King Tut’s Treasures Reunited: More Than 4,500 Artefacts Debut at the Grand Egyptian Museum

King Tut's Collection Displayed Together for the First Time in a Century

Thousands of visitors streamed into the Grand Egyptian Museum on Tuesday as more than 4,500 artefacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamun were exhibited together for the first time since the tomb's 1922 discovery. The reunited collection opened to the public two days after the museum's lavish official inauguration.

The Exhibition

In a vast, dimly lit central hall that spans four levels, crowds paused to admire chariots, household items, jewelled ornaments and, at the heart of the display, Tutankhamun's iconic golden burial mask. The mask is presented amid personal effects, gilded implements, family heirlooms and funerary sculptures arranged to evoke the pharaoh's life and afterlife beliefs.

An adjoining gallery features two very small mummified infants identified as Tutankhamun's daughters, who are believed to have died before birth; this is the first time they have been shown to the public. The exhibition also explains the archaeological and scientific work behind these identifications.

Burial, Coffins and the Mummy

Tutankhamun died around age 18 or 19 between 1323 and 1324 BC. Genetic and radiological studies suggest his death was likely caused by a combination of malaria and a bone disorder. He was embalmed and interred in Luxor's Valley of the Kings inside three nested coffins, the innermost weighing about 110 kg, all placed within four gilded shrines arranged like matryoshka dolls. While the coffins are now on view in the new museum, the pharaoh's mummy remains in Luxor.

Khufu Sun Boat and Restoration

Visitors can also see the Khufu Sun Boat, described by officials as the oldest and largest wooden artefact known to humanity. These funerary boats, roughly 4,600 years old and constructed from cedar and acacia, were intended to carry a king into the afterlife. The first boat, measuring 43.5 metres, was discovered in 1954 at the base of the Great Pyramid; a second solar boat is currently undergoing restoration and will be visible behind glass in a live restoration laboratory.

The Museum and Visitor Experience

The Grand Egyptian Museum is a monumental complex overlooking the Giza Plateau and stands in stark contrast to the colonial-era, cramped Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo. Natural light pours through enormous triangular windows, illuminating colossal statues and delicate jewellery alike, while carefully designed display cases and conservation labs highlight the museum's curatorial work.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi presided over the museum's $1 billion opening ceremony on Saturday, attended by kings, queens, heads of state and other dignitaries. Egypt hopes the museum will revive tourism and strengthen the national economy. Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy said the museum aims to attract about five million visitors per year and that current daily attendance has been around 5,000 to 6,000 people.

Note: The exhibition balances spectacular showpieces with contextual storytelling and ongoing conservation efforts, offering both a sensory and educational experience for international and local visitors.