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Cairo (dpa) - Great spectacle for deceased rulers: Thousands of years after their death, the mummies of 22 kings and queens from ancient Egypt were transported through Cairo in a solemn procession.

The reason for the trip on Saturday evening was the relocation of the mummies from the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square to the newly inaugurated Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC).

After decades in the neoclassical building in the center of the capital, the mummies of the 18 kings and 4 queens are to be permanently housed in the NMEC.

Egypt transformed the relocation into a procession based on ancient models, when deceased rulers were transported to their tombs with great honors.

Under the title “The Pharaoh's Golden Parade”, the decorated carriages drove along the cordoned-off promenade along the Nile, accompanied by a police column.

Dozens of riders and costumed actors pulled parts of the way with them.

At the NMEC, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi watched the arrival of the mummies.

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Among the mummies is that of the important Pharaoh Ramses II, who was also called "the great" and from 1279 BC.

Ruled over Egypt for 66 years.

He built the temples of Abu Simbel and, after several wars, led his country to prosperity in a relatively long period of peace.

The mummy of the legendary Pharaoh Hatshepsut (reign 1479-1458 BC), who was only replaced by her underage stepson Tutmosis III.

ruled, but then allowed himself to be crowned queen.

With the spectacle and light show - the otherwise overcrowded Tahrir Square was cordoned off and spruced up for the show - Egypt probably also wants to attract tourists to the country.

The economy is dependent on tourism income and suffered badly during the corona pandemic.

The procession was accompanied by dramatic music by a choir and orchestra at the NMEC, where the mummies were received with military honors - "as befits kings," wrote the state news website Al-Ahram.

The general director of the UN cultural organization Unesco, Audrey Azoulay, traveled to Cairo for the procession.

President Al-Sisi described the procession on Twitter as “a majestic sight, the new evidence of the greatness of the Egyptian people”.

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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210403-99-76872 / 2

Egyptian Museum

Museum of Egyptian Civilization