The boat of King Khufu, an ancient Egyptian monarch and second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty in the 26th century B.C., has been transferred from the Giza pyramids to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt.

Discovered in 1954 at the southern corner of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, King Khufu’s boat, also known as the solar boat, is 42 meters long (138 ft) and weighs 20 tons. This cedar wood boat is roughly 4,600 years old and took 48 hours to transport.

As to why the transfer took place, the tourism and antiquities ministry advised the following:

“The aim of the transportation project is to protect and preserve the biggest and oldest organic artifact made of wood in the history of humanity for the future generations.”

According to Africa News, the boat, along with tens of thousands of artifacts—including the gold mask of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun—will be on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum. It will be a part of Egypt’s effort to attract foreign tourists.

The museum is set to open later in 2021.

Until Next Time…

(Sources)

Photo Credit: Daily Sabah

Reuters. (2021, August 8). Ancient Pharaoh King Khufu’s boat carried to Egypt museum. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/ancient-pharaoh-king-khufus-boat-carried-to-egypt-museum/news.  

Egypt moves Pharaoh’s solar boat to new mega-museum. Africa News. (2021, August 8). https://www.africanews.com/2021/08/08/egypt-moves-pharaoh-s-solar-boat-to-new-mega-museum/.