GEM receives 532 artifacts from Tahrir branch

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) received 532 artifacts dating back to different ancient eras to be displayed during the opening of the museum, said the general supervisor of the museum Tarek Tawfik on Thursday.

The artifacts include two symbolic coffins of King Tutankhamun collection and a precious group of alabaster vases of King Ramesses II, Tawfik added.

For his part, Director-General of Primary Restoration at the GEM Essa Zidan said the committee concerned with restoration, delivery and packaging operations adopted all scientific methods in the packaging of different pieces.

The GEM is currently under construction and is scheduled to partially open in 2018.

In its final inauguration in 2020, the museum will be the largest archaeological museum in the world.

The museum will house 100,000 pieces from Pharaonic, Greek and Roman eras, with nearly 7,000 square meters designated for Tutankhamun treasures.

The museum is estimated to cost 800 million dollars. Five million people are expected to visit it annually.

The museum was set to open in 2015, but due to security chaos in the country following the January revolution in 2011, construction works have been delayed several times