Five Best Unmissable Artifacts You Should See At Cairo’s Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo accommodates the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world. To take a good look at all the items, you would need more than 24 hours.

This celebrated museum sitting at Tahrir Square is massive! The vast museum houses approximately 120,000 artifacts across two floors. To help make your visit more manageable, we have listed five unmissable artifacts at the Egyptian Museum that you should see first.

Mask of Tutankhamun—Upper floor, Room No. 3

Tutankhamun, the 18th-century Pharaoh’s gold-laden mask is one of the most sought-after artifacts of the Egyptian Museum. The mask symbolizes might and mystery, and is placed in a dark room along with the valuable treasures that were unearthed from the young Pharaoh’s tomb. In the same room, you can also witness Tutankhamun’s breathtaking inner coffin, spectacular jewelry, and other valuables.

Statue of Djoser—Ground floor, Gallery 48

This life-sized limestone statue is the oldest of its type in Egypt. It represents King Djoser—who reigned in the ancient kingdom during the Third dynasty and constructed the earliest prominent stone structures in Egypt. King Djoser’s rule was replete with marvelous innovations in architecture—and you can witness some of the awe-inspiring structures in Saqqara—from where the statue was discovered during the 1920s.

The Ka-aper Statue—Ground floor, Room No. 42

The statue of Sheikh el Baladis or Ka-aper—dating back to 2540-2505 BC—is a true masterpiece, belonging to the Old Kingdom. This statue is one of the must-see artifacts—carved out of sycamore wood—representing Ka-aper, the chief lector priest, who was responsible for reciting prayers to the dead in funerary chapels and temples. Ka-aper’s statue was discovered in 1870 from Saqqara.

The Statue of Khafre—Ground floor, Room No. 42

The statue represents Pharaoh Khafre, who ruled over Ancient Egypt during the Fourth dynasty (c. 2570 BC) and erected Giza’s second-largest pyramid. The spectacular statue is made from anorthosite gneiss—a very rigid stone. It was discovered from the Pharaoh’s Pyramid complex. Behind the statue—Horus, the falcon god is depicted with outstretched wings, protecting Khafre’s head.

The Statue of Khufu—Ground floor, Room No. 32

The ivory Statuette of Khufu was discovered by Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie in 1903—during Kom el-Sultan’s excavation in Abydos. The statue represents King Khufu, who reigned over Ancient Egypt during the Fourth Dynasty and built the Great Pyramid at Giza. Interestingly, this seated figurine of Khufu is the only three-dimensional portrayal of the Pharaoh that has been found so far.

While you will be spoilt for choice in the Egyptian museum, if you have limited time, see these artifacts first to avoid missing out on the best stuff!