A city stood still for the golden parade of the Pharaohs
Respecting your dead Kings is important, but giving respect in a way that sent chills down the spines of millions of audiences across the world is a monumental task. Like the way they had built the jaw dropping Pyramids using unimaginable advanced technologies in the past, Egypt just did that on Saturday, April 3.
It was a multi-million-dollar spectacular show for some of their best-known Pharaohs. These mummies are undoubtedly national treasures and they were given a lavish parade with all honours while being carefully transported to a new resting place, the state of the art ‘National Museum of Egyptian Civilization’ in Old Cairo. During the 2013 unrest many museums were damaged and looted by the extremist Muslim brotherhood.
Millions watched
The mummies were transported inside nitrogen filled boxes in specially built shock absorbent chariot-like vehicles to avoid even the slightest damage during the short journey. The modern vehicles have been built duplicating ancient golden winged ships that once transported them along the Nile for burial with lavish golden encrusted symbols and decorations with each of their names in English, Arabic and Hieroglyphs. The world’s media dedicated many minutes in each of their news segments, some broadcasting the entire event live parallel from Egyptian national television channels.
The mummies on the move and top, recreating the splendour of old Egypt. Pictures courtesy of The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade
Gun salutes
Egyptian President General Al Sisi was there to receive them while 21-Artillery gun salutes fired for the ancient Kings. Some of the roads were re-paved to keep these rulers’ journey so smooth although it lasted less than one hour along the Nile river. An orchestra of hundreds of musicians and famous Egyptian singers played powerful and heroic themed music while hundreds of beautifully dressed dancers danced to themes of pride and history.
As the 22 Pharaohs left their usual resting place, the world-famous Cairo museum at Tahrir Square in the chariot vehicles, actors dressed as ancient servants and soldiers lined their entire way of three miles holding lights and flowers.
The entire city was brought to a standstill during the event, roads being closed to any other vehicles for over two hours, with only the shining new Police and Military motorbikes and Jeeps, high-stepping Police horses with officers dressed in their ceremonial clothes and thousands of extras dressed in ancient costunes and dancers adorning the street. The event was attended by many dignitaries including the Director General of UNESCO.
Twenty two Kings and Queens
This Golden Parade of Pharaohs included 18 Kings and four Queens from the 17th to the 20th dynasties of ancient Egypt, who ruled approximately 3,600 to 3,100 years ago. Most of the 22 kings and queens were discovered in two archaeological ‘caches’ in Luxor in the late 1800s. The most famous Pharoah there was King Ramses II, the world-renowned warrior King of the New Kingdom, who ruled for 67 years and is remembered for signing the first known peace treaty. Another is Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt for a long-time bringing peace, prosperity as well as famous art and architectural structures to the country. Hatshepsut, became the ruler even though at that time women did not become pharaohs. It is said that she even wore a false beard like other Pharaohs, to show her power equal to a man.
The Parade was headed by King Seqenenre Tao II’s Chariot; the King died a painful death in the battlefield fighting for the unity of Egypt against enemy invaders. His face was brutally broken by his enemies and body left to rot – who would have dreamt that a day would come, 3,600 years after his tragic death that his mummy would be leading a Royal parade.
Carefully unwrapped from their vehicles, the mummies will go on display to the general public from today, April 18.