This morning we travelled from Gisa, into central Cairo to visit the old Museum. It was built in the late 19th Century and contains artefacts from ancient Egypt. Entering anything here, including our hotel involves going through security, like metal detectors etc and this Museum is no different, but is more poignant as the building right next door has been completely burnt out in a terrorist attack. I can't remember the details but our guide pointed out the Government House, the American Embassy and the American University all within a stones throw and said they were on high alert as threats had been made against Museums.
Inside is more like an old, dusty warehouse, than we are use to with our Museums. The light is very dappled as the windows are not tended to and exhibits, although mostly rocks and pretty hard wearing, are open to the touch. Some pieces are inside glass cabinets and some have the crystals we have inside pills to suck out moisture. I also saw ancient papyrus stuck with tape and inside frames, the value of which must be through the roof, as some are over 5000 years old.
The skill of the ancient engineers and the craftspeople is nothing short of astonishing as items fit together so neatly and if made from more than one piece, are pinned or hinged so cleverly that it is hard to comprehend the age and tools they were made with.
One of the prize collections in the museum is the contents of the tomb of King Tutenkhamum, because it remained hidden until the early 20th century and therefore not looted for thousands of years and all its goodies stolen, like most of the others. Tutenkhamum was only on the throne for five minutes, but is one of the best known due to his remains being found in one piece. There must have been mighty wealth because must of the contents are guilt gold or gold leaf and he had boxes, inside, boxes, inside boxes for his burial chambers. His sarcophagus was three pieces inside each other, much like Russian dolls, getting more ornate from the inside out. He had all sorts of things for the afterlife, including food, perfumes in glass bottles, beds, his throne and a folding throne and bed, I case he needed them??? The glass bottles actually threw me a bit as this was prior to 1324 BC and I had no idea glass had been round that long.
It was an eye opener and I am really glad we went! Museums are places of great learning and up amongst my most valuable lessons today was that the price of two pieces of toilet paper at the Museum is five Egyptian Pounds AND you pay up in advance. Woe be tied of you need more than two. I guess you go out and ask?
Inside is more like an old, dusty warehouse, than we are use to with our Museums. The light is very dappled as the windows are not tended to and exhibits, although mostly rocks and pretty hard wearing, are open to the touch. Some pieces are inside glass cabinets and some have the crystals we have inside pills to suck out moisture. I also saw ancient papyrus stuck with tape and inside frames, the value of which must be through the roof, as some are over 5000 years old.
The skill of the ancient engineers and the craftspeople is nothing short of astonishing as items fit together so neatly and if made from more than one piece, are pinned or hinged so cleverly that it is hard to comprehend the age and tools they were made with.
One of the prize collections in the museum is the contents of the tomb of King Tutenkhamum, because it remained hidden until the early 20th century and therefore not looted for thousands of years and all its goodies stolen, like most of the others. Tutenkhamum was only on the throne for five minutes, but is one of the best known due to his remains being found in one piece. There must have been mighty wealth because must of the contents are guilt gold or gold leaf and he had boxes, inside, boxes, inside boxes for his burial chambers. His sarcophagus was three pieces inside each other, much like Russian dolls, getting more ornate from the inside out. He had all sorts of things for the afterlife, including food, perfumes in glass bottles, beds, his throne and a folding throne and bed, I case he needed them??? The glass bottles actually threw me a bit as this was prior to 1324 BC and I had no idea glass had been round that long.
It was an eye opener and I am really glad we went! Museums are places of great learning and up amongst my most valuable lessons today was that the price of two pieces of toilet paper at the Museum is five Egyptian Pounds AND you pay up in advance. Woe be tied of you need more than two. I guess you go out and ask?
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