The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) will showcase the installation of the world’s first hanging obelisk when the museum opens its doors to the public according to the sources at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The new design aims to provide the visitor with a unique view, as they will stand on a glass plate under their feet, resting on the base of the obelisk, stated the ministry’s statement.
First-of-its-kind in the world, let alone Egypt, the design represents a very precise system that was made to protect the obelisk body from vibrations.
Visitors will be able to stand on the obelisk’s base, which will be suspended on four columns, and will be able to look directly into its interior, which has not been seen for more than 3,500 years. They will also get to see visitors standing in the distance between the base of the obelisk on the ground, and its body raised above head-level. While the museum gears up for the big reveal, installing it is not an easy task either. Mounting is a complex engineering process so that the ancient artefact must not be affected by any vibrations from modern transport.
The hindrances include vibrations from Cairo’s underground metro system after the completion of construction work, or from the movement of cars around the museum, the statement added. The Grand Egyptian Museum, whose 97% construction has been completed, is one of the world’s largest museums, and the largest museum dedicated to a single civilisation in the world. The museum will showcase over 50,000 artefacts from Ancient Egypt, including the full collection of King Tutankhamun, presented all together for the first time in history to the public.
Located just outside of Cairo on the Giza Plateau and next to the Pyramids, the museum will not only be the new crown jewel of Egypt, but it will also be one of the largest, museums in the entire world.
