Big Five – FeedOn Monday, November 3, after a long wait and years in the making, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) was finally inaugurated. It was an incredible feeling to witness this moment in a country where I’ve spent so much time – a journey that began back in 2010. This marks a defining moment for Egypt, now home to the world’s largest collection of antiquities on display. It’s worth clarifying, however, that while many say the GEM “officially opened” on Monday, the museum has actually opened in stages. With each new section unveiled, we’ve sent our colleague Nour to revisit and document her experiences.
This time around, the long-awaited arrival of King Tut’s artifacts and his dedicated hall, which I had the honor of seeing in 2023, is finally open with a complete display. In addition, many returned and newfound artifacts from all over were added to the display. Truth be told, if you were to stop and see each exhibit in each hall, it would take you no less than 3 hours. Good thing they have two coffee shops (and yes one is a Starbucks). When I first walked through the GEM years ago, I thought travelers came there to see the pyramids and while there, also see the GEM. I learned quickly from that visit way back, that it was in fact the other way around. The GEM is the crown jewel in Egypt’s history, and it’s just the beginning.
As is our custom, with the new development, Nour returned to the GEM and we share a video of what she saw, in raw form, along with her thoughts, written down as she was walking through the GEM. Enjoy this view of the inaugurated GEM through the eyes of a proud Egyptian. Her comments have been unfiltered and unedited to allow you to feel the emotion she felt.
Nour Abouseif: The road leading to the GEM all Egyptian icons. Spans over 6km.
Nour Abouseif: International flags crowning the lampposts. Signifying welcoming all global citizens.
Nour Abouseif: Setting of the grand opening is still up. It’s 10 am and the GEM is super packed.
Nour Abouseif: Took 20 years to finalize. Says that also Khufu took 20 years to build. Spectacular how time repeats itself.
Nour Abouseif: Ramses was the first thing to get moved. Took 10 hours to move. 85 wheeled vehicle moved him. Did a replica first to check if the movement would be successful. Replica of it is now in mansoura. They moved it first and then started building the entire museum.
Nour Abouseif: His daughter. Name consists of two titles Sat nisu daughter of the king. Hemet nisu which was confusing as they didn’t know if it’s the daughter or wife but then related to what we say now in upper Egypt ست أبوها which is the term used for daddy’s girl.
Nour Abouseif: Gem has over 100k pieces, showcases 50k and has continued to alternate the pieces.
Nour Abouseif: Ancient excel sheet. Showing سجلات حربية. Showing everything happened during the war.
Nour Abouseif: Non Egyptian statues – double chin and features. Double chin in statues is a default. Egyptian statues are always perfect and symmetrical whereas Romans aren’t. Found 25 years via frank godoeu. Were found Abu Kir in Alex. Along with other prices. المدينة الغارقة hiracleon.
Nour Abouseif: Original founder was kamal Abouel saadat, غواص مصري. There are still many pieces under the sea. Why were these pieces there at the gem? Because Egyptian culture is based on the support of women to their men. Reason why they are right in front of of the grand stairs all about الرحلة الي الأبدية
Nour Abouseif: As visitors ascend the Grand Staircase, they pass through symbolic temple gates, reminiscent of the sacred entrances of ancient Egypt.
Each gate marks a spiritual threshold — moving from the physical world toward the eternal.
The concept of “بر عنخ” (Per Ankh) literally means “House of Life.”
In ancient Egypt, these were cultural and educational institutions — places where priests, scholars, and artists preserved wisdom, science, and community values.
The design of this space revives that philosophy: The Grand Egyptian Museum stands today as a modern “House of Life”, where knowledge, art, and heritage continue to inspire and educate — bridging ancient civilization with contemporary society.
Nour Abouseif: At the last stage of the Grand Staircase, visitors reach the tombs, marking the culmination of the journey to eternity.
Here, the architecture mirrors ancient beliefs — every life, no matter how powerful, ends in the embrace of eternity.
In pharaonic tradition, a holy funeral was essential — a sacred transition ensuring the soul’s safe passage to the afterlife.
The surrounding light, stone, and geometry evoke the eternal calm of the tombs, reminding visitors that immortality is achieved not by power, but by purpose.
Nour Abouseif: Each illuminated showcase represents a community that once flourished along the Nile, from Upper Egypt to the Delta.
Together, they form a living map of how early Egyptians built their world around the river — where every settlement depended on its flow for life, growth, and connection.
