Understanding the news: Ramesses II on the move
It might have only been a trip of 1,200 feet, lasting 10 hours or so but I'm pretty sure Ramesses II would have approved of the mounted escort, pomp and ceremony which accompanied the move of his 3,200 year old colossal statue to the entrance atrium of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) this week.
Once installed in the museum the colossus will be on permanent display. Weighing in at over 80 tonnes, and 30ft high, it was a massive undertaking to ensure such a precious object reached its destination intact.
The colossus joins artefacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun such as gilded chariots and beds which were transferred to the GEM earlier from the Cairo Museum. Tutankhamun's famous gold mask will be the last to be installed in the new museum which will eventually have the capacity to display some 100,000 artefacts.
Click the picture to see more images of the move, and read more about the statue, its history and the Museum in context.
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/colossus-ramses-statue-move-cairo-egypt-museum/
It might have only been a trip of 1,200 feet, lasting 10 hours or so but I'm pretty sure Ramesses II would have approved of the mounted escort, pomp and ceremony which accompanied the move of his 3,200 year old colossal statue to the entrance atrium of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) this week.
Once installed in the museum the colossus will be on permanent display. Weighing in at over 80 tonnes, and 30ft high, it was a massive undertaking to ensure such a precious object reached its destination intact.
The colossus joins artefacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun such as gilded chariots and beds which were transferred to the GEM earlier from the Cairo Museum. Tutankhamun's famous gold mask will be the last to be installed in the new museum which will eventually have the capacity to display some 100,000 artefacts.
Click the picture to see more images of the move, and read more about the statue, its history and the Museum in context.
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/colossus-ramses-statue-move-cairo-egypt-museum/
Wonderful one.
ReplyDeleteThis is Egypt ❤
ReplyDeleteA nice little epilogue to this story as the rays of the sun hit Ramesses' face in the GEM:
ReplyDeleteenglish.ahram.org.eg - Sun rays touch the face Ramses II at the GEM - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online