Home to the largest collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world, the Egyptian Museum is an incredible if somewhat overwhelming experience to visit. Many objects have or are moving to the Grand Egyptian Museum and The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization but so much still remains. With hundreds of thousands of items there are plenty to fill all three museums.
It is very much an old school museum, opened in 1902, with limited labelled and often poor lighting. The building is huge, but built before the Tutankhamun discoveries in 1922 which filled a number of galleries. Thankfully a few years ago photography was finally allowed in the museum.
Here are some of the older exhibits, dating from up to 4,000 years ago.
The museum is home to the treasures of Tutankhamun but the most famous ones (including the iconic head piece and sarcophagus) are in a darker (super busy) room in which photography isn’t allowed. There are still a number of exquisite items from his tomb outside though which can be photographed.
Most of the mummies had already been moved by the time I visited in May 2023 but a couple were left behind, including of a falcon.
There is an overwhelming number of sarcophagus in the museum.
Egyptian stone and woodwork is quite exquisite, and often amazingly well preserved.
This tiny (8cm high) statue is the only image known to exist of Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Akhenaten was one of the most controversial pharaoh, and what remains from his eventful reign is deeply strange and different to other Egyptian antiquities.
More spectacular items from around the museum, you can easily spend hours here.
To finish with the quirkiest, if most poorly lit, galleries, dedicated to mummified animals including sheep, birds, fish, and crocodiles!
