The Egyptian Museum in Cairo houses the world’s most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. Explore the museum’s history, highlights, and some of the most famous exhibits that can be found there.
This charming little pylon-shrine, carved in painted limestone, once stood not in a grand temple but within the private quarters of an Amarna household. Discovered amid the ruins of Akhetaten (the short-lived capital founded by Akhenaten, known today as Amarna) it belongs to a distinctive class of domestic altars that flourished during the city’s brief,...
Discovered in 1936 by British archaeologist Walter Bryan Emery within the tomb of Prince Sabu at the Saqqara necropolis, the so-called “Sabu Disk” is a unique object which stands as a testament to the advanced craftsmanship of early Egyptian artisans. Believed to date from the First Dynasty, c. 3000–2800 B.C., the disk measures approximately 61...
This ostracon is a remarkable piece of ancient Egyptian art, and it is often recognized for its portrayal of a young king, which provides a rare and valuable glimpse into royal iconography during the 20th Dynasty (around 1150 BC). Like many ostraca, this one is made of limestone, which was a common material used by...
This scene—featuring two cats and a mouse—likely portrays a lighthearted or symbolic interaction, showcasing how the Egyptians sometimes used humor or animal symbolism to comment on human life. A lady mouse is shown sitting elegantly, enjoying a cup of wine or drink, which is offered to her by one of the cats standing nearby. Another...
The granulation earrings of Tutankhamun are not only exquisite exemplars of Ancient Egyptian goldsmithing, but also serve as a window into the artistic and cultural sophistication of the 18th Dynasty during the New Kingdom, circa 1332–1323 B.C. These earrings are particularly distinguished by their use of the granulation technique—an advanced method wherein minute spheres of...
Amid the chaos and turmoil of World War II, as the world was gripped by conflict and uncertainty, a dazzling revelation emerged from the sands of antiquity—a discovery that would captivate archaeologists and historians alike. In 1940, in the remnants of Tanis, an ancient city shrouded in mystery within Egypt’s Nile Delta, French archaeologist Pierre...
This cosmetic vessel would have been used to store scented oils, unguents, or ointments. In ancient Egypt, such vessels were highly prized for their function in both personal hygiene and religious rituals. They often held oils used for perfumes, hair care, and skin care, essential in a society that placed high importance on cleanliness, beauty,...
This stele was dedicated by artisan Bay to Amun-Re and comes from the workers’ village of Deir el-Medina. It still retains its vivid colors, in particular the three pairs of ears painted blue, yellow, and green on the left side. These represent the ears of the god that “listens to prayers”. This form of Amun-Re...
The stele depicts Nit-Ptah, his wife Seni, and their family: two males alternating with two females to create a pleasing chromatic contrast as a result of the different colors of their skins. Men were painted in ochre and women in light cream wash. The head of the family, Nit-Ptah, is shown on the right, wearing...
This marble bust of Thutmose III was found at Deir el-Bahari in two pieces. The head that you see here is original, and was found during excavations in 1964, whereas the body is a cast of the original piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The colours of the royal nemes-headdress are very strong,...
