Transporting historical mummies is form of an enormous deal, a job to be taken with the utmost of care and a spotlight to element. These are nationwide treasures. Therefore, the uncommon incidence of relocating 18 New Kingdom mummified kings and 4 queens from the Egyptian Museum close to Cairo’s Tahrir Sq. to the brand new Nationwide Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Previous Cairo necessitated a full-on made-for-television procession known as The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade.
Organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the parade noticed mummies journey in particular floats in chronological order of their reigns, beginning with the oldest ruler, Seqenenre Taa II (17th Dynasty) to Ramses IX (12th Century B.C.) alongside downtown Cairo’s freshly repaved three-mile southbound route. Additionally among the many group? Notable king Ramses II, the longest reigning pharaoh. The mummies had been protected against harsh parts by way of climate-controlled, nitrogen-filled capsules. Every of the 22 floats was labeled with the king or queen that it carried and was surrounded by era-appropriate horse-drawn struggle chariots.
The flowery floats principally disguised the bottom automobiles on which they had been constructed, however we now have some concepts. Given the massive mirrors, burly wheels, knobby tires, driver-side hood exhaust stack, and the presumed weight of the floats, the floats are probably primarily based on diesel-powered, military-affiliated vans.
The custom-made “mummymobiles,” which resembled Egyptian boats, had been draped in historical motifs and golden pizazz match for the royalty they carry. If you happen to look intently, you possibly can see the mother capsules using in (what can be) the vans’ beds. The absence of rear wheel cutouts makes the rear axle and its wheels just about disappear beneath the automobile and helps the physique seem to drift, whereas the alternative occurs within the entrance, the place a pronounced fender cutout and elaborate matching hubcab design displaying off the truck-like traits of the mother chariot. An up-close view reveals a useful driver-side door.
The rulers’ new resting place, the brand new museum in Previous Cairo, opened totally after the parade and goals to revitalize tourism in Egypt post-pandemic. The mummies can be displayed within the Royal Corridor of Mummies, which opens to the general public on April 18.
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