Egyptian pharaohs parade across Cairo

Proclaiming the grand opening of Cairo's National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC), ancient pharaohs were respectfully paraded through the capital with elaborate fanfare.

Nestled inside each golden chariot were the esteemed mummified remains of 18 male and 4 female sovereigns. The all powerful Queen Hatshepsut as well as Ramesses II, who reigned for 67 years, formed part of the lavish display.

Emblazoned with the relevant monarch's name and equipped with shock absorbers to cushion the valuable cargo and ensure a smooth ride, each sepulchral carriage advanced ceremonially to its new repository, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, a low level edifice crowned with a pyramid. Bespoke display cases monitoring ambient temperature and humidity will soon cradle each ancient leader in an environment reminiscent of a burial chamber.

The pharaonic sarcophagi will be showcased to visitors within a fortnight. By then, the sovereigns' precious remains will have been painstakingly extracted from the nitrogen filled capsules used in transit, and laboratory restoration meticulously carried out. Keen Egyptophiles have already begun flocking to the museum.

Sara: "The yesterday we watched the parade on the television, and so we came today to the museum and it's really, really beautiful, really exceptional. We are so happy to be able to see all of the Egyptian products and statues here now."

The proud custodian of the exhibits is the NMEC's Asmaa Said.

Asmaa: "Why it is called the civilisation museum is because the most important thing here is the concept of civilisation, not a specific time or era. Every showcase tells a story or a different concept of civilisation. We connect all civilisations here."

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