The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities holds numerous significant artifacts from ancient Egyptian history, boasting the most extensive collection of Pharaonic antiquities globally.

The official records indicated that the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities accommodates a collection of over 120,000 artifacts, with only a fraction showcased or displayed to the public. Situated in a structure constructed in 1901 CE at Tahrir Square, it stands as the largest museum in Africa. Among its notable treasures is the renowned funerary collection belonging to boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun, featuring the iconic gold burial mask. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most recognizable works of art, this mask serves as a prominent symbol of ancient Egypt.

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Originally constructed in 1835 CE close to the Ezbekieh Garden, the museum was later relocated to the Cairo Citadel under the administration of the Egyptian government.

Later on in 1858 CE, a newly established museum was set up at Boulaq, repurposing a former warehouse. This development occurred concurrently with the formation of the new Antiquities Department, led by Auguste Mariette. Situated direclty along the Nile River, the building suffered considerable damage in 1878 CE due to Nile River flooding. In 1891 CE, the collections were relocated to a former royal palace in the Giza district of Cairo. They remained there until 1902 CE, when they were once again moved to the present museum building in Tahrir Square. The new building of Egyptian Museum was constructed by the Italian company of Giuseppe Garozzo and Francesco Zaffrani, based on a design by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon.

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Ground Floor
The first floor or the ground floor of the Egyptian Museum is dedicated to smaller works, including papyri, coins, textiles, and an enormous collection of wooden sarcophagi. Also on the ground floor are artifacts from the New Kingdom, the time period between 1550 and 1069 BCE. These artifacts are generally larger than items created in earlier centuries. Those items include statues, tables, and coffins (sarcophagi). It contains 42 rooms; with many items on view from sarcophagi and boats to enormous statues.

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Upper Floor
On the upper floor or the first floor of the Egyptian Museum are artifacts from the final two dynasties of Egypt, including items from the tombs of the Pharaohs Thutmosis III, Thutmosis IV, Amenophis II, Hatshepsut, and the courtier Maiherpri, as well as many artifacts from the Valley of the Kings, in particular the material from the intact tombs of Tutankhamun and Psusennes I.

circa 3200–3000 BCE

Narmer Palette
The Narmer Palette, also called the Great Hierakonpolis Palette or the Palette of Narmer, an ancient Egyptian carved stone tablet, is a very significant discovery in Egyptian archaeology, dating back to around the thirty first century BCE. Categorized as a cosmetic palette, it contains some of the earliest hieroglyphic inscriptions ever uncovered. Some scholars believe the tablet illustrates the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under King Narmer.

Alongside the Scorpion Macehead and the Narmer Maceheads, discovered together at the primary deposit site in Nekhen, the Narmer Palette represents one of the earliest depictions of an Egyptian king. One side displays the king adorned with the bulb-shaped White Crown of Upper (southern) Egypt, while the other side features the king wearing the level Red Crown of Lower (northern) Egypt, making it the earliest known instance of a king wearing both types of headdress. The Narmer Palette, housed at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, exhibits many enduring features of Ancient Egyptian art, suggesting the formalization of artistic conventions by the time of its creation. Renowned Egyptologist Bob Brier has aptly labeled the Narmer Palette as "the first historical document in the world."

circa 2613-2494 BCE

Ivory Figurine of Khufu
The Ivory figurine of Khufu, more commonly known as the Khufu Statuette or the Khufu statue, is a small ancient Egyptian statue of great historical and archaeological significance. Discovered in 1903 CE, and now housed in the Egyptian Museum, during the excavation of Kom el-Sultan in Abydos, Egypt, by William Petrie, this statuette represents Khufu, a Pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty (Old Kingdom, approximately 2613 to 2494 BCE), renowned as the builder of the Great Pyramid. Despite the possibility of it being carved much later, in the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty (664 BC–525 BCE), the Khufu statue (about 7.5 cm high, 2.9 cm long and c. 2.6 cm wide) is a unique and largely intact three-dimensional depiction of Khufu.