Above, the soft blue lighting symbolizes the eternal current of the Nile, flowing through Egypt’s past and present — a reminder that civilization itself was born from water, rhythm, and renewal.
Nour Abouseif: Ancient Egyptian barbecue.
الحاتي originally from ancient Egyptian حات which means meat.
Nour Abouseif: Primitive look 4500BC.
Comes from تل الفرخة in dakkahlya. By بعثة اطالية in 1978. First image f leader and his son.
Wood that is gold plated. Eyes from lazurde. Necklace is carlinien which is a gem stone and the rest of it is from ostrich egg shells all indicates are of a high position.
Nour Abouseif: In ancient times, Egypt was divided into two lands:
For centuries, the two regions were in constant struggle — until King Narmer (Mina) emerged as the unifier.
The name “Mina” — of Coptic origin, meaning “the founder” — reflects his legacy as the first ruler to unite Upper and Lower Egypt under one crown.
By wearing the Double Crown (التاج المزدوج), Narmer became the first pharaoh of a unified Egypt, marking the beginning of the First Dynasty and the birth of one of the world’s greatest civilizations.
Nour Abouseif: Among the highest positions in ancient Egypt was that of the scribe — the thinker, the historian, and the voice of civilization.
This statue, discovered in Hesbet el-Gemeiz (حسب الجميز), depicts a scribe with ancient Egyptian eyeliner, symbolizing clarity and alertness — a detail that connects to the Egyptian verb “مءا”, meaning to gaze or observe deeply (يبحلق).
The figure is covered in plaster, preserving the vibrant pigments that reveal the rich colors of ancient Egyptian art.
“The voice of the people will perish, but the voice of the scribe will last forever.”
A reminder that while empires fade, the written word endures — and it is through the scribes that Egypt still speaks today.
Nour Abouseif: False door – door that is not true only place in the tomb. Offerings to be placed. Just like we do now. Offerings for spirituality reason. انت المعبد و فيك يسكن الإله
Nour Abouseif: They loved music too/ not all serious also enjoyed leisure time.
Woke up at sunrise worked till afternoon and then leisure time followed by sleep: harmony to life.
Nour Abouseif: Thurmose II or amenhotep II start of the golden age. This kings original name is gehuti Mes which is modern day abdelhakim – son of wisdom. Ruled over 17 wars without losing a single one. First man to make zoo. First ruler who brought Egypt chickens.
Nour Abouseif: Queen Hatshepsut – reason tuhutmose II entered the army. And raised him to be a great warrior. She ruled for 22 years and had great achievements and was a great time for peace and money making for ancient Egyptian history
Nour Abouseif: Ekhtnaton – even art changes in that times. Large lips and almond eyes.
Nour Abouseif: Bamboon monkeys not for religion. But used them to divide the days as by nature they pee every hour and used them as an alarm. With sunrise they climb the trees and sun gaze as the sun rises and once the sun rises they scream in celebration
Nour Abouseif: 6 statues for sekhmet. Used the terms neter to refer to kings and queens. Which symbolized the nature of strengths for all rulers not by gender. Sekhmet was done using the face of a lioness and the lioness is the one that plans and executes
Nour Abouseif: I’m about to enter King Tut!
Drum roll
Nour Abouseif: At the highest point of the gem
Nour Abouseif: Can you feel the crowd
Nour Abouseif: Entering king tut hall
Nour Abouseif: Tut was and still is a trend
Nour Abouseif: In November 4, 1922, a young Egyptian boy named Hussein Abdelrasoul, while fetching water in the Valley of the Kings, stumbled upon what would become the greatest archaeological discovery in history — the tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62).
When Howard Carter peered through the small opening into the sealed chamber and was asked what he saw, his reply became immortal:
“I see wonderful things.”
That moment ignited a global fascination — Egyptomania, and specifically, Tutmania. Tutankhamun became not just a pharaoh, but a phenomenon — inspiring art, fashion, films, and imagination around the world.
The Egyptian film “المومياء” (The Mummy), starring Shady Abdel Salam, later captured this sense of wonder — the timeless dialogue between the living and the dead, between discovery and destiny.
Standing here today, on the anniversary of that discovery, the story comes full circle.
The treasures once hidden in the Valley now live again in the Grand Egyptian Museum — proof that Egypt’s wonders were never lost, only waiting to be seen anew.
Nour Abouseif: The symbol and the bottom showcasing black kemet – yellow dishrit which is desert land and the white peaks of the mountains which are white in color on LXR
