“Kings of the Sun” attracts 20,000 visitors in Prague

Some 20,000 visitors have visit the exhibition “Kings of the Sun” since it opened on 30 August 2020 at the National Museum in Prague.

The exhibition had been opened by Czech Prime Minister Andrei Babish, Czech Culture Minister Lubomir Zaoralek, and Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khaled al-Anani.

The exhibition, which runs till February 2021, showcases 90 pieces of Egyptian antiquities excavated by the Czech archaeological mission at Abusir archaeological site south of Cairo. The site includes an extensive necropolis of the Old Kingdom (2686 – 2181BC) together with later additions. August this year marked the 60th anniversary of the Czech archaeological mission in Egypt.

The items on displayed are on loan from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and several other antiquity institutions. The most valuable is a basalt bust of King Raneferef, carved around 2460BC. Other exhibits include statues of noblemen and State officials, a collection of canonic jars, as well as 10 ushabti figurines made of faience.

According to Ahmed Reheima, aide to the minister of tourism and antiquities, the exhibition, is the first of its kind to be held in the Czech Republic and the largest in terms of displaying the Old Kingdom antiquities. It has attracted daily crowds of visitors of different age groups all week-long, but especially during weekends.

The National Museum is the largest museum in the Czech Republic. It covers a range of disciplines and fields from the natural sciences to specialised areas of the social sciences. The museum’s exhibits are located in a number of buildings around Prague. The National Museum also organises a range of cultural and educational programs.