The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Main image: Aly Fahim

One of the most anticipated events of the year, The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade, took place in Cairo on the 3^rd of April.

Apart from inspiring the celebration of Ancient Egyptian heritage, the primary purpose of the parade was the movement of a collection of Ancient Egyptian mummies from The Egyptian Museum to the newly erected National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

In celebration of Cairo 360’s 11th anniversary, here’s a list of 11 cool facts to help you learn more about the parade of the century.

1. The Parade travelled about 7 KM

The parade started out from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, where the mummies have been exhibited for decades, and made its way to the newer, grander National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, about 7 KM, a trip which totalled about 40 minutes.

2. 22 Mummies were transferred

Image credit: Aly Fahim

The mummies transported through the parade included 22 royal mummies and 17 coffins. The artefacts date back to the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties and include the mummies of 18 kings and four queens.

3. The mummies included famed kings and queens from Ancient Egypt

Image credit: Aly Fahim

The mummies transferred to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization included some of Egypt’s most grandiose kings and queens, including King Ramses II, King Seqenenre Tao, King Ahmose I, King Thutmose III, Queen Hatshepsut, Queen Ahmose Nefertari, and Queen Meritamen.

4. Beautiful musical celebrations

The celebration included a performance by the Philharmonic Union Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Egyptian maestro, Nader Abbasi. The recital had pieces specially composed by Hisham Nazih, with performances by Reham Abdel Hakim, Amira Selim (who sang in the Ancient Egyptian language), and Nesma Mahgoub, as well as renowned Egyptian singers including Yousra and Mohamed Mounir.

5. Superstar appearances

In addition to the magnificent performances, many Egyptian actors and actresses helped with the festivities. The show included Hussein Fahmy, Mona Zaki, Ahmed Helmy, Ahmed Ezz, Karim Abdel Aziz, Nelly Karim, Khaled El-Nabawi, Asser Yassin, and Amina Khalil.

6. Safety was ensured for the mummies

Image credit: Aly Fahim

Not only were the carriages in which the mummies were transferred beautifully decorated, but each mummy was placed in a nitrogen-filled container which was then placed inside the golden carriages, which were fitted with shock absorbers to ensure the safety of the mummies within.

7. The President received the mummies himself

After inaugurating the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization moments before the start of the parade, Egyptian President Adel Fattah El-Sisi received the mummies as they arrived at the museum, showing his respect and appreciation of the ancient artefacts.

8. Hopes for the revival of tourism

Image credit: Aly Fahim

One of the main goals of this parade is the revival of tourism in Egypt. Since tourism is one of the highest-grossing sectors in the country, it was important to draw more attention to the beauty contained within the country to garner visitors.

9. New halls were open with the arrival of the mummies

Following the inauguration of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, three new halls were opened at the museum, including the Central Exhibition Hall and the Mummies Hall, to welcome the arrival of the latest additions.

10. The whole world was watching

Multiple national and international news websites took notice of the celebration, with articles about the event appearing on BBC, Deutsche Welle, Vogue, and many more. Additionally, live coverage of the parade was also shown on multiple local and international news channels.

11. You can still watch the festivities!

Just in case you missed the chance to catch the parade, the livestream of the event is still available on YouTube, so you can enjoy the whole experience at the comfort of your own home.