King Khufu’s ship has been transferred from its current location in the pyramids’ archaeological area to its new display at the Grand Egyptian Museum. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities shifted the valuable antique.
The boat dates back to 4600 years and will soon be unveiled at the grand museum in Egypt. The boat will be the country’s largest attraction.
Egyptians buried the boat in pits next to the royal burial chambers in the belief that they would transport the departed into the afterlife. Cairo’s Great Pyramid — also known as the Pyramid of Cheops — is the largest of the three Giza pyramids and houses Khufu’s tomb.
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities took all the necessary measurements to secure the boat during its transportation. It took about six months of workshops and meetings to discuss the most appropriate scientific method that ensures the ship’s safety during packaging and transportation.
The boat was transferred in a special vehicle using the smart remote-controlled cart, which was specially brought in from Belgium to transport the whole ship without dismantling it. The whole process of transporting took 10 hours.
“After crossing the streets of Giza on a smart vehicle, the first boat of King Khufu discovered in 1954 at the southern corner of the Great Pyramid has terminated its long journey to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM),” a ministry statement said.
The vessel was transported intact on its 7.5-kilometer journey and is set to be one of the star exhibits when the new museum opens.