A procession of 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies marched through downtown Cairo on Saturday en route to a new museum three kilometers away as part of a lavish ceremony to celebrate Egypt’s history.
The march of 18 kings and four queens, called the Pharaoh’s Golden Parade, left the Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square around 8pm and went to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, reports the Washington Post. Each of the mummies rode on gold-and-blue vehicles like boats, with each vehicle bearing the mummy’s name.
The whole gathering tried to recreate the seizure of ancient Egypt, with chariots pulling horses dressed like ancient Egyptians. The march revolved around Tahrir Square, the center of the Egyptian revolution in 2011.
The route followed by the vehicles was freshly paved, the coffins were filled with nitrogen and the vehicles were equipped with special shock absorbers to preserve the ancient remains.
The event has been promoted for months, according to the Post, with Egyptian authorities hoping that the transfer of mummies will attract tourists to the country whose economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and political chaos.
The Post also provided a nationalist opportunity to highlight Egypt’s place in history, with President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi presiding over the ceremony. He was often referred to as a ‘new pharaoh’ for his authoritarian rule and ambitious projects.
Most Egyptians saw the event on television, the Post reported, and the entire route was closed for safety purposes. Some parts of the event were also pre-recorded with orchestras and singers playing patriotic music and parts dedicated to Egypt’s famous temples, mosques and churches.