The pharaohs again parade through Egypt

The most precious treasures of the former Egyptian Museum in Cairo have been transferred this weekend to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization: a total of 22 mummies of kings and queens of Ancient Egypt were exhibited as they pass through the capital in the so -called paradePharaohs gold.

The transfer of antiques became a show of lights, music and historical decorations to pay tribute to the monarchs of the past.Hundreds of figures have participated in the representation, which has started its tour in Tahrir Square, one of the most iconic places in Cairo.

Mummies have been transferred in special vehicles equipped with nitrogen capsules and shock absorbers to guarantee the conservation of ancient bodies.

Among the 18 kings and 4 queens were figures as prominent as Pharaoh Ramses II or Hatshepsut, the first woman who ruled in the pharaonic empire.

The vehicles were also decorated in black and gold, imitating the shape of the funeral ships that were used to take pharaohs towards eternal life.They were accompanied by gentlemen and priests dressed as in the pharaonic era.

In addition to honoring its millenary past, the parade has been a way to promote Egypt as a tourist destination in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic and global restrictions when traveling.The government also wanted to encourage the Cairota population, affected by the pandemic and the economic crisis that has caused.

However, for the strictest conservatives, the transfer of real mummies should have been made with greater discretion and security measures.The most religious sector has also not seen the celebration, since they consider it a tribute to a pagan religion.

Los faraones vuelven a desfilar por Egipto

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, where from now on the real mummies will rest, was partially inaugurated in 2017.Since then it has been working in a special room that recreates the Valley of the Kings, a necropolis of ancient Egypt where much of the pharaohs of the new empire were buried.The new installation can be visited as of April 18.

The old Egyptian museum

The Egyptian Museum of Cairo was inaugurated in 1902 and for more than a century it has saved the most valuable archaeological treasures found in tombs and temples of ancient Egypt.This is the most important Egyptology Museum in the world.

Throughout its history it has accumulated about 150.000 objects, although not all are exposed due to lack of space.In his collection there are objects of the preinitive era (before the pharaohs) until the Greco-Roman era, among which are papyri, statues, sarcophagi, jewelry and, of course, mummies.

Another problem of the Egyptian Museum of Cairo is its age, since it is located in a building with more than 120 years of history and lacks the necessary technology to keep some pieces.That has been the main reason for moving the real mummies to the new National Museum of Egyptian civilization.

On the other hand, the Egyptian Museum is located in Tahrir Square, an epicenter of the manifestations of Arab spring in Egypt.Due to its proximity to the place of protests, the building was subject to robberies and looting in 2011.

The theft of art

The pharaohs ruled for more than 3.000 years in ancient Egypt and left a immense historical, cultural and artistic legacy.However, a very important part of that legacy is not found in Egypt but in foreign museums such as the British Museum in London, the Neues Museum of Berlin or the Musée du Louvre of Paris.

This is due to the plunder made for centuries for foreign powers in their colonies or in territories conquered by force.The countries of origin have demanded the return of these pieces of art.

In the case of Egypt, at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century it was very common for European archaeologists and explorers to visit the country in search of real treasures and tombs.Many of the findings were sent to Europe to continue investigating their meaning and were never returned.

On the other hand, the looting of tombs was already common since the time of the pharaohs, which were buried surrounded by wealth for their life in the beyond.The thieves knew it and sneaked into the graves to take the most valuable objects, which were sold in the black market.

Sources: EFE, BBC, DW

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