71 artifacts transferred to Grand Egyptian Museum

CAIRO – 13 September 2018: The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) received 71 artifacts, which were kept at El-Bahnasa store, Minya, according to Tarek Sayed Tawfik, the general supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Tawfik said that the artifacts transferred to the GEM include a wonderful 5-ton sarcophagus that belonged to a nobleman named Nes Ptah, the son of Tiba mayor. It consists of two parts with hieroglyphic writings and the lid depicts a human face.

He added that a one ton pink granite sarcophagus with engraved inscriptions as well as three large statues, depicting the disk-topped goddess Sakhmat, sitting on the throne and holding the symbol of life (Ankh) were among the artifacts moved to the GEM.

The GEM general supervisor further explained that four Canopic small statues representing the four children of Horus, a statue of the God Amun, a golden mask, a crown of Egyptian Goddess Hathor and a set of statues’ heads were also among these artifacts.

In the same context, Issa Zeidan, the director of restoration department at the GEM, pointed out that a report on the conditions of the artifacts was prepared, restoration works were carried out and detailed documentation of the artifacts took place to ensure safety.

Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anany said in his speech during the inauguration of the fourth International Tutankhamun Conference held on May 5 that the Grand Egyptian Museum will be a great global museum that will dazzle the whole world, adding that the museum is expected to be one of the largest museums in the world.

“Two years ago, the achievement percentage of establishing GEM was less than 20 percent; now it is over 70 percent. At this precise moment, 43,257 artifacts have been transferred to GEM, in addition to 4,549 artifacts from Tutankhamun’ s belongings; his total belongings amount to 5,000 pieces,” said Anany.