circa 2575-2550 BCE

Statues of Rahotep and Nofret
Rahotep and his wide are depicted seated on white cubic thrones, with their names and titles inscribed in black hieroglyphs on the backs of the thrones. The inscription specifies Rahotep as the "King’s son, of his body, Rahotep". This statue, today displayed in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, in conjunction with the positioning of Rahotep's tomb to the north of Snefru’s tomb, implies his connection as Snefru’s son and, consequently, the sibling of Khufu, the possessor of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Nofret is described as a "royal acquaintance," highlighting her aproximity to the King.

circa 1970-1814 BCE

Pyramidion from the Pyramid of Amenemhat III at Dashur
The pyramidion of Amenemhat III refers to the apex-stone that originally adorned the summit of the Black Pyramid in Dashur, Egypt. Created approximately in 1850 BCE, toward the conclusion of the twelfth Dynasty during the Middle Kingdom, this structure has survived largely intact and is displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The relatively larger pyramidion, carved out of single piece of basalt (often called black granite), was mostly intact apart from a broken corner when it was discovered on the east side of the pyramid of Amenemhat.

circa 1458 BCE

Sarcophagus "D" of Queen Hatshepsut
The quatzite sarcophagus, now known as sarcophagus "D", is one of at least three or four sarcophagi known to have been carved for queen Hatshepsut. The sarcophagus "D" is a larger and more elaborate piece than the Boston sarcophagus. It was removed by Howard Carter from the tomb, and placed on display in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. The lid of this sarcophagus (just like the lid of sarcophagus "C"), dating back to the early eighteenth Dynasty, bears inscriptions on the short ends but the long sides of the lid remain uninscribed.

circa 1458 BCE

Part of Hatshepsut Statue Head from Deir el-Bahari
This head, carved out of limestone and painted, originates from one of the twenty-four colossal Osiride statues adorning the upper portico of the third terrace in Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at the Deir el Bahari necropolis (ancient Thebes). Hatshepsut, the sister-wife of Thutmosis II, ascended to become the fifth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty (circa 1479-1458 BCE). In this representation, the queen is depicted as Osiris, featuring masculine traits such as the ceremonial beard. She is portrayed with reddish-brown skin, a hue typically associated with men in ancient Egyptian art, contrasting with the pale yellowish color traditionally reserved for women.

circa 1400-1353 BCE

Colossal statue of Amenhotep III and Tiye
The colossal statue featuring Amenhotep III and Tiye is a monumental group sculpture portraying the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III from the eighteenth dynasty (approx 1550/1549 to 1292 BCE), along with his Great Royal Wife Tiye and three of their daughters. This massive dyad, the largest of its kind ever carved, was initially erected in Medinet Habu, Western Thebes. Presently, it holds a central position in the main hall of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The statue is likely to have been carved around the first sed festival during the reign of Amenhotep III.

circa 1400-1353 BCE

Funerary Assemblage of Yuya and Thuya
The funerary assemblage from the tomb of Yuya and Thuya is one of the most complete and lavish examples of non-royal burial equipment from the Eighteenth Dynasty. Among its most notable contents were their large black wooden sarcophagi with gilded inscriptions, nested anthropoid coffins, and exceptionally well-preserved mummies. Accompanying these were a beautifully inlaid wooden chair, gilded wooden chests adorned with protective deities, and an array of personal items including linen garments, jewelry, and inscribed shabtis. Ritual equipment such as alabaster canopic jars bearing the couple’s likenesses, a gilded canopic chest, and ceremonial dummy stone vases complemented the ensemble. Together, these objects reflect elite burial practices and the emphasis on eternal protection and sustenance for Yuya and Thuya in the afterlife.

circa 1334–1325 BCE

Throne-Chair of Princess Sitamun
The throne-chair of Princess Sitamun is a finely crafted royal seat from the Eighteenth Dynasty, found in the tomb of her grandparents Yuya and Thuya (KV46). Constructed of wood and adorned with gilded, silvered, and veneered decoration, it features elaborate imagery of the princess and divine motifs. Both a functional object and a ceremonial emblem, the chair exemplifies the high artistry of Amenhotep III’s reign and offers valuable insight into elite life, symbolism, and craftsmanship at the height of New Kingdom Egypt.

