Sunday 26/October/2025 – 08:20 AM
A rare photo from the archives of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir revealed a unique scene dating back to the beginning of the last century, showing the statues of King Amenhotep III and his wife, Queen Ti, inside the museum’s lobby, in a shot that carries the fragrant history and beauty of ancient Egyptian art.
A rare photo of King Amenhotep III and Queen Tey in the lobby of the Egyptian Museum a century ago
The two statues, which are considered among the finest examples of sculpture in the New Kingdom, embody the features of strength and balance in the character of the king, and the wisdom and majesty in the face of Queen Ti, who was one of the most prominent queens of ancient Egypt and the most influential in political and religious life during the reign of her husband.
The image brings to mind the beginnings of displaying artifacts in the Egyptian Museum, which opened in 1902 to become the first museum in the world dedicated to the antiquities of a single civilization, and to house within its walls the treasures of ancient Egypt that still dazzle the world today.
The historical snapshot reflects the splendor and precision of Egyptian sculpture. It also documents an important stage in the history of museum display, which developed over more than a century, leading to the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is preparing to open on the doorstep of the Pyramids, to complete the process of preserving Egypt’s immortal heritage.
