Cairo Museum & OtherS

THE EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

The museum, built in 1900, looks magnificent from the outside with its neo-classical façade hinting at the treasures within. Pleasant, well tended gardens and the odd Egyptian relic lead up to the museum entrance.

As far as the content of the museum itself goes, it is quite literally crammed full of historical finds, organized in a chronology that groups artifacts according to what period or era of ancient Egyptian history they relate to.

The rooms are filled with items to look, but in many cases the exhibits have very small English language descriptions and in others there is no description at all. Don’t go expecting the same standard as the museums back home that we are accustomed too in say, London. Presentation is lacking in style and there’s nothing that comes close to an interactive exhibit for the kids, but when you’re dealing with some of the most beautiful objects ever created by man, I guess there’s no need to guild the lily.

If this is part of your excursion, your guide will accompany you around the museum and explain in more detail about the artifacts. The guide does allow time for you to go back around the museum to peruse at your leisure and will usually make themselves available to you to answer any questions.

Some of my favorite items were the artifacts of jewelry; intricately crafted necklaces and pendants which were, considering their age, incredibly well preserved.

You do have to pay more to enter the room containing the mummies of Egypt’s most famous Kings and Queens, including more detailed information about the mummification procedure. Be aware though there are still some human mummies near the Tutankhamen exhibit, which you can see for free. The ones in the separate room are of course more famous and important, but let’s face it… it’s not like you’re going to recognize them anyway. Don’t whatever you do, skip past the animal mummies -- quite intriguing.

One of the most famous kings and without a doubt the most popular exhibit is Tutankhamen. There are only a few artifacts that have gone on to exhibit internationally… the best is still here in Cairo. You can’t help but get excited about seeing objects you’ve learnt about in school; the ankh & scepter, the black jackal guardian… and most recognizable of all, the gold laden funerary mask.

There are toilets inside the museum, but remember your pack of tissues again, as a few attendants wanted money for a single piece of toilet paper. You shouldn’t have to pay, but you may not have a choice.

The museum is well worth a visit, there is far more to see here than in the Luxor Museum, but I would recommend if possible that a guide accompany you. If you would like some souvenirs, pop across the road opposite the museum and you will find a book store selling mugs, cats, bookmarks with hieroglyphics etc…at a price far cheaper than in the museum itself.

THE CITADEL OF SALADIN

Saladin was the famed Muslim leader who recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders in the 12th centaury. Saladin began construction of the citadel in order to protect the old city of Cairo, but never actually completed its vast undertaking, which was finally finished by his brother, King El-Addel.

One of the central features is a beautiful mosque and depending on what you’re into and even (if you’re from a traditionally western culture) if you’re a man or a women, you’ll find a visit here either tiresome or enthralling.

In my wife’s view, ten minutes would have been enough here. The view from the road shows off the citadel at its best and with a high perimeter wall it is an intimidating sight. There is a ten minute steep walk up to the entrance into the Mosque. The courtyard still houses the French clock (which doesn’t work) which the French exchanged for an Obelisk… I wonder who got the better deal?

As the mosque itself is a working mosque, visitors are only allowed to enter at certain times. Women are given a long shawl to cover themselves and inside you’re required to remove your shoes. The lights suspended from the ornate ceiling are beautiful and you get an incredible sense of peace inside.

THE CITY OF THE DEAD

A chronic shortage of housing in Cairo has led to millions of Egyptians adopting a very unusual solution to this problem. Many people live in what is known as the ‘City of the Dead.’ Essentially, this is a large cemetery in which people call the crypts and tombs their home. As morbid as that sounds, for many Egyptians, there simply is no choice in the matter. If you want to see another side of Cairo, you could ask your driver and guide to take you there. It’s not the kind of place you can walk around, so you’ll have to just drive through, but I would recommend that you do if only to remind yourself that even though thousands of years may have past since the ancient Egyptians thrived in the cradle of civilization, we still have a long way to go before we solve some of civilization’s most fundamental problems.