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Everything You Need to Know About the Star-Studded Pharaohs’ Golden Parade in Egypt

Photo: Getty Images

Last night, Egypt hosted one of the most memorable parades in history — the Pharaohs’ Golden Parade. The event saw the relocation of ancient Egyptian royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s downtown Tahrir, to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Al Fustat.

Here is everything you need to know about the monumental parade:

1. The parade included 22 mummies, 18 of which are kings and four are queens. All 22 date back to the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties.

2. The mummies transferred include Pharaoh Ramses II, Pharaoh Ramses IX, Pharaoh Ramses VI, Pharaoh Ramses V, Pharaoh Seti I, Pharaoh Seqenenre, Pharaoh Thutmose III, Queen Hatshepsut, Queen Meritamen, and Queen Ahmose Nefertari.

3.  The mummies will be put into restoration in a laboratory for 15 days, in order to be prepared and intact for installation in their new showcases.

4. The mummies are showcased at the Royal Mummies Hall which is decorated to mimic the “Valley of the Kings” where their original tombs were placed.

5. The parade also featured various performances by Egyptian artists as well as star-studded appearances starting with Mona Zaki, Hussein Fahmy, Hend Sabri, Ahmed Helmy, Khaled  El-Nabawi, Ahmed Ezz, Karim Abdel Aziz, Nelly Karim, Asser Yassin, and Amina Khalil who all appeared in a video highlighting the historical importance of the monumental event.

6. According to the head of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, the museum will be opening its doors to the public on April 4, 2021

Photo: Getty Images

7. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization will be the first museum to be devoted to the entirety of Egyptian civilization. The museum is split into six thematic galleries that cover the dawn of civilization, the Nile, writing, state and society, material culture, beliefs and thinking, and the gallery of royal mummies.

8. The NMEC is one of Unesco’s projects to help safeguard and preserve Egypt’s cultural heritage.

9.  During the move the mummies have been placed in special nitrogen-filled boxes to help protect them against external conditions. Accompanying the mummies were 60 motorcycles and 150 horses.

10. Egypt’s maestro conducted the United Philharmonic Orchestra which included 120 musicians and 100 singers.

Photo: Instagram/@youssra

12. Actor Youssra made an appearance at the NMEC, making her entrance on a pharaonic-style boat dressed in ancient Egyptian clothing.

13. Opera singer Amira Selim performed an Egyptian Hieroglyphic song while Mohamed Mounir performed one in commemoration of Egypt’s legacy.

14. A ceremonial 21-gun salute was performed upon the arrival of the royal mummies.

Read Next: Here’s How You Can Virtually Tour Historic Egyptian Archaeological Sites

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