Egyptian Museum Centenary

Hidden treasures exhibition & improvements
by Keith Grenville

The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo is being prepared for a grand celebration of its centenary. Since the museum was inaugurated on 15th November 1902, millions of people from kings, queens and emperors to commoners have walked the galleries of this treasure house viewing the world’s most famous collection of Egyptian antiquities. The Foundation Stone was laid on 1st April 1897 in the presence of Prince Abbas Hilmi and Gaston Maspéro.

A three-day festival from 9th to 11 December will mark the 100 years which will include a conference in the Cairo Opera House to be attended by museum directors and researchers from leading museums around the world. The highlight of the celebrations will be a special exhibition in the basement of the museum entitled “The Hidden Treasures of the Egyptian Museum” in which 300 objects which have been in storage for many years, will be displayed for the first time including 40 objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun comprising 30 gold amulets and items of jewellery which have never been seen before as well as Old Kingdom statuary, a limestone sphinx figure of Ramesses II and a 22nd Dynasty gold crown in the form of a cobra. Among the exhibits will be objects recovered from other countries.

The basement area, only used for storage is receiving attention for the first time. It is not only the fabric of the basement structure which requires restoration but the accumulated 30,000 artefacts, covered in 100 years of dust and cobwebs, are being moved, while some are being cleaned and prepared for display. Mr. Hussein Ahmed Hussein, in charge of the basement restoration said, “It was so filled with antiquities that it was difficult for our workers to get in at all . . . The place was swept, all the cracks had to be treated, and the walls were consolidated.”

It is hoped that the fibre-optic lighting and display techniques to be installed will be more efficient than those used in the first floor jewellery rooms including the Tutankhamun gold room. In these areas, recent “improvements” have had a reverse effect and rendered many of the objects difficult to be viewed properly. It is reported that an Italian museologist has been contracted to reorganise and improve the main museum collection which will hopefully include positive re-assessment and improvement of lighting.

As part of the celebrations, a centenary logo is being designed, and a 40-minute film will document the history of the museum, also a set of postage stamps and special gold and silver coins will be minted. A long overdue visitor’s annexe to include a new shop and a conference facility is being planned as well as air-conditioning for the museum.

Recently, the Egyptian authorities advertised an international architectural competition for a new museum building. This, together with the proposed improvements to the present museum and with the adventurous and seminal Norwegian designed Bibliotheca Alexandrina would indicate that the Egyptian authorities are entering the third millennium with progressive attitudes and thinking. We greatly look forward to the results.