The multimillion-dollar parade involved moving the mummies of 18 kings and four queens from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to their new resting place at NMEC in Fostat.
The mummies were transported in chronological order of their reigns, from Seqenenre Taa II to Ramses IX. The ceremony also saw the relocation of King Ramses II and Queen Hatshepsut.
From Tahrir Square, each mummy was moved on a decorated vehicle designed for the event, alongside chariots, motorbikes and people dressed in ancient Egyptian outfits.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has done its best to make sure that the mummies have been stabilised, conserved, and are packed in a climate-controlled environment,” said Salima Ikram, professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo (via BBC).
Mummies moved from Egyptian Museum
“They have already seen a lot of movement in Cairo and before that in Thebes, where they were moved from their own tombs to other sepulchres for safety,” added Dr Ikram.
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization opens fully in April. The mummies will reside in the Royal Hall of Mummies and will go on display from April 18.
Prior to the parade, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated the main hall and the Royal Hall of Mummies at NMEC.
“It’s the only one of its kind in Egypt and the Middle East,” said Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled al-Anani (via Xinhua).
New resting place at NMEC in Fostat
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization partially opened in 2017 and includes the Coptic Museum, the Ibn Ezra Temple and the first mosque in Egypt. NMEC will display a collection of 50,000 artefacts.
Discussing the mummy parade, Anani added: “It is a unique cultural, awareness, tourism event. It’s unprecedented and it shows that Egypt puts our civilization and antiquities on the top of our priorities.”
Meanwhile, the $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum has completed 98 percent of engineering facility construction, with the opening scheduled for 2021.
Images: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
