Cairo- Preparations are underway to transfer dozens of ancient royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo to the Museum of Civilisation in southern Cairo on April 3.
Twenty-two mummies over 3,000 years old and 17 sarcophagi will be housed the new 2,500-square-metre museum, which cost LE2 billion ($125 million).
The mummies of two of Egypt’s most famous pharaohs, King Ramses II and King Merneptah, are among those to be transported to their new home, which also showcases artworks from other periods of Egyptian history.
The trucks carrying the mummies will move past Tahrir Square on the road to the National Museum of Civilisation.
Millions of people both Egyptians and visitors are expected to line the route.
The transfer was scheduled for late last year, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Egyptian authorities will also possibly open Tahrir Square following an upgrade that cost several millions.
An ancient obelisk has been placed at the middle of the square, along with ram-headed sphinxes bringing back the greatness of ancient Egyptian civilisation to the heart of a square that witnessed major political events in this country in the past decade.
