Egypt’s Gifts to the World

Despite not being as acquainted with my nation’s ancient history as I should, I have always made it a point to connect with it whenever I have the chance to. There’s something special about being an Egyptian; wherever you go, there’s always a piece of your identity, heritage, and history that seems to be waiting for you. In New York’s Metropolitan Museum, it’s the Temple of Dendur; in London’s British Museum, it’s the Rossetta Stone; in Istanbul’s Archaeology Museum, it’s the Treaty of Kadesh. I’ve been fortunate to pay a visit to all of these famous Egyptian ambassadors, who always seem to be the highlight of their respective museum.

Although the world always seemed to pay tribute to my ancient ancestors, I always felt disconnected from their great achievements. I think that is beginning to change nowadays though. Since Egypt’s 2011 Revolution, I have begun to believe that we Egyptians can revive the magnificence of our ancient civilization. For one thing, this revolution proved that one of the many aspects that unite Egyptians is their history. During the battle for Tahrir Square, Egyptians joined hands to form a human ring around the Egyptian Museum to prevent any looters from robbing them of their history. Even in Egypt, the ancient artefacts that beautify the Egyptian Museum stand as a testimony for all visitors to Egypt of the grandeur of the nation’s identity.

Despite the controversy of our history being dispersed all over the world, I don’t seem to mind having an Egyptian wing in every major city’s museum. First, the treasures that occupy these wings represent a snapshot of what a journey to Egypt has to offer. Second, they are a means of sharing Egypt’s gift of civilization with the all people. Third, these artefacts make my history accessible to Egyptologists and Egypt-aficionados all over the world.

I have come to consider Egyptian museums as “a home away from home.” It was in the Egyptian wing of the British Museum that we Egyptian students in London held our national association’s inaugural meeting. Moreover, my recent discovery of the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology has thrilled me to see a whole museum dedicated to Egypt. The curators and staff at the Petrie have made me realise that museums should be much more than a display of one’s history. These should be an interactive platform where Egyptians and non-Egyptians meet for an intellectual exchange about history and culture.

During my stay in London, I hope to bring my history to life once more. With the Petrie’s effort to digitalize many of their displays and exhibitions, I believe this is a great way to expose Egypt’s treasures to the world. With the advent of online social media and networking tools, I hope to see ancient Egyptian history play a greater role in connecting Egypt with the world.