Egypt's Pharaohs' Golden Parade:
A Majestic Journey that History Will
By Angy Essam,
Mustafa Marie, and Wael Hussein
Egypt Today, April 4, 2020
The moment the royal mummies left the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir
placed on specially
designed vehicles, April 4, 2021
The mummy of King Ramses II was among those to be transported,
April 3, 2021
Egypt mummies pass through Cairo in
ancient rulers' parade
By Wael Hussein
BBC News, Cairo, April 4, 2021
Egyptians have been witnessing a historic procession of their
country's ancient rulers through the capital, Cairo.
The lavish, multimillion-dollar spectacle saw 22 mummies - 18 kings
and four queens - transported from the peach-coloured, neo-classical
Egyptian Museum to their new resting place 5km (three miles) away.
With tight security arrangements befitting their royal blood and
status as national treasures, the mummies were relocated to the new
National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in what is called The Pharaohs'
They were transported with great fanfare in chronological order of
their reigns - from the 17th Dynasty ruler, Seqenenre Taa II, to Ramses
IX, who reigned in the 12th Century BC.
Egypt experienced a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections a year ago, but
following a decline in the number of cases and deaths, restrictions on
open-air gatherings were later lifted.
One of the main attractions of Saturday's event is King Ramses II,
the most famous pharaoh of the New Kingdom, who ruled for 67 years and
is remembered for signing the first known peace treaty.
Another is Queen Hatshepsut, or Foremost of Noble Ladies. She became
ruler even though the customs of her time were that women did not become
Each mummy was carried on a decorated vehicle fitted with special
shock-absorbers and surrounded by a motorcade, including replica
horse-drawn war chariots.
While ancient mummification techniques originally preserved the
pharaohs, for the move they have been placed in special nitrogen-filled
boxes to help protect them against external conditions. Roads along the
route have also been repaved to keep the journey smooth.
"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.
The mummies were discovered in 1881 and 1898 in two caches in the
ruins of Thebes, Egypt's ancient capital - modern day Luxor in Upper
"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," Dr Ikram pointed out.
While most of the ancient rulers' remains were brought from Luxor to
Cairo via boat on the Nile, a few were transported in the first-class
carriage of a train.
They were housed in the iconic Egyptian Museum and visited by
tourists from around the world for the past century.
Valley of the Kings
Egypt's authorities are hoping that the new museum, which opens fully
this month, will help revitalise tourism - a prime source of foreign
currency for the country.
The industry has been battered by political turbulence over the past
decade, and more recently by the pandemic.
IMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS image captionSome of Cairo's streets were
resurfaced to ensure the mummies had a smooth journey
Saturday's move of the mummies will be streamed online for all
enthusiasts of ancient Egypt to watch.
The new exhibits will now be housed in the Royal Hall of Mummies and
will go on display to the general public from 18 April.
The hall has been designed so that visitors will experience the
illusion of being in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.
Separately, a new Grand Egyptian Museum which will house the famous
Tutankhamun collection is due to open next year, close to the Great
Pyramids at Giza.
'Curse of the pharaohs'
While it is being seen as a grand - and even fun - event, Egypt's
mummies have historically been associated with superstition and
Recently, Egypt has had a string of disasters. Last week alone dozens
of people were killed in a train crash in Sohag, Upper Egypt, while at
least 18 people died when a building collapsed in Cairo.
mummies pass through Cairo in ancient rulers' parade - BBC News
Egypt's Pharaohs' Golden Parade:
A Majestic Journey that History Will Forever
By Angy Essam and
April 4, 2021
The moment the royal mummies left the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir
placed on specially designed vehicles - Egypt Today.
CAIRO – 4
April 2021: The highly anticipated Pharaohs’ Golden Parade kicked off
from Cairo’s Tahrir Square on April 3, at exactly 6:30 p.m.
Pharaohs’ Golden Parade moved from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to its
final destination in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization,
arriving at exactly 8:30 p.m. as scheduled.
The number of
mummies and coffins transported is 22 royal mummies and 17 royal
coffins, dating back to the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties. 18 of
the mummies are for kings, while 4 belong to queens.
mummies transferred are mummies of King Ramses II; King Seqenenre Tao;
King Thutmose III; King Seti I; Queen Hatshepsut; and Queen Meritamen,
the wife of King Amenhotep I; and Queen Ahmose Nefertari, the wife of
King Ahmose I.
The royal mummies were transferred to the
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in a large march, in-line with
the inauguration of the museum and the opening of three halls that
include the Central Exhibition Hall and the Mummies Hall.
