Private Path for the Blind Inaugurated at Egyptian Museum

Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anani and Italian Ambassador in Cairo Giampaolo Cantini inaugurated the Blinds’ private path at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir square.

The event took place today morning in line with the cooperation between the Egyptian museum, the Italian Archaeological Institute in Cairo and The Omero State Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.

The new path contains 12 artifacts that date back to different ages, starting from the old kingdom passing by the middle and modern ones. Some artifacts also belong to the late era and the Greco-Roman era.

The artifacts are represented in Narmar painting, triad of King Menkaure of the fourth dynasty, the pyramid of King Amenemhat III of the 12th dynasty and statue of King Amenemhat III in form of Sphinx of the Middle kingdom.

From the 18th dynasty, there is a statue of Sinifer and his wife, a statue of Amenhotep; the son of Hapu and the third one is for King Amenhotep II with God Merit Seger.

There is also a statue of God Sekhmet while sitting and another one for King Ramses II beside another coffin in a form of human body; dates back to King Bismarck II’s ruling and the 26th dynasty.

The artifacts that are placed in the new path are made of Egyptian solid stone like granite.

Blind people can identify the artifacts using ID cards which work with Braille language and electronic sound devices.

It’s worth mentioning that the initiative launched between the previous mentioned parties aims at promoting the global cultural heritage.

They’ve all engaged in the Italian life program which is affiliated to the Italian foreign ministry. The cooperation also implies a similar path for people with disabilities at Omero State Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.

Both countries look forward to providing equal opportunities to both normal people and others with disabilities to be able to enjoying the cultural heritage.

It’s remarkable that curators and members of the blind school and the education section in the Egyptian Museum got training courses to know how to guide and deal with the blind inside the museums. These courses were provided during the period from 16 till 19th of June.

Contributed by Salma Yassin