This marks the first time the entire collection has been displayed since its discovery in the 19th century. The panels, among the most significant wooden artefacts from ancient Egypt, were restored and studied in collaboration with the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo.
Key officials including Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and French Ambassador to Egypt Eric Chevallier attended the opening ceremony. The event also attracted prominent figures from archaeology and diplomacy, including former Ministers of Antiquities Zahi Hawass and Mamdouh Eldamaty.
The exhibition recreates the original setting of the wooden panels inside the Mastaba, including a full-scale replica of the western corridor from Hesy-Ra’s tomb in Saqqara. The original wooden panels are displayed in niches that replicate their historical context, with an eastern wall adorned with engravings resembling those found in the ancient tomb.
In his opening remarks, Khaled emphasized that this exhibition reflects the museum’s ongoing mission to showcase Egypt’s rich cultural heritage, despite the upcoming opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. He noted that the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir remains a global icon and a key destination for tourists and scholars, highlighting plans to revive the museum’s original central ventilation system, first installed in 1897, as part of broader efforts to enhance the visitor experience.
In addition, Khaled praised the longstanding and productive partnership between the SCA and the French Institute, which has resulted in numerous successful projects, including this one.
For his part, Chevallier praised the collaboration between Egypt and France, describing the project as exceptional. He commended the efforts of both Egyptian and French experts in successfully restoring and displaying the panels.
The Hesy-Ra wooden panels, which date back to the Third Dynasty, are of great significance to Egyptologists and dental historians since Hesy-Ra was the “Chief of Dentists” in ancient Egypt. The panels depict him in various poses, holding a staff or writing tools, and are notable for their fine detail and historical value.
This exhibition is part of a series of projects to enhance the Egyptian Museum’s displays and preserve Egypt’s archaeological treasures for future generations.
Discovery of Hesy-Re’s Mastaba and the Wooden Panels
The Mastaba of Hesy-Re, along with its wooden panels, was first discovered by French archaeologists Jacques de Morgan and Auguste Mariette in 1861 at the northern Saqqara necropolis. The panels were transferred to the Boulaq Museum in 1868, then to Ismail Pasha’s palace in Giza, and finally to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir in 1902 in Hall 46 on the ground floor. Between 1911 and 1912, British Egyptologist James Edward Quibell discovered an additional panel, which had never been exhibited until now. This marks the first time the entire collection has been displayed together.
Moamen Osman, Head of the Museums Sector, detailed the project’s key steps, from the in-depth study of the wooden panels to their restoration. Osman acknowledged the challenges faced, particularly in accurately presenting the panels in a way that reflects their original layout in the Mastaba. The recreated Mastaba setting is the result of this meticulous work. He also underscored the valuable exchange of expertise between the Egyptian and French teams, expressing his hope that this collaboration would continue to enhance Egypt’s archaeological work.
Restoration Project of Hesy-Re’s Wooden Panels
Ali Abdel-Halim, Director General of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir explained that the Hesy-Re project began in 202 under the title “The Wooden Panels of the Mastaba of Hesy-Re: New Perspectives for Study, Restoration, and Re-exhibition at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.”
The multidisciplinary team included 25 experts specializing in restoration, museum management, exhibition design, wood chemistry, scientific photography, and architectural reconstruction.
A comprehensive archaeometry study of the wooden panels revealed that they were made from acacia wood, contrary to earlier assumptions that they were crafted from Lebanese cedar. In-depth analyses of the red pigments and mechanical and microbiological studies helped guide the restoration process to ensure the panels’ preservation.
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