In Egypt, 22 historical mummies will be transported in a large parade from Cairo to Fustat, a little further south, on Saturday. It concerns eighteen former kings and four queens of the country.
According to Al Jazeera an extensive ceremonial parade is deliberately set up to stimulate the interest of Egyptians in their own national history. Normally, museums in the North African country receive a lot of income from tourists who admire the antiquities, but due to travel restrictions due to the corona crisis, the cultural institutions miss a lot of income.
Authorities would go all out with the ceremonial parade. For example, several roads along the Nile are closed, while the distance to be covered is only 5 kilometers.
Special capsules have also been designed to transport the mummies. A large amount of nitrogen should protect the mummies in the capsules, while they are transported on carts that absorb any road shocks.
Mummies have a different role in a new museum
Archaeologist Zahi Hawass says in conversation with Al Jazeera that the mummies will be moved to the Civilization Museum, because the antiquities in the current Egyptian museum in Cairo are ‘only’ exhibited for the entertainment of visitors. In the new accommodation, their history can also be explained in a more civilized way, says Hawass.
The oldest body to be transported is that of Seqenenre Tao, also known as Ta’a II, writes Al Jazeera. He is said to have lived in the sixteenth century BC.
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