The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) that is currently being constructed on a total area of 491000 m2 only two kilometers north of the great pyramids of Giza will be the largest Museum in the world displaying the artifacts of only one civilization namely the ancient Egyptian civilization. In 2002 an international call for the architectural design was made and 1577 designs from 83 countries were submitted competing to propose a design that harmonizes with the historical environment and the location overlooking the Pyramids.
With sealing reaching up to 25 meters the interior of the museum provides enormous space to reflect the identity of the museum : State, kingship and eternity.
The Museum complex will include beside the museum itself a children’s museum and educational facilities as well as a conference center with seating for 1000 guests and a commercial area with shops and restaurants to provide all needed services for an Egyptian family, a tourist or a conference participant to enjoy a great day at the GEM.
Egypt, recognizing the importance of providing the protection and care for its precious heritage which is an integral part of world heritage, is despite of financial difficulties shouldering the immense cost of this project reaching over one billion US Dollars with the help of generous loans from Japan to share with the world the splendors of ancient Egypt.
The grand staircase leading the visitor up to the main display galleries of the museum on the third level of the building will present huge sculptures and architectural elements from ancient Egypt giving an introduction to the main themes addressed in the museum.
A new concept for the display of the treasures of the famous king Tutankhamun reflect on the original placement of some key objects the in the tomb of the young king. Until now only about a tired of the artifacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun are on display in the Egyptian Museum at Tahrir. For the first time the complete over 5000 artifacts will be displayed giving new insights into the official, social and religious details during the period of this king as well as showing the lifestyle of royalty at the time.
The scenario how the objects from the tomb shall be displayed will allow the visitor to have the experience of witnessing a royal funerary procession.
The display in the rest of the chronological galleries moves away from the object oriented display to displaying comprehensive contexts well integrated in the huge spacious galleries of the museum. About 45000 artifacts will take the visitor on a journey through over 5000 years of ancient Egyptian history from Prehistoric times until the Greco-Roman periods in Egypt. In addition to this total of 50000 artifacts which will be on permanent display, including 30000 objects that have never been on display before, another 50000 artifacts will be kept in modern storage facilities easy accessible to researchers.
The well trained young Egyptian staff of the GEM has already packed and transported safely over 41000 artifacts from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and from archeological sites and storerooms all over Egypt to the state of the art labs and storerooms of the Grand Egyptian Museum Conservation Center (GEM-CC) which was inaugurated in June 2010. Skilled Egyptian conservators have done there since the conservation and restoration for over 31000 artifacts to be ready for display.
The artifacts of King Tutankhamun are gradually on the move to the GEM-CC getting prepared for their new spacious modern Galleries of display. Over 3500 of the objects discovered by Howard Carter in the tomb 1922 have already safely reached the GEM-CC. The fabulous jewelry and the golden Mask of Tutankhamun will be the last treasures to be transported to the GEM just before its partial opening early 2018. This will be a historic event one should not miss! The exquisite museum architecture, being welcomed in the Atrium by a 14 meter high colossal statue of King Ramses II, the Grand staircase whit its impressive sculptures and huge architectural elements and as a première the complete Tutankhaman will make this partial opening an unforgettable fantastic experience. 0000000000000