GEM Receives 356 Artifacts of King Tut’s Treasures

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Saturday received 356 artifacts from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, of which 57 artifacts from the treasures of the Golden King Tutankhamun and other 11 pieces will be displayed on the grand staircase, according to Atef Moftah, the museum’s general supervisor.

The newly-transferred artifacts included a pink granite statue of King Ramses II and a black granite statue of King Thutmose III in addition to a naos for King Nectanebo and a box of quartzite for preserving canopic pots from the collection of King Thutmose III.

GEM, for the first time, will display Tutankhmaum treasures in one place. The total number of antiquities belonging to King Tutankhamen is 5398. Among king Tut’s artifacts that was transferred is his coffin.

The general director of executive affairs for the restoration and transportation of antiquities at the Museum Dr. Essa Zidan said that all the archaeological pieces were wrapped in a scientific style according to the nature and size of each monument, especially the wooden group of Khufu’s second solar boat.

About 49,603 artifacts were moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum so far.

Antiquities and tourism ministry pays great attention to GEM project, as it represents one of the most prominent aspects of cooperation between Egypt and Japan.

The project is supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Higashi Nippon International University, headed by Dr. Sakuji Yoshimura.

Contributed by Hassanain Tayea.