The mummy of one of Egypt’s most famous female pharaohs, Hatshepsut, is set to be moved in a grand parade in Cairo on 3 April organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
On Saturday, 22 mummies will be moved from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to a new home in Fustat’s National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. There are 18 pharaohs and four queens being transferred to their new permanent home. They will not go on display at the National Museum until two weeks after the transport.
Each mummy will have its own float with their name written in English, Arabic and ancient hieroglyph. Their journey will begin with a 21-gun salute and military music; it will also include performances from famous Egyptian actors. War chariots will also be on both sides of the road during the parade; they have been made especially for the once-in-a-lifetime event.
The parade is expected to take 40 minutes, but the entire event will be around 90 minutes long as there are events planned before and after the parade, according to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khaled El-Anani.
He said: “We want the world to see the beauty of Egypt’s civilisation, with the procession set to be dazzling, different from any other celebration, and among the most beautiful celebrations that the people of the world will see. Everything will start in the dark, then one building after another will be lit, and the lights of Tahrir Square, the lake, and the choir will be singing in the Ancient Egyptian language.”
Hatshepsut’s body is being moved alongside Ahmose Nefertari (wife of King Ahmose), Meritamun (wife of King Amenhotep I), and Queen Tiye.
Hatshepsut married her half-brother Thutmose II and co-reigned with him until his death in 1479 B.C. When he died, Hatshepsut was not yet 30-years-old. The couple only had one child together, a daughter named Neferure. Thutmose II had fathered a son – Thutmose III – by his lower wife, Isis. The young male heir was only two when his father passed, making his aunt and step-mother regent. Thutmose III co-reigned; however, historians have determined Hatshepsut was the clear principal ruler during the reign. At the time, Egyptian society was very male-dominated, and therefore, she surrounded herself with powerful civil, religious, and military personnel that would give her their support.
The mummies all date back to the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasty and will also include the bodies of Ramses II, Ramses V, Seqenenre and Thutmose III.
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