Ancient mummies make their way through Cairo's vibrant streets

On Saturday, the royal mummies of Egypt's pharaohs were brought out of their tombs and paraded through Cairo, headed to a new home.

What may sound like a cinematic scene was, in fact, a grand celebration of Egypt's rich history and part of an ambitious project to move some of its most prized treasures to a modern facility.

The mummies of Ramses the Great and 21 other pharaohs took part in “The Pharaoh’s Golden Parade,” an eagerly awaited event coordinated by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The parade journeyed from the Egyptian Museum, their previous home near Tahrir Square, to their new residence at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Egypt's first Islamic capital, al-Fustat.

“This magnificent event is fresh proof of the greatness of the Egyptian people, the guardians of this unparalleled civilization that stretches deep into history,” said Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Twitter.

“I call on all Egyptians and people around the world to witness this extraordinary event – a tribute to the spirit of our great ancestors who safeguarded the nation and built a civilization that makes all of humanity proud – as we continue on our path of progress and humanity.”

In addition to the 22 royal Egyptian mummies, 17 royal sarcophagi were also part of the procession, which moved along the Nile River, flanked by chariots and horses, according to Egypt's Ahram Online.

Sarcophagi are stone coffins typically decorated with carvings and inscriptions.

The mummies include those of kings Ramses II, Seti I, Seqenenre, and Tuthmosis III, along with four queens: Ahmose-Nefertari, Tiye, Meritamun, and Hatshepsut.

The parade was honored with 21-gun salutes and accompanied by a military band. The mummies were transported on specially designed vehicles, with their names inscribed in both ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Arabic.

The mummies featured in the parade were found in two separate cachettes. The first was discovered in 1881 at Deir El-Bahari on Luxor’s West Bank in tomb TT320.

All 22 royal mummies date back to the New Kingdom period, when tombs were built underground with concealed entrances to protect against tomb robbers.

Preparing the royal mummies

The goal of the parade was to transport Egypt's 18 kings and four queens, along with their coffins and personal items, from their former resting place at The Egyptian Museum.

Dr. Mostafa Ismail, head of conservation at the Mummies Conservation Lab and Storeroom at the NMEC, oversaw a team of 48 specialists in preparing the royal mummies for the procession.

The preservation process, as explained to Dinogo, involves placing each mummy into an oxygen-free, nitrogen-filled capsule that keeps it safe from humidity, bacteria, fungi, and insects.

The capsule is surrounded by soft padding that evenly distributes pressure and minimizes vibrations during the journey.

When the mummies arrive at the NMEC, the display units will mirror the exact conditions of the nitrogen capsules, ensuring no shock to the mummies when transferred, as Ismail explains.

Each mummy will be accompanied by any personal items discovered with them, including their coffins.

The exhibits will also feature CT scans, revealing what lies beneath the wrappings, including any fractures or diseases that affected the royal figures.