is undeniable. 

The displays tell stories from every time period that contributed to Egypt’s history.

the NMEC takes all visitors on an exciting journey through Egypt’s rich heritage and practices

 the museum is unlike any other in Egypt.

The NMEC is the first Egyptian museum dedicated to exhibiting the multiple eras from across Egyptian history. From the prehistoric period, moving on to the Pharaonic, followed by the Coptic, Islamic, and contemporary periods, the museum’s main exhibition hall encompasses an array of rich artefacts, stories, and even traditional clothes.

THIS IS EGYPT’S FIRST MUSEUM FOCUSING SOLELY ON CIVILIZATIONS

In the contemporary displays, there was a special section dedicated to the outfits and jewellery worn by Bedouin women, showing how subtle differences in the outfit can differentiate the wearer’s place of origin, even including whether a woman is married or not. The displays also include tools and practices that were common throughout different time periods, such as pottery, Coptic art, a wooden Qu’ran carrier, and a case for the Torah, among many others.

THE MUMMIES HALL WAS DESIGNED TO FEEL LIKE A TOMB

Mummies Hall was designed to feel like a tomb.these were normal human beings who built an entire legacy based on their ability to innovate.

THE DISPLAYS ARE MEANT TO TELL A STORY

Walking into any museum, one might think the displays just move in chronological order, but what makes the displays at the NMEC unique is that the pieces are put together to tell a story. For example, one display tells the story of how textiles were made, starting from the Prehistoric Period until the emergence of agricultural societies in the Neolithic Period.

The display showcases a model of a textile workshop along with threads, fabrics, and even the spices used to dye the fabrics, therefore allowing visitors to explore the entire journey of textiles in Egypt with its different facets.

IT INCLUDES THE FIRST PROSTHETIC LIMB EVER MADE

The Roman Capula Leg was believed to be the first prosthetic limb made in history, however, the artificial toes created in the Pharaonic era precede it by hundreds of years – and one of them is on display at the NMEC.  it is one of his favorite pieces in the museum and one can easily understand why

The prosthetic toe is in impeccable condition and highlights the level of detail that ancient Egyptians put in all their practices; the prosthesis is shaped exactly like a toe and even has a toenail in order to look as realistic as possible. Historians have marvelled over how it was not only created for aesthetic purposes; it was functional as well.

IT HAS A STRATEGIC LOCATION

Overlooking the rare natural lake called Ein Al Seera, the NMEC is located in Al Fustat, which was Egypt’s first capital after Islamic conquest.

Moreover, it is in close proximity to several ancient Coptic churches and monasteries, in addition to the Coptic museum, the Ibn Ezra Temple, and Egypt’s first mosque: Amr Ibn Al-Aas mosque. The popular Citadel of Saladin, which is an established tourist attraction, can even be seen from the museum’s beautiful outdoor area.