03:15 p.m
Thursday, April 13, 2023
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities denied reports that some rain had fallen on the statue of King Ramses II inside the Great Hall of the Grand Egyptian Museum, coinciding with the wave of bad weather that hit the country recently.
And a statement by the ministry stated, on Tuesday, that with reference to the video that was circulated on some social media about some rain falling on the statue of King Ramses II located inside the Great Hall of the Grand Egyptian Museum, Major General Atef Moftah, the supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum project and the surrounding area, confirmed that it is not true. What was reported about the existence of a danger from the fall of this rain, indicating that the statue of Ramses II was not and will not be affected by rainwater, and that the museum and all its spaces are in the best state of preservation.
He explained that the rainfall is natural, expected and studied during the design and implementation of the museum and does not represent any danger to the museum or its holdings, and that there is no need to worry about the statue or the museum, indicating that the rain falling on the lobby area comes due to the architectural and engineering design of the open lobby of the museum, and that it There is no defect in the implementation of this design or the creation of the Museum.
Major General Atef Moftah pointed out that the location of the statue of King Ramses in the foyer is specified in the original design of the museum, as it is placed as if it is under a canopy in the foyer area, which is an area in the middle of the museum display building and the commercial building, and it is shaded and its ceiling is covered with hollow aluminum panels that create a slight refraction of sunlight. It allows the movement of air inside the lobby, depending on ventilation and natural lighting, in order to save energy consumption and also reduces the temperature in the summer. Rainfall has also been taken into account by making paths to collect it in a water tank and reuse it in irrigation.
He stressed that the design and implementation of the museum came in a scientific, methodical, accurate and well-studied manner, which contributes to providing visitors with a distinct and appropriate experience, whether in the winter or summer seasons.
He explained that the statue of Ramses, like other huge granite statues, is designed to be displayed in open spaces, stressing that the statue is intact and was not affected by rainwater as it is made of granite. Likewise, the commercial area of the museum was not affected because it is completely covered, like all restaurants, when it rains.
He added that as for the museum building, which includes the various exhibition halls, it is also completely covered, and no rain water is allowed to fall or leak into it.
He pointed out that there are drainage networks in the museum, especially in the foyer area, dedicated to such rains, which drain the water first, and this is not the first time that rain falls in this area.
It is worth noting that the statue of King Ramses II was located in Ramses Square from the fifties of the last century until 2006 when it was moved to the museum site, and it was not affected by rainwater.
