Coptic Museum, Cairo
View inside the Coptic Museum. Photo
jaywaykay.
18th-century Coptic scroll. Photo © Coptic Museum
6th- or 7th-century Coptic fresco. Photo © Coptic Museum
6th-century ivory carving of Christ. Photo © Coptic Museum
Housing the world's largest collection of Coptic Christian artwork, the Coptic Museum in Cairo is a must-see for visitors interested in Christian art or Egyptian history after the pharaohs.
History
The Coptic Museum was founded in 1910 and recently reopened after extensive renovations.
What to See
The Coptic Museum is generally arranged by artistic medium. The first floor has carved stone and stucco, frescoes, and woodwork. The second floor includes textiles, manuscripts, icons, and metalwork.
The collection includes many exquisite works of art, as well as some artifacts notable for their religious syncretism - the gradual transformation of the Egyptian ankh into the cross and divine sun discs into halos, Christian scenes incorporating Egyptian gods, and ancient Egyptian columns transformed into baptismal fonts.
Some of the Nag Hammadi manuscripts, important early copies of Gnostic-Christian writings like the Gospel of Thomas, are upstairs.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Coptic Museum |
| Location: | Cairo, Egypt |
| Category: | Museums |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Coptic |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 30.00589° N, 31.230623° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Shara Mari Girgis, Cairo, Egypt |
| Phone: | 02/33628766, 02/33639742 |
| Hours: | Daily 9am-5pm (ticket office closes at 4pm) |
| Cost: | £e16; students £e8 |
| Public transport: | Metro: Mar Girgis |
Travel Resources
- Cairo Map - our detailed interactive map of Cairo, plus hand-picked links to more
- Cairo Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Cairo
- Cairo Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Cairo Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Cairo Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Cairo Flight Search - compare multiple travel sites to find the lowest airfare to Cairo
- Cairo Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Cairo Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Cairo tourism
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Coptic Museum. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Cairo Map.
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- The Coptic Museum - official website
- Coptic Museum - Fodor's Egypt
- Coptic Museum - Frommer's Egypt
- Reviews of the Coptic Museum - TripAdvisor traveler reviews & tips
- The Coptic Museum - Egypt State Information Service
Article last updated: 08/19/2009.