The Golden Pharaohs’ Parade was
preceded in an earlier date by the transferring of 17 sarcophagi of the
greatest kings of Egypt, dating back to the era of the 17th, 18th, 19th,
and 20th Dynasties, to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, in
preparation for displaying them with their mummies respectively.
“With all pride and joy, I highly anticipate the Pharaohs' Golden
Parade,” commented Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on his
official Twitter account minutes before the launch of the Pharaohs’
President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi -
Screenshot from Live TV
“This majestic scene is evidence of the
greatness of the Egyptian people; the guardians of this unique
civilization extending deep into the depths of history,” continued El-Sisi in
a separate tweet describing the parade.
“I invite all Egyptians
and the whole world to follow this unique event, inspired by the spirit
of the great ancestors, who preserved the nation and created a
civilization in which all humankind are proud, to continue our path that
we started: The path of construction and humanity,” concluded Egypt’s
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Also, Egypt’s first lady Entissar El-Sisi commented
on Twitter saying, “Egypt will witness today an exceptional event that
will dazzle the entire world.”
Egypt's First Lady Entissar el-Sisi.
Egypt’s first lady described the event by commenting: “The event is
a reflection of the grandiose ancient Egyptian civilization that offered
the world a unique legacy and heritage.
As the countdown of the
Pharaohs’ Golden Parade was counting, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism &
Antiquities Khaled el-Enany took President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in a
quick tour around the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in which
the latter inaugurated minutes before the parade embarked from Tahrir
The Tourism & Antiquities Minister gave the President a brief
tour around the museum, explaining what it will house and the numerous
halls it consists of.
Enany explained that The National Museum
of Egyptian Civilization is one of the most important national projects
adopted by the state, as it is one of the largest international museums,
as well as the only museum of its kind in Egypt, the Arab world, the
Middle East and Africa, as it includes all the manifestations of the
richness and diversity enjoyed by the Egyptian civilization during
various eras starting from pre-eras to the present time.
explained that the museum will house several antiquities belonging to
various different civilizations, such as the Islamic, Coptic, Roman,
Greek and of course, the Egyptian civilization.
Minister of Tourism & Antiquities explained that the royal mummies
transported in the Pharaoh’s Golden Parade will be housed in a new hall
in the NMEC labelled Royal Mummies Hall, stressing that the museum,
with all its details, will be a highly interesting destination for all
visitors, whether locally or internationally, which in turn increases
the importance of the museum and its tourism and economic return, and
will contribute to making the place more lively and attractive.
Moreover, Enany explained that the artifacts in the National Museum of
Egyptian Civilization in Fustat expresses all the manifestations of the
richness and diversity that the Egyptian civilization enjoyed during the
various eras, starting from prehistoric times to the present day, and it
will contain among its flanks very rare monuments.
Pharaohs' Golden Parade - ET
When speaking about the
new halls inaugurated in the NMEC inline of the Pharaohs’ Golden
Parade, Enanyexplained that the Central Exhibition Hall includes the
main display of the museum. The visitor can get an integrated idea of
the Egyptian civilization and its most important achievements
throughout its different eras, starting from prehistoric times through
the Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic and Islamic eras and up to the modern
and contemporary ages, in addition to what the Egyptians inherited from
the traditional culture or what is known as the popular heritage.
He also stated that the Royal Mummies Hall, which was specially designed
to display the mummies of the kings and queens of Pharaonic Egypt, takes
the visitor to the atmosphere of the Valley of the Kings, where these
mummies were found, in a manner befitting their high status, and
preceded by an introductory presentation explaining how the Egyptians
practiced the science of mummification and their superiority in it.
Enany also stated that the Glass Pyramid Hall, called the Capital
Museum, displays the history of the present-day Greater Cairo. It is
located in the glass pyramid that rises above the central display area.
Through it, using modern technological methods, the visitor can see all
the landmarks of ancient and modern Cairo.
The National Museum
of Egyptian Civilization is one of the most important projects carried
out by Egypt in cooperation with UNESCO and is one of the largest
museums of civilization in the world.
Egypt’s Minister of
Tourism & Antiquities Khaled el-Enanyagreed to grant a 5o percent
discount on NMEC’s entry tickets for Egyptians and foreigners from April
4-17, to visit the Central Exhibition Hall (Main Exhibition).
