القرية الفرعونية | |
 Pharaonic Village | |
 | |
| Established | 1984 |
|---|---|
| Location | Giza, Egypt |
| Coordinates | 29°59′50″N31°12′55″E / 29.99722°N 31.21528°E |
| Founder | Hassan Ragab |
| Website | Pharaonic Village |
The Pharaonic Village is a living museum located near Cairo, Egypt that exhibits ancient Egyptian life. [1] [2]
The museum was founded by Hassan Ragab who envisioned a living museum where people would wear costumes and reenact ancient Egyptian life. [3] [4] In 1974, Ragab chose Jacob's Island as the location [5] He planted 5,000 trees which included willow, sycamore, and date palms around the village to block out view of modern Cairo. [5]
The nobleman's house and garden were built, along with a market, a large field for farming and harvesting, a boat-making area, roads, and farms. [6] At the center, a massive white-stone temple was erected, later becoming the village's emblem. [6] In 1984, Ragab officially opened the Pharaonic Village after a decade of work, at a cost exceeding six million Egyptian pounds. [4] [5]
In 1989, Abdel Salam Ragab joined his father in managing the village. [6] He emphasized that the village was still evolving. [6] Years after its opening, a replica of King Tutankhamun's tomb was unveiled. [6]
Additionally, there are 12 museums covering different periods of Egypt's history. [7]
The Pharaonic Village aims to bring ancient Egyptian history to life. [1] Upon entering, visitors encounter actors in Pharaonic costumes reenacting daily activities such as making papyrus, fishing, painting, sculpting, farming, and mummification. [1]
There is a floating reception hall and a small cafeteria and a shop selling Pharaonic-style artifacts. [8] The upper floor features the Cleopatra Museum, where a guide explains Cleopatra's reign, her relationship with Julius Caesar, and the conflicts of that era. [8]
After the Cleopatra Museum, the main tour with a boat ride that travels through the village's waterways. [8] Along the way, visitors learn about ancient Egyptian gods, see a reenactment of the story of Moses, and gain insights into papyrus-making, mummification techniques, pottery, glassmaking, weapons crafting, and traditional agriculture, irrigation, and fishing methods. [8] Hieroglyphic writing and ancient art are also demonstrated through live performances. [9]
There is a collection of specialized museums, which cover various historical periods of Egypt. [8] These include:
The Gamal Abdel Nasser Museum highlights the life of the late Egyptian president from birth to his passing in the early 1970s. [10] Located along the Nile within the Pharaonic Village, the museum houses over 170 rare photographs of Nasser at various stages of his life. [11] It also displays a large collection of his personal belongings, including bust statues, commemorative coins, postage stamps, magazine covers featuring Nasser, and letters he wrote in 1941 and 1942. [11] Additionally, the museum features the official decree for the nationalization of the Suez Canal (July 26, 1956), his resignation speech (June 9, 1956), and the medical report on his death. [11]
The Anwar Sadat Museum showcases an extensive collection of the former president's personal belongings, photos, and memorabilia. [12] [13] Some items were donated by his wife, Jehan Sadat, including his naval uniform worn at the Suez Canal inauguration, his famous walking cane, personal grooming items, and perfume. [14] Rare photographs capture moments from his personal life, such as family pictures and images of him praying and reflecting. [14] A model inside the museum illustrates the difficulties faced by the Egyptian army during the October War, including the Bar Lev Line and the sand barrier. [14] The museum also displays pictures of Sadat with global leaders during the signing of the historic Camp David Accords. [14]
This museum displays models demonstrating the ancient process of mummification, as well as the deities associated with the practice. [14] The Pyramids Museum, on the other hand, explores pyramid construction techniques and the tools used to build them. [14]
The village features a full-scale replica of Tutankhamun's tomb, built to the exact dimensions and layout of the original in the Valley of the Kings. [14] [15] It contains detailed replicas of all the artifacts found in the tomb, arranged in the same manner as they were discovered. [14] [15]
There is a market and bazaar, where visitors can purchase a wide range of Pharaonic-inspired products, such as glassware, perfumes, copper and leather goods, sand art, henna designs, and traditional crafts. [14] The studio offers themed photography sessions, though taking pictures inside the bazaar and studio is restricted. [14]