As Egypt prepares to reopen its monuments following a four-month shutdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, here are some facts about the ancient sites.
Egypt’s ancient sites set to reopen
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The Pyramids of Giza
The three pyramids, the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world, were built 4500 years ago. The site remained as the tallest man-made structure until the 19th century.
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Egyptian Museum
The museum, built in 1901, is home to an eclectic collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It has 120,000 items.
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Citadel of Salah El-Din
The fortress, built by the first sultan of Egypt Salah El-Din, is one of the most popular non-pharaonic monuments in Cairo. It was home to the country’s rulers for nearly 700 years.
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Hurghada Museum
The recently-opened museum is deemed the first space to exhibit antiquities on the Red sea coast. It is home to over 1,500 artifacts.
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Abu Simbel temples
The twin temples in Upper Egypt were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century. They were relocated in 1968 because they would have been submerged after the Aswan High Dam was built.
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Temple of Philae
The temple is located in one of the most visited monumental sites in Aswan, “The Nubian City.”