The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has just received four artifacts from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.
The artifacts are considered one of the largest pieces to be displayed in the Great Staircase following the museum’s opening in 2020.
“These pieces were displayed at the Egyptian Museum and included two pink granite statues of King Senusret the First, and the triple of King Ramesses the Second, god Ptah and the goddess Sekhmet made of pink granite and weighing about 20 tons ,” said Dr. Tayeb Abbas, Director of Archaeological Affairs at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
It also includes the obelisk head of Queen Hatshepsut made of red granite engraved with her royal titles and an inscription-depicting god Amun, weighing about 14 tons.
The transfer – carried out by the Arab Contractors (El-Mokawloon El-Arab)— was held under the supervision of Major General Atef Moftah, the General Supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum Project and the surrounding area, and the restorers and archaeologists of the Ministry of Antiquities, amid security measures by Tourism and Antiquities Police.
Director-General of the Preliminary Restoration and Antiquities Transfer at the Grand Egyptian Museum Dr. Issa Zidan said that before the transfer, a case report was made for each piece to prove its preservation state accurately.
In addition to, doing a full radar scan, three-dimensional imaging, and a laser scan for all pieces before the packaging, which was in accordance with the scientific method used in the packaging heavy and huge monuments.
The company placed each artifact inside a foam-lined crate to protect it from any vibrations during the transportation process, which lasted for four hours.
“After the arrival of the pieces to Grand Egyptian Museum, a team of restorers of the Ministry of Antiquities will start the restoration work so the artifacts will be displayed in the Great Staircase once the museum is inaugurated in 2020,” Zidan added.
Contributed by Yara Sameh
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