Pharaohs' Golden Parade - ET
Pharaohs’ Golden Parade, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism & Antiquities
Khaled el-Enany and Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) Zurab Pololikashviliinspected
the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Egypt’s first Islamic
capital, Al-Fustat, to which the mummies were moved at the end of the
In a different context, Chairman of the "Kenouz Egypt
for Archaeological Replicas" Hisham Shaarawy indicated that a 20 percent
reduction will be granted on all of the company's products up to May 5,
2021 in celebration of the Pharaohs’ Golden Parade.
beginning of the parade, famed Egyptian TV presenter Jasmine Zaki appeared
wearing a very elegant dress matching the pharaonic style with a vibrant
color. Her dress was highly appraised by all the viewers of the parade
and users of the various social media platforms.
presenter of the Pharaohs' Golden Parade from in front of the Egyptian
Museum in Tahrir, along with Nardine Farag.
welcome to Egypt! Welcome to Egypt the land of art and culture.” said Zaki.
“Egyptian people are always determined to fulfill their ambitions.
This is not a dream, this event is a beautiful reality. The Royal
Pharaohs' Parade can only be described as "Legendary". The Egyptian
Museum in Tahrir was first opened in 1902. It housed the royal mummies
for many decades. More than 400 international media outlets are covering
the event. Such an event can only be seen in Egypt.”
secrets of the ancient Egyptian civilization and mummies will always be
a source of astonishment for the world. The mummies were previously
hidden in Der el-Bahari and Valley of the Kings.”
“Seqenenre Taa dubbed
“The Brave”, ruled southern Egypt during the Hyksos occupation that
seized the delta in northern Egypt for a century (1650-1550 BC). His
mummy was discovered in the Deir el-Bahari cache in 1881. It was
examined for the first time at the time, and was examined by X-ray in
the 1960s. Queen Hatshepsut's Temple is an engineering miracle. Thutmose
III is one of the most important Kings that ruled Egypt, thanks to his
military expertise. Thutmose IV documented his achievements in a stone
panel located near the Sphinx. Seti I's tomb is one of the most
beautiful ancient tombs of ancient Egypt. Ramses II and Ramses III are
one of the most significant Kings of Egypt. Ramses II ruled Egypt for
over 6 decades. Ramses III signed the first peace treaty in history.
Ramses III protected Egypt from many invasions. Egypt's history is the
source of our strength and power,” concluded Zaki.
mummies arrived safely to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
in Fustat at exactly 8:30 p.m. It was received by President Abdel Fattah
el-Sisi, and where saluted with 21 canon shots upon their arrival.
21 canon shots were fired saluting the arrival of the Royal Mummies
Many beautiful ladies humbly stood in front of the
special vehicles that carried the royal mummies, holding a tribute in
The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade came out to light
after months of extensive and endless efforts were exerted, to come out
with an event that befits the grandeur of the ancient Egyptian
The Local Egyptian channels broadcasted the event
live in the following languages:
Channel 1: International
Channel 2: International
Channel 3: English
The royal mummies were displayed in the NMEC according to
the latest scientific methods for all the world to enjoy.
our duty to protect our history that still and will always continue to
dazzle the world.
“ The whole world is passionate about the
Egyptian Civilization” Nardine Farag said.
Nardine Farag added
that Egypt is building new museums such as NEMIC.
” I am honored
to be here with you to present the highly anticipated event of the
Pharaohs' Golden Parade” Farag recounted.
Farag added that the
mummies will rest in their final permanent resting place in NMEC.
Farag praised the huge efforts that were exerted by the Egyptian state
to make this event that great.
“ The 22 Royal mummies will do a
Golden tour to finally arrive at NEMIC” Farag added.
Egyptians were unique, powerful and very advanced people” El Nabawy
Nabawy added in the promotional film “ Come To Egypt” that
after a 6 years-halt, the Djoser Pyramid was finally restored.
“ The tomb of Wahty was cut in the rock before Djoser Pyramid” Nabawy
Nabawy added that Kom El-Shoqafa is one of the most
important archeological areas in Alexandria.
was built in Alexandria in the 14th century. It was restored and
reopened in 2020” Nabawy added.
Khaled El Nabawy added that the
virgin Mary Church or the hanging church was named that name because it
was built over two Babylon forts.
“ On this land every day
people are free to exercise their beliefs” said Nabawy.
Cave Church (Abu Serga) is one of the most important churches in Egypt
on the path of the Holy Family.
The church was recently fully
restored and was reopened in 2016.
“ The church was fully
restored in modern era and Al Azhar mosque was inaugurated in 972”
Khaled El Nabawy added that the museum of
Islamic art was subject to terrorist attack and was restored and
reopened in 2017.
Baron Empain Palace is a unique architectural
masterpiece in Heliopolis, Cairo. It was recently restored by the
Egyptian State” Nabawy added.
Nabawy added that Baron Palace is
one of the unique modern palaces.
Efforts of restoring and
beautifying neglected Egyptian landmarks and museums are made by
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who is keen to convert Egypt into a
Khaled el-Nabawy explained that the Pyramids
archeological area. have been fully restored in the preparation of
opening the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2021.
