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The Nubia Museum
harbors the history of the "Land of Gold" as the
word Nubia in the Hieroglyphic, language of
ancient Egypt in which pictorial symbols are used
to represent meaning and sounds, means the "Land
of Gold"...Hence, this land, over times, was
abounding in monumental treasures.
The Nubia Museum, in Aswan, as a matter of fact,
is deemed to be one of the most important Egyptian
museums. A number of factors have combined
together, yielding the magnificence of such
museum, as it is the only unique open museum of
its kind.
Preparing this museum lasted for ten years, all
dedicated for hard work to come up with such
lovely museum. Let alone, it stands as a wonderful
model of international cultural cooperation
representing in United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In April 6th, 1959, the Egyptian
government appealed to the United Nations
Educational, Cultural, and
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Scientific Organization (UNESCO), seeking help to
salvage the monumental sites in Nubia, hence, the
area between Aswan and the Sudan was inundated by
the Nile waters especially after completing the
Aswan Dam. The response of the (UNESCO), in fact,
came fast, as it called upon the international
community to contribute to this project.
Since then, (UNESCO) has
been a key player in the archaeological field in
Egypt.
In no time, the executive committee, comprising
representative of 15 member states, was set up,
and was commissioned with studying technical,
monumental and financial reports with the aim of
providing the (UNESCO) with basic information
required to effectively implement the project.
The (UNESCO), obviously, has contributed much to
nudging the entire world to pay more attention to
saving such invaluable monuments. By the end of
1975, and as a result of this relentless support
on the part of the (UNESCO), the donations influx
- contributed by 24 countries - amounted to $
123304.
Unsurprisingly then that the operation of saving
the Nubian monuments was described as the greatest
in the history of saving monuments.
The operation, as known, included dismantling Abu
Simbel Temple, inter alia, moving it to another
area to be reassembled once again. Abu Simbel
Temple was completely dismantled to 1036 pieces,
each with average of 7 to 30 tons, as they were
rebuilt on the top of the mountain overlooking the
genuine spots, drawn by the ancient Egyptians 3000
years ago.
The world outcry, however, was translated into
many concrete actions; donations to salvage the
deteriorated-condition monuments, a number of
excavation missions - which pursued their tasks in
such hard conditions in areas extend 500
kilometres along the Nile banks.
A number of 40 missions have taken part in this
great but difficult job, unearthing several
priceless treasures dating back to pre-history
times; Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Islamic and
Coptic.
Fossils, which were discovered during excavations,
undoubtedly provided full knowledge about Nubian
life and its development along ages.
In January, 1975, the General Egyptian Authority
for Antiquities submitted a request to the
(UNESCO) seeking the organisation's assistance to
preserve the ancient Egyptian monuments, through
establishing a city for museums harbouring a
cluster of open museums with a view to displaying
rare and wonderful monuments of various ages.
Being the main supporter to save the Nubian
monuments, the (UNESCO) approved this request, and
entrusted the executive committee, responsible for
salvaging operations, with assuming the tasks of
this new project. This committee was named the
"The Executive Committee for the International
Campaign for Establishing the International Museum
of the Monuments of Nubia in Aswan, and the
National Museum for Ancient Egyptian Museum in
Cairo".
Since February, 1981, a number of symposiums and
seminars was held for contribution to this great
project. It was the first time in the history of
the (USECO) to decide launching an international
campaign to establish local museum. This, however,
could be ascribed to the magnificent monumental
treasures Egypt has.
On February 4 th, 1986, the foundation stone of
the museum of Nubia was laid down, playing new
effective role that was derived from the spring of
culture and civilization at both home and
international levels.
To the Egyptians, the museum is to display life
over centuries. As for foreign visitors, the
museum will show the history of such unique area,
as a source of knowledge for researchers from
around the globe.
The International Museum of Nubia is located in
Aswan on an area of 50,000 square meters, 7000 of
which are excluded to building, while the rest
designed to be the yard of the museum.
The building has three floors for displaying and
housing, in addition to a library and information
center. The largest part of the museum is occupied
by the monumental pieces, reflecting phases of the
development of the Nubian culture and
civilization.
Three thousands pieces of antiq., representing
various ages; Geological, Pharaonic, Roman, Coptic
and Islamic, were registered. The open-door
exhibition includes 90 rare monumental pieces,
while the internal halls contain 50 invaluable
pieces dating back to the pre-history times, 503
pieces belong to Pharaonic time, 52 of Coptic era,
103 of Islamic age, 140 of Nubian time, in
addition to 360 pieces having the tang of Aswan.
The work in this unique edifice lasted for 11
years straight, and cost LE 60 million.
The museum of Nubia gained this unique position
simply because it harbors unique monuments not in
any elsewhere.
It houses the statute of Ramsis II, which was laid
at the very forefront of the Museum, statute of
Amenras the spiritual wife of Amen, she is of
Nubian origin. It, also, has the head of the
Shpatka, of the Nubian origin, made of rosy
granite, head of black granite of Tahraqa, the
Nubian King, whose reign during the 7th century BC
was said to be full of prosperity. There is a
temple of his name with gold-plated pillars.
There are, also, four mummies for nobles, which
were found in Kashmatkh town in Nubia.
The museum, as well, houses several models and
styles of the Nubian heritage, the panorama of the
Nile, depicting live image of the River Nile
streaming through its banks.
There is also a model for the Nubian-style house,
typically copied to mirror the nature of life in
Nubia.
All pieces exhibited in the museum reflect the
character of the Nubia over history and display
how it merged with the Islamic civilization on one
hand and the mother civilization of Egypt on the
other.
So, the museum of Nubia plays vital role not only
at the level of promoting Nubia to the entire
world but also at the level of maintaining
monuments and supporting researchers, interested
in Nubia, from around the globe.
This, however could be achieved through the
museum's study center and the documentation
centers which publish more information on the
"Land of Gold" in Egypt, the past, the present and
the future.
Nubia Museum, which hosts 3000 monumental pieces
of several times, ranks tenth in the list of the
museums inaugurated in Egypt over the past three
years. An array of important museums, however, has
been inaugurated; Mohamed Nagui Museum, Modern
Egyptian Art Museum, Museum of Mohamed Mahmoud
Khalil and his wife, Museum of Ahmed Desouki, Port
Said Museum for Modern Arts, Taha Hussein Museum,
and the Mummification Museum in Luxor.
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