Grand Egyptian Museum Receives 163 Artifacts from the collection of the Golden King Tutankhamun

In a significant step towards its long-awaited official opening, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has received 163 artifacts from the legendary collection of King Tutankhamun. The items were transferred from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir as part of the comprehensive plan to display the complete collection of the young pharaoh for the first time in a single location.

His Excellency Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, personally inspected a number of the newly arrived objects during a visit to the museum’s state-of-the-art conservation laboratories. He was accompanied by Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum Authority, Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and senior officials from both the Ministry and the museum.

The Minister emphasized that this milestone comes as part of the final preparations for the museum’s official opening, scheduled for 3 July. He noted that the remaining objects from Tutankhamun’s tomb will continue to be transferred in phases according to a detailed timeline, ensuring their timely installation in the galleries dedicated to the boy king.

Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim confirmed that the transport process was carried out in accordance with the highest international standards, both scientifically and technically. The museum’s specialized team conducted detailed condition reports for each artifact, followed by meticulous packing and transportation procedures. He added that the GEM’s conservation team will now undertake any required restoration and stabilization work in preparation for their final placement in their custom-designed display cases, ensuring a world-class presentation worthy of Tutankhamun’s enduring legacy.

During the visit, Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled provided the Minister with an in-depth overview of the most significant pieces among the newly arrived items. These include the iconic ceremonial chair of King Tutankhamun, discovered in his tomb, as well as the gilded wooden shrine that once housed his canopic jars, along with a selection of exquisite jewelry and necklaces crafted from gold and carnelian.

The ceremonial chair stands out as one of the most remarkable masterpieces of New Kingdom craftsmanship. It is richly inlaid with ivory, ebony, faience, and gold. At the center of the chair’s backrest, the sun disk is depicted above the goddess Nekhbet, who spreads her wings protectively. The footrest is adorned with decorative motifs and gold-leaf imagery representing the Nine Bows, the traditional enemies of Egypt.

This latest transfer reinforces the Grand Egyptian Museum’s mission to present ancient Egypt’s heritage in an immersive and comprehensive narrative—bringing the full grandeur of the golden king’s burial assemblage to life for visitors from around the world.