World's 1st hanging obelisk installed in the Grand Egyptian Museum

CAIRO – 7 January 2020: Sources within the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said that the construction of the obelisk in front of the facade of the Grand Egyptian Museum has been completed, after its restoration, as it has now become a single unit, which visitors will see before entering the museum.

This design is the first of its kind in Egypt and the world. The new design gives the visitor a unique view, as they will stand on a glass plate under their feet, resting on the base of the obelisk.

If the visitors raised their eyes higher, then they will see the rare cartouche bearing the name of King Ramses II, which appears in the interior of the obelisk’s body, after it had been hidden from view for more than 3500 years.

Then comes emotional visual contact between the eye of the visitor standing in the distance between the base of the obelisk on the ground, and its body raised above the heads.

1st hanging obelisk in the world - GEM

It is a unique human feeling that will occur for the first time.

Installing the obelisk is complex engineering, because the obelisk must be preserved from any vibration from the subway after completing its construction work, or from the cars movement around the museum.

A very precise system was made to protect the obelisk body from vibrations, and this is the first hanging obelisk field in the world.

The Grand Egyptian Museum, is one of the world's largest museums and the largest museum dedicated to a single civilization in the world.

The entire world anticipates the launching of that unique museum, as it will house over 50,000 artifacts from various ancient Egyptian eras.