São Paulo – In the early hours of last Saturday (7), the Grand Egyptian Museum received a ship belonging to pharaoh Khufu, also known as Cheops. The vessel, 42 meters long and weighing 20 tonnes, was moved from the pyramids’ antiquities area to the museum, which is under construction and is expected to open later this year.
The ship’s transport began on Friday (6) at night and drew the world’s attention to the grandeur and uniqueness of the artifact. To move the ship, the Egyptians used a smart remote-controlled vehicle imported from Belgium and followed strict safety regulations, according to local press reports.
The vessel was discovered in 1954 by Egyptologist Kamal Al-Malakh on an expedition to remove sand in the region of the Giza Complex. Khufu reigned from 2551 BC to 2528 BC in Ancient Egypt. After being restored and rebuilt, the pharaoh’s ship was exhibited in a museum bearing his name, but the space proved inadequate for the pyramids’ region. Hence the decision to place it in the Grand Egyptian Museum.
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The public will be able to see the ship as soon as the Grand Egyptian Museum opens. Its opening should be a great landmark for tourism in Egypt. The country has been betting on the sector to boost its economy in the post-COVID period. This year, the government announced it took advantage of the pandemic to reform tourist attractions.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
