A procession of 22 mummies made its way through the streets of Cairo on Saturday, in a multimillion dollar event that was broadcast to 60 countries.
The Pharaohs' Golden Parade included the preserved remains of 18 kings and four queens, which were transported on climate-controlled floats from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to their final destination in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.
-
Artists perform near pyramids in a video screened at a ceremony of a transfer of royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Reuters -
Royal mummies are transported in a convoy from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Reuters -
Performers dressed in ancient Egyptian costume march at the start of the parade of 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies departing from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square. AFP -
A mummy is seen in a video screened during a ceremony of a transfer of Royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Reuters -
Artists perform during a transfer of royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Reuters -
General view of a parade at a ceremony of a transfer of royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Reuters -
Vehicles are seen during a parade at a ceremony of a transfer of royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Reuters -
The carriages carrying 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies depart from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square. AFP -
General view of a parade at a ceremony of a transfer of Royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Reuters -
Egyptian police orchestra waits ahead of a transfer of royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, in Cairo. Reuters -
Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany speaks during a ceremony of a transfer of Royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Reuters -
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi attends a ceremony of a transfer of royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, in Cairo. Reuters -
Musicians perform during a ceremony of a transfer of royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Reuters -
A view of the Obelisk of Ramses II, surrounded by the recently-unveiled and restored four ancient sandstone sphinxes extracted from the Avenue of the Sphinxes in Luxor, in the centre of the main roundabout of Tahrir Square in Egypt's capital Cairo. AFP
"This parade is a unique global event that will not be repeated," said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled El Anany.
And while it was the ancient rulers such as Ramses II and III, Queen Hatshepsut, King Seti I and kings Thutmose III and IV who were the stars of the show, the fashion worn by the event’s presenters also received its fair share of attention.
A number of renowned Egyptian actors and singers participated in the parade, including Youssra, Mona Zaki, Ahmed Helmy, Hussein Fahmy, Asser Yassin, Nelly Karim, Amina Khalil, Karim Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Ezz and Mohamed Mounir. Everyone was styled by Khaled Azzam and Mai Galal.
Famed Egyptian TV presenter Jasmine Zaki started proceedings in a nude column gown by Egyptian brand Nazazy, with sweeping caped sleeves and intricate embroidery that echoed Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Nour Azazy’s home-grown bridal and eveningwear brand was also responsible for dressing award-winning actress Karim, who appeared in a custom-designed white dress fit for an ancient goddess, capped with a chain-effect gold neckline and sleeve detailing.
She paired it with a chunky cuff bracelet and oversized earrings by Egypt’s favourite jewellery brand, Azza Fahmy.
As is often the case, beloved Egyptian singer and actress Youssra shone in a flowing white gown fringed with a border of blue, created by Lebanon's Tony Ward Couture. This was paired with a dramatic gold and blue pharaonic tiara and cuffs by Egyptian brand Nakhla Jewellery and custom-made earrings by Cairo's Dima Jewellery.
TV personality Nardine Farag also looked to nearby Lebanon for her striking look, which consisted of a blood-red jumpsuit by Zuhair Murad, with an embellished top and sleeves, statement belt and wide-legged trousers.
Hend Sabri, meanwhile, wore a sophisticated high-collared wrap dress in shimmering green by Egypt's Marmar Halim, with a flash of gold along the cuffs and slit.
Her regal-looking collar necklace was provided by Dima Jewellery.
