All You Need about Great Staircase at GEM

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) features a unique exhibition hall known as the Great Staircase.

It showcases a selection of the best and largest heavy artifacts that embody the masterpieces of sculptural art in ancient Egypt, starting from the era of the Old Kingdom until the Greco-Roman era. The great staircase ends with a beautiful panoramic view of the eternal pyramids of Giza.

According to the museum display scenario, the Great Staircase is divided into four main themes:

1. The Royal Commission: This theme displays a distinguished group of statues of kings that went through many stages of development and changes that royal art witnessed in ancient Egypt. Among the most important statues displayed on the great staircase in the first topic are:

- A statue of King Seti I, made of pink granite.

- A statue of King Senusret III or Amenemhat IV from the Middle Kingdom era, made of quartzite, and two princesses appear on it. The statue was reused again during the reign of King Ramesses II and King Merneptah.

- A statue of King Seti II made of quartzite, from the New Kingdom era.

- A statue of King Amenhotep III.

- A statue of Queen Hatshepsut.

- A statue of the Roman Emperor Caracalla, made of red granite.

2. Holy Places (Places of Worship): This theme is dedicated to temples and their construction, which was the responsibility of the king. Funeral temples were allocated to kings after their death, and each temple was considered a private residence for the deities. Among the most important pieces presented in this context are:

- Two columns and a red granite lintel belonging to King Sahure from the Old Kingdom.

- A sphinx-shaped statue of King Amenemhat III.

- Gate of King Amenemhat I.

- Two columns and a lintel belonging to King Sobek Imsaf I from the Middle Kingdom.

- Sarcophagus of King Senusret I.

- Obelisk of King Merneptah.

- Top of the obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut.

- Sarcophagus for King Ramesses II.

- Sarcophagus of King Nectanebo II.

3. Kings and Deities: This theme explores the close relationship between kings and deities. In ancient Egypt, the king was the link between deities and humans and was responsible for ruling Egypt, maintaining its security and stability, and securing its borders. In this section, a distinguished collection of statues of female deities, marital statues, and statues of the Holy Trinity is displayed. Among the most important pieces presented in this context are:

- A sandstone statue of the god Ptah.

- A statue of King Senusret I in the Osiris body.

- A statue of King Ramesses II protecting a deity

- A pink granite trinity of the god Ptah, King Ramesses II, and the goddess Sekhmet.

- A double statue of King Amenhotep III with the deity Ra Hor-Akhty.

- A double statue of King Ramesses II and the goddess Anat.

- Two statues of the god Serapis from the Roman era.

4. The Journey to Eternal Life: This theme showcases a group of royal coffins and their importance in the ancient Egyptian belief of the afterlife. Death was considered the gateway to the other world, where resurrection and eternal life were present. Therefore, the kings in ancient Egypt were interested in preserving their bodies after death, and they were buried either in the pyramids or royal tombs. Among the most important pieces presented in this context are:

- The coffin of Queen Meresankh III from the Old Kingdom.

- The coffin of Prince Khufu was blasphemous.

- The coffin of Princess Nitocris.

- The coffin of Jehuti Mes.

- The sarcophagus of Ho Sa East I.

- The coffin of Tuthmosis I.