circa 1334–1325 BCE

Funerary Gold Mask of Tutankhamun
The funerary mask of Tutankhamun, part of the larger Tutankhamun Collection crafted from gold, inteded to serve as a burial mask for the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun from the 18th dynasty (reigned 1334–1325 BCE). Having rested in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, specifically tomb KV62, for more than 3,000 years, it was unearthed by Howard Carter in 1925 and is currently on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Widely recognized, Tutankhamun's death mask (bearing the likeness of Osiris, Egyptian god of the afterlife) is celebrated as one of the most famous pieces of art globally and stands as a significant symbol of ancient Egyptian civilization. Weighing over 10 kilograms, it is decorated with semi-precious stones and bears an ancient spell from the Book of the Dead which is inscribed in hieroglyphs on the mask's shoulders.

circa 1332-1323 BCE

Golden Throne of Tutankhamun
The "Golden Throne of Tutankhamun" or the gilged chair of Tutankhamun is a royal chair made out of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, and adorned with semi-precious stones and colored glass. On the backrest of the chair; two lion heads project to safeguard the throne's seat, while the arms depict winged serpents donning the double crown of Egypt, protecting the king's names.

Unearthed in 1922 CE in the Antechamber of Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) beneath the Hippopotamus funerary bed, the throne is referred to as Ist in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, named after the mother goddess Isis, often depicted with a throne on her head. Currently housed in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo (inventory designation JE 62028), this opulent chair showcases intricate craftsmanship and an abundance of details. Its vibrant colors, preserved for over three thousand years, attest to the exceptional skill of ancient Egyptian artisans.

The so-called "throne" features a scene from the pharaoh's daily life on its front, portraying Tutankhamun in a relaxed pose while his wife, Ankhesenamun, massages his shoulder with fragrance oils. Notably, both wear gold bracelets on opposite legs, symbolizing betrothal in ancient Egyptian culture.

circa 1213-1203 BCE

Merneptah Stele
The Merneptah Stele, also called the Victory Stele of Merneptah, comprises an inscription authored by Merneptah, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ruled from 1213 to 1203 BCE. Unearthed by Flinders Petrie at Thebes in 1896 CE, it is currently exhibited at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The majority of the text details Merneptah's triumph over the ancient Libyans and their allies. However, the concluding three lines out of the 28 lines focus on a distinct military campaign in Canaan, which was then part of Egypt's imperial territories.

Sometimes labeled the "Israel Stele", this designation arises from the interpretation by most scholars who translate a specific set of hieroglyphs in line 27 as "Israel". While alternative translations have been proposed, they have not gained widespread acceptance.

Presently housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, this stele is a tall black granite slab, standing over 3 meters (10 feet) high. The inscription on the stele indicates that it was carved during the fifth year of Merneptah's rule in the 19th dynasty. While the majority of the text celebrates Merneptah's triumphs over adversaries from Libya and their allies, particularly the Sea People, the concluding two lines make reference to a military campaign in ancient Canaan. In these lines, Merneptah asserts that he not only successfully defeated but annihilated Asqaluna, Gezer, Yanoam, and Israel.

circa 1213 BCE

Mummy of Ramesses II
The Mummy of Ramesses the Great was one of the twenty-two mummies that were transferred to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat in a grand parade dubbed as "The Pharaohs' Golden Parade", on April 3, 2021 CE.

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Auguste Mariette Memorial
In the south-western corner of the garden adjacent to the main building complex of the Egyptian Museum, is a memorial to famous egyptologists of the world. It features a pedestal mounted statue to Auguste Mariette, which is surrounded by 24 busts of the following egyptologists: François Chabas, Johannes Dümichen, Conradus Leemans, Charles Wycliffe Goodwin, Emmanuel de Rougé, Samuel Birch, Edward Hincks, Luigi Vassalli, Émile Brugsch, Karl Richard Lepsius, Théodule Devéria, Vladimir Golenishchev, Ippolito Rosellini, Labib Habachi, sami Gabra, Selim Hassan, Ahmed Kamal, Zakaria Goneim, Jean-François Champollion, Amedeo Peyron, Willem Pleyte, Gaston Maspero, Peter le Page Renouf and Kazimierz Michałowski.