27 February 2024
The museums at Cairo International Airport
For passengers, permanent exhibitions on the history and art of ancient Egypt are available at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3
Travelers flying to Cairo can make a cultural/artistic stop at the airport. In fact, at the Museum of Terminal 3 at Cairo International Airport, a space dedicated to the artistic heritage of ancient Egypt was opened in 2016, serving as an introduction to its iconic monuments and civilization.
Museum at Terminal 3 at Cairo International Airport
Initially occupying an area of about 60 square meters with the display of 38 artifacts, it was later moved to the fourth floor of the same building in 2020, increasing the exhibition space to approximately 150 square meters to accommodate a larger quantity of artifacts.
Currently, the museum showcases a selection of significant artifacts, allowing visitors to delve into the history of ancient Egypt through its various periods, from the pharaonic era, through the Greco-Roman era, exploring Coptic and Islamic art to the modern era.
Example photo, Egyptian papyrus. Copyright © Sisterscom.com / cobalt88 / Depositphotos
Among the many artifacts to admire are mummies, statues, coins, religious icons, and examples of Egyptian hieroglyphs with carved signs composing the monumental writing system used by the ancient Egyptians, obtained through a mix of alphabetic, logographic, and syllabic elements.
Of particular relevance is a mummy of a man from Faiyum - Fag al-Gamus, belonging to the Roman period, 1st-2nd century AD, with linen bandages wrapped in an elaborate design of rhomboid coffers, a style typical of the Roman era when mummy wrapping reached its peak. The mummy's head is covered by a golden funerary mask made of cartonnage (a mixture of linen, glue, and plaster) with a winged sun disk on the forehead, symbolizing rebirth, while the eyes and eyebrows are inlaid.
Example photo, Statue of winged Isis. Copyright © Sisterscom.com / cobalt88 / Depositphotos
Another significant artifact to discover in the museum is a winged statue of Isis in the form of a woman, crowned with the Hathoric crown (sun disk between the horns of the cow) on a uraei base. According to ancient Egyptian religious belief, Isis and her sister Nephthys transformed into kites while searching for the body of her deceased husband Osiris, bringing him back to life in this form. For this reason, Isis was venerated as the protector of the dead in her winged form. The statue is made of bronze and dates back to the Greco-Roman period (332 BC–395 AD), though its origin is unknown.
Also noteworthy is a gold dinar coin where, on the obverse, the name of the Mamluk sultan Baybars and his title "Qasim is the commander of the faithful" is found below the illustration of a lion, representing the sovereign. On the reverse, it is inscribed "In the name of God, there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah". This gold coin from the Mamluk period comes from Egypt or the Levant, an area in the Middle East.
Museum at Terminal 2 at Cairo International Airport
Also in 2020, another museum was established at Terminal 2 of Cairo International Airport, covering an area of about 100 square meters, explaining the history of Egypt through its epochs and displaying unique artifacts highlighting the artistic and historical characteristics of each era, starting from ancient Egypt, as well as showcasing the features of Roman, Coptic, Islamic, and modern art.
In the museum at Terminal 2, statues of the kings of ancient Egypt are admired (such as one attributable to King Tuthmosis III, circa 1550-1295 BC), mummies (exemplified by the mummy of a man named Iretheru, son of Padlkhonsu, circa 664-525 BC), statues from the Greco-Roman period in Egypt (for example, a sculpture of a bust of a young man, in marble, dating back to the Roman period), Egyptian ceramics for daily life during the Islamic era (amphorae, vases, etc.), masterpieces of modern Egyptian history expressed in jewelry, such as gold medals or pins, and much more.
Both museums at Cairo Airport are open 24/7 and offer free Wi-Fi, a shop, and a cafeteria. The airport is located on Oruba Road, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt. For information: Tel: + 02 26966300.
Edited by editorial staff, Avion Tourism Magazine
Text source: Copyright © Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities - Egypt
Photo visual: Copyright © Sisterscom.com /andglb / Depositphotos
Photo Il Cairo: Copyright © Sisterscom.com / Shutterstock
Cairo. Copyright © Sisterscom.com / Shutterstock
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