The Grand Egyptian Museum, outside Cairo, has been delayed by revolutions, wars, financial crises and a pandemic. At long last, here’s a look inside.The New York Times reports that I was drawn to the outskirts of Cairo by the colossal complex in the desert. It was a towering site that had been built over decades at an unimaginable expense, using precisely cut stones from local quarries. This set of buildings, which had faced extraordinary challenges during construction and spanned the reigns of several rulers, was a collective cultural testament and the largest of its kind. However, I was not there to see the famous pyramids of Giza. I had come to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum.
As I approached the museum’s main entrance, I was struck by the plaza containing an elevated obelisk on a granite base. From this vantage point, I could see the cartouche, an oval containing a royal name in hieroglyphics, of Ramses II. The building’s exterior was adorned with hieroglyphic motifs and translucent stone, adding to its grandeur. A pyramidal entryway led me to the grand atrium.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, located outside Cairo, has been one of the most highly anticipated institutions in the world. However, its opening has been delayed multiple times due to funding issues, logistical hurdles, a pandemic, and nearby wars and revolutions. This has led to comparisons with the construction of the nearby pyramids, which took around 25 years to build. In contrast, the Grand Egyptian Museum has taken more than 20 years so far.
Planned openings have come and gone since 2012, causing frustration for many would-be visitors who had planned their trips around the museum’s opening. Some have even canceled their trips due to the constant delays. Despite this, the museum’s Instagram page is filled with eager comments from people who have been waiting to visit since they were children.
In conclusion, the Grand Egyptian Museum has faced numerous challenges during its construction, but it is finally set to open its doors to the public. Its grandeur and cultural significance make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Egyptian history and culture.
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