Pharaonic Village

The Pharaonic Village is a living museum located near Cairo, Egypt that exhibits ancient Egyptian life.^[1][2]

Pharaonic Village

القرية الفرعونية
Pharaonic Village
Established	1984
Location	Giza, Egypt
Coordinates	29°59′50″N 31°12′55″E
Founder	Hassan Ragab
Website	Pharaonic Village

History

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]

Description

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]

Museums in the Pharaonic Village

There is a collection of specialized museums, which cover various historical periods of Egypt.^[8] These include:

• The Ptolemaic Museum
• The Heritage Museum
• The Tomb of Tutankhamun
• The Beliefs Museum
• The Boats Museum
• The Islamic Museum
• The Museum of President Mohamed Naguib (Egypt's first president)
• The Museums of Presidents Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat
• The Pyramids Museum
• The Coptic Museum
• The Mummification Museum
• The Modern Egypt Museum
• The Napoleon Museum
• The Cleopatra Museum

Gamal Abdel Nasser Museum

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]

Anwar Sadat Museum

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]

Mummification Museum

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]

Replica of Tutankhamun’s Tomb

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]

Village souvenirs

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]