Khaled El Nabawy
added that NEMIC narrates the history of all the previous eras.
“Our country is great and our history is very rich” Farag added.
Nardine Farag said that Egypt's government is keen to preserve Egypt and
its history and monuments.
“The Egyptian state exerts huge
efforts to preserve our history” Farag said.
welcomes Min. of Tourism & Antiquities Khaled El-Enany to deliver his
Nardine Farag: Now is the time. The historical, artistic
and cultural event of the world of 2021 is about to begin.
Nardine Farag: the artists, musicians and dancers all did their maximum
Nardine Farag: Months of great efforts were exerted to
make this event come to light.
Nardine Farag: Let’s Start the
Pharaohs Golden Parade.
Mohamed Mounir sings his song “ Ana el
Masry” ( I am the Egyptian)
Egypt’s Maestro Nader Abbassi
conducted the United Philharmonic Orchestra with 120 musicians and 100
singers for a monumental new composition by Egyptian composer Hesham
Nazih at the Pharaohs Golden Parade.
“ The miracle of ancient
Egyptians is that they were great” Yousra said.
that ancient Egyptians were the greatest.
“The Ancient Egyptian
Civilization never cease to amaze” Yousra added.
that Egypt is the land of magic, history and beauty.
the Mother of the World and the mother of all the lands” Yousra added.
Pharaohs’ Golden Parade is the largest promotion for Egypt’s
tourism worldwide: Egyptian archeologist Zahi Hawass Said to Elhekaya
“Khufu Pyramid is one of the seven wonders” Ahmed was
Nelly Karim said that El Deir el Bahary Temple is a dazzling place
that was built by Queen Hatshepsut over 3,500 years ago.
Hatshepsut was one of a kind woman” Karim added.
said that Egypt is the first land to ever witness prosperity in the
Ahmed Helmy: one of the most important discoveries is
Ahmed Helmy admitted that one of the most
important discoveries is the discovery of Tutankhamun tomb.
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb was an international event when it
was first discovered in 1922 and still is a source of amusement to the
entire world today.
Ahmed Helmy added that Tut tomb houses more
than 5000 artifacts.
“ An entire section is designated for King
Tut and all his belongings in the Grand Egyptian Museum” Helmy.
“ People didn’t understand how ancient Egyptians build their
civilization” Karim Abdel Aziz added.
Karim Abdel Aziz said that
the solar alignment phenomenons in Egypt is evidence to the ingenuity of
the Ancient Egyptians.
“ The secret of ancient Egyptians lies in
their hearts” Abdel Aziz added.
Abdel Aziz said that the ancient
Egyptians had a very powerful faith, which was a catalyst for all his
“ Ancient Egyptians believe in Love,justice and
peace” Abdel Aziz added.
Hend Sabry said that ancient Egyptians
understood the soul and its purity.
“All the attributes of the
ancient Egyptian history and its secrets was derived from their belief
in the soul” Sabry added.
Sabry said that ancient Egyptians
believed in spirits and how the soul is immortal.
said that the belief of ancient Egyptians and their faith is what pushed
them to strive for more achievements.
Sakka added that the
creativity and imagination developed the gifts of ancient Egyptians.
“The ancient Egyptians gifted us with monuments and artifacts that
still amaze the world today” Sakka Said.
“The faith of the ancient
Egyptian is what built the unique ancient Egyptian Civilization” Mona
Zaki explained that the faith of ancient Egyptians
build their civilization.
“Ancient Egyptians had one of the
strongest armies of the world and their civilization is recounted
through history” Zaki added.
Mona Zaki added that the ancient
Egyptian history is the source of all inspiration.
Musical bands wearing pharaonic customers moved in front of Egyptian
Museum in Tahrir/
The military musical troupe provided a dazzling
performance taking the 22 Royal mummies to NEMIC
roam the area in front of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.
Egyptian music is played in a mystical atmosphere.
Egyptian knights are moving with proud in the breath taking Pharaohs
The 22 Royal mummies started their last magical
journey roaming Cairo streets
The special ancient Egyptian
vehicles carrying the royal mummies proceed to their way to NMEC.
The Pharaohs' Golden Parade kicked off to move 22 ancient Egyptian royal
mummies, including 18 kings and four queens, to roam the streets of
Cairo to their new resting place at the Egyptian Museum of Egyptian
Cairo was shining embracing the 22 Royal mummies
with joy and pride.
Egypt’s Pharaohs' Golden Parade: A majestic journey that history will
forever record - EgyptToday
Share the link of this article with your facebook friends