World’s largest museum flaunts Egypt’s ancient civilisation

Two decades in the making and located near the Giza Pyramids on the edge of Cairo, the museum showcases over 50,000 artefacts detailing life in ancient Egypt

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Egypt is inaugurating the long-delayed Grand Egyptian Museum Saturday, the world’s largest museum dedicated to its ancient civilisation — a megaproject also aimed at boosting the country's tourism industry and troubled economy.

World leaders, including monarchs, heads of state and governments, were to attend the grand opening ceremony in the Egyptian capital, according to a statement from the presidency, which touted the museum as “an exceptional event in the history of human culture and civilisation.”

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi wrote on social media that the museum will bring "together the genius of ancient Egyptians and the creativity of modern Egyptians, enhancing the world culture and art with a new landmark that will attract all those who cherish civilisation and knowledge.”

‘A symphony of humanity’

The museum is one of several megaprojects championed by el-Sissi since he took office in 2014, embarking on massive investments in infrastructure with the aim of reviving an economy weakened by decades of stagnation and battered by the unrest that followed the 2011 Arab Spring uprising.

Preparations for the grand reveal have been shrouded in secrecy. A stage was built in the museum courtyard where an orchestra and musicians would later perform what the Egyptian media described as a “global symphony of humanity.”