The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)

Where is the NMEC located 

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is now located in Fustat city which is the first Egyptian capital from the beginning of the Arab Islamic era. The choice of this site was because this area is right in the middle of many Egyptian historical sites, as there are lots of Coptic churches, monasteries, and the Coptic Museum. Also there are the Ibn Ezra Temple, and Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque which is the first mosque in Egypt. Not only the religious history but also you can see the Citadel of Saladin from the museum’s outdoor spaces.

That’s why Fustat city was the perfect choice to be the land of the new Egyptian museum the “NMEC”.

The unique design of the NMEC

A unique Museum like this, should have a very unique and perfectly made design. That’s why after lots of hard work and professional great effort, the Egyptian architect El Ghazzali Kosseiba came out with this amazing design to build the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC).

What made this design unique was the unique location that is overlooking Lake Ain El-Sira. (For your own information, this lake is the last natural lake in Cairo.) Which increases the distinction of this site.

Regarding the exhibition spaces, they were designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The overall design for the NMEC was made specially to showcase the Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present time. Those great architects used a multidisciplinary approach to highlight Egypt’s tangible and intangible amazing heritage.

What you can find inside the museum 

This great museum displays a huge collection of 50.000 artifacts plus lots of art pieces that present the modern life of Egypt. The overall purpose of the museum is to present  the whole aspects of the Egyptian Civilization starting from the prehistoric times till the present days.

The NMEC collection was divided into two separate sections, one chronological and the other thematic. 

The chronological area includes the following: 

• Antiquity
• Pharaonic
• Greco-roman
• Coptic
• Medieval
• Islamic
• Modern 
• Contemporary 

Then the thematic area includes the following: 

• The down of civilization 
• The Great Nile River 
• Writing
• State and society
• Material culture, 
• Beliefs and thinking
• The exhibition of Royal Mummies

You can also find at the Museum many generous temporary exhibition spaces like an auditorium for education and research centre.  Also another exhibition to present the development of modern Cairo. There are also spaces to hold a variety of events, like film screenings, lectures, cultural activities, and professional conferences. All these great facilities will be targeting the national and international audiences.

About the great event of the golden parada

We can’t talk about this great museum and forget to describe for you the magical event that happened on the 4th of April, 2021. This event was called the Golden Parada, which was literally a piece of art and magic aiming to transport 22 Royal Mummies of the ancient kings and queens of Egypt from their old home at the Egyptian museum in Tahrir square, to their new resting place at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Fustat city. The Mummies were 18 mummies for kings and 4 belonged to queens.

Among these mummies are the ones for King Ramses II, King Seqenenre Tao, King Seti I, King Thutmose III, Queen Hatshepsut, Queen Meritamen, and Queen Ahmose Nefertari. 

A majestic event like this should have been made in a majestic show. Here is what happened. The 22 mummies were transported in a large march that was podcasted internationally to the whole world where you could see this beautiful and professional show full of old Egyptian dances, amazing ancient costumes, and of course the incredible performance of the Egyptian orchestra showing the ancient music and songs for those kings and queens. 

Those mummies will take about 15 days to go for laboratory restoration then they will get ready for their showcase individually in their new home at the NMEC.

The hall that was specially made for the royal mummies was designed to make the visitor feel like they are in a real tomb with the same inscription on the ceiling as the real one. Inside this hall, you will not only see the mummies, but also you can see the coffin, and the X-rays of each mummy to know the story behind the death of each king and queen.

As this event dazzled us, there will be another event of equal importance In the coming months, this event will include the transport of the whole tomb for the greatest of all times, king Tutankhamun to the rand Egyptian Museum. 

Stay tuned!!

Egyptians events and museums always amaze the world, the greatness and the glory of the ancient Egyptians are now repeating itself. This happened by showing the world Egypt’s great history in a perfectly designed museum and event like the Golden Parade at the newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC).