The Grand Egyptian Museum, the world’s largest museum near the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, opened to the public on Saturday. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and leaders from around the world attended the inauguration ceremony. It cost over $1 billion to build. The Grand Egyptian Museum’s (GEM) most notable feature is the tomb of the boy king, Tutankhamun. Discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter, it contained over 5,500 artifacts. Now, for the first time, all of these artifacts are on display in one place. Tutankhamun ascended to power in Egypt at just 9 years old and died at the age of 18-19. His reign was 1332–1323 BC.
The tomb remained hidden for nearly 3,000 years because it was covered with rocks and debris. Five tomb explorers died mysteriously. The lock to Tutankhamun’s tomb was broken by Howard Carter on November 26, 1922. The British Lord Carnarvon had spent millions of pounds to discover this 3,000-year-old tomb. After the lock was broken, he was the first to enter. No inscription was found on the tomb’s entrance, but local laborers whispered that “death will come on wings to anyone who disturbs the king’s sleep.” Nearly five months later, on April 5, 1923, Lord Carnarvon died mysteriously. Around 6 a.m., Lord Carnarvon’s screams echoed through the hotel hall. At 1:55 a.m. that night, the city of Cairo suddenly lost power. But the most shocking news came from England. In Hampshire, the Lord’s pet dog, “Susie,” barked three times and died. Besides Carnarvon, four other people were killed. These included: The file of deaths related to the tomb remains open. In May 1923, American billionaire George Gould returned from a visit to the tomb and died of typhoid. In September 1923, Lord Carnarvon’s half-brother, Aubrey Herbert, died of sepsis. The file of deaths related to Tutankhamun’s tomb remains unclosed. New DNA reports, forensic investigations, and archival documents indicate that these deaths were not due to a curse, but rather to chance and bacteria. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science found bacteria and fungus on the tomb walls. The report states that this bacteria can damage the lungs of those with weakened immune systems. Over 50,000 ancient artifacts are now on display at the GEM. These include the 3,200-year-old statue of Ramesses II, weighing 83 tons, and the 4,500-year-old Boat of Khufu, associated with the pyramid-building pharaoh. The museum features a 24,000-square-meter permanent exhibition, a children’s museum, a conference and education center, a large conservation center, and a commercial zone. The 12 main galleries present history, from prehistoric times to the Roman era, organized by era and theme. Many of the objects were brought from the Old Egyptian Museum (Cairo, Tahrir Square), while others were recently excavated from ancient cemeteries, including the Saqqara Necropolis. The museum is expected to attract 8 million visitors annually. The museum’s area is 500,000 square meters (the equivalent of approximately 70 football fields). It features a massive pyramid-shaped door. Located approximately a mile from the Pyramids of Giza, the museum covers an area of 4.7 lakh square meters. It was announced in 1992, but construction began in 2005. Some sections were opened during a soft launch in 2024. Incidents of theft have increased the administration’s concern. With the opening of the museum, questions have also started being raised about its security. Recently, two artefacts were stolen from a lab in the capital Cairo. These included a 3000-year-old gold wristband. Archaeological sites were also looted during the Arab Spring. However, the GEM administration claims that the security of this new complex is modern. ————————– Read this news also… King Charles in Britain expelled his brother from the house: Prince’s royal title also taken away; accused of raping a 17-year-old girl. King Charles of Britain has taken away the title of ‘Prince’ and all royal titles from his younger brother Andrew. He has also been ordered to vacate his luxurious house ‘Royal Lodge’ in Windsor. Read the full news here…
