Songdoc, the Egyptian museum in Cairo is a dated museum which some tourists complain about, especially if they are looking to visit the very glitzy-looking someday-to-be-opened GEM (Grand Egyptian Museum). But we loved it. Some of the artifacts have been moved, such as their mummy collection, which is the centerpiece of the NMEC, and, eventually the entire Tut collection will be moved to the GEM. But what is there is magnificent, and we were bowled over as we went through the rooms. We spent hours there - much more than our usual amount of time! It really tied it all up for us (along with the NMEC).

A few more photos to come, and Egypt is finally coming to the end. Sniff.

Hathor Shrine and sandstone chapel near the temple of Deer Al Bahri. The walls are painted with reliefs of Tuthmosis III, and the life-size wooden cow suckles his son, Amenhotep (not seen in this photo)


Hathor Shrine and sandstone chapel near the temple of Deer Al Bahri. The walls are painted with reliefs of Tuthmosis III, and the life-size wooden cow suckles his son, Amenhotep (not seen in this photo)

And then there’s the ever popular King Tut - though many of the artifacts are in a separate room where no photos are allowed. Honestly, I have no problem with this - we’d never be able to get close enough otherwise!

In the main gallery, there are some wonderful items on display, including the gold chest which held the canopic jars containing Tut’s organs.


One of the most amazing items in Egyptian Museum and part of King Tut’s Rooms is the gold chest that contained four canopic jars. The 4 figures, one on each side, represent tutelary goddesses of the dead, or spirits who guide or protect.


Closeup


Canopic jars contain the organs that were removed before mummification: the lungs, Canopic jars contain the organs that were removed before mummification: the lungs, liver, intestines and stomach. Each organ was protected by tone of the 4 sons of Horus,

And more Tut gold…


Tut ceremonial chair


gilded wooden statue of a black Nubian figure which guarded tomb of Tutankhamen


Golden sandals


Tut’s golden throne (sorry about those reflections)


Side view of throne

Yuya and his wife, Thuya, were important members of the royal court during the 18th Dynasty.


Yuya and Thuya, members of the Royal court during the 18th dynasty

Mummies and sarcophagi

Ahkenhaten, the “heretic pharaoh”. Ahkenhaten, the “heretic pharaoh”, believed there was just one god, the sun god Aten. During his reign, he closed the traditional temples and moved the capital to Amarna. During that time, he encouraged an artistic freedom, and the style of art during this time is unusual, with its intimate portraits of Ahkenhaten and his family. There’s a more “natural” or relaxed style in paintings such as those of nature, with movement and activity. And Aten is never shown as a figure, but is represented as rays, usually with hands at the end. The human figure is slender and elongated but very exaggerated body extremities.



Closeup of Ahkenhaten statue




Ahkenhaten and his wife and family worshipping Aten, rhe sun god.


A beautiful and intimate portrait of Ahkenhaten and his family


The more “natural” style of art that was done during Ahkenhaten’s reign

And that is pretty much our Egyptian tour! We had a fabulous time in both Jordan and Egypt, and our agents in both places were excellent on the ground. We had no complaints during the trip. We were really saturated by the end and we were both glad to limit the end of the trip on the last 2 days; we couldn't have absorbed much more.

Our team in Cairo

Omar, Shereen and the Djedmobile

Departure Day

A quick walk around the neighborhood and we got a taste of the wealth of the area; this is one of the embassies


And it was time to go...


Ma'a salama, Egypt! It was a fabulous journey!

Sorry to see this end--I loved following along and reliving our trip through your words and fantastic photos.

Me, too! I was really enjoying reliving the trip and I feel sad it’s over now!

THANK YOU!
This is one of my favorite all time trip reports.
I really like how you give descriptions of each wonderful photo.

Hi Progol,
I just found your report, and have skimmed through it. Will read it in more depth when I have more time. Your trip sounds fascinating! For some reason I have not had a great desire to visit the Middle East; I guess one reason is because of all the issues there, but after seeing your photos, I might consider it some day. If we are still able-bodied enough to travel that far! How long was your flight to Amman?

schmerl, Thank you SO much! Your posts were so inspirational to me to keep going! This isn’t the Europe board, with the numbers of posters, so it was really wonderful to know you were there and really enjoying this TR. I’m definitely a visual reporter and it’s great to be able to share my millions (only slight exaggeration!) of pix here!

KarenWoo, we really enjoyed our trip, but I can understand having mixed feelings of visiting. It’s not always comfortable or easy, though traveling as a tourist with drivers and guides is as protective as can be. We love the chaos and energy and the nature of the sights are beyond belief. If you’re prepared for it, it’s truly an amazing experience. Jordan is perhaps “gentler” than Egypt and has much to see.

We flew from New York (La Guardia) to Washington DC where we got a nonstop flight to Amman. The flight from IAD was about 10-10 1/2 hours. We flew Cairo to Vienna where we stopped for a few nights before returning to New York.

Thank you again for your wonderful report, progol. I enjoyed reliving my Egypt trip through you. You’ve also reminded me that it’s been too long since I was in Petra and a return is in order.

WOWOWOW!!!
It's hard to believe anyone would complain about that museum.

What a trip! Thank you for taking us along.

“We love the chaos and energy”

Hear, hear!!

I gotta get there!!!

tripplanner, thank you! I enjoyed your trip report as well and I found it so helpful in my own planning. I’m glad you enjoyed my TR!

Songdoc, I was overwhelmed by the Egyptian Museum in Cairo! Why anyone would’ve complained about it, beats me! I imagine they were hoping to see the new GEM, which has been teasingly “about to open” forever, but the artifacts are fabulous. When GEM finally does open, all the TUT stuff will eventually be moved there, but we were very happy with it!

CaliNurse, yup, it seems like you’ll need to get to Egypt someday!

Thanks for that info, Progol. When I booked this trip, I assumed the new museum would be open. I won'r be there until mid-November. I'm no longer hopeful, but glad to know there will still be so much to see, anyway.

Songdoc, I’ve been following this site on the GEM for updates. It’s an independent site, not connected to the government, so is helpful to get a sense of when the museum might actually, possibly, really, maybe someday, open!
https://grandegyptianmuseum.org