Minister of Tourism: 'Treasures of the Pharaohs' Exhibit Tells the Story of Ancient Egyptian Civilization and Its Achievements in Progress and Artistic Creativity

Cairo – Hanaa El-Sayed: Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco, inaugurated the “Treasures of the Pharaohs” exhibition, hosted by the de Young Museum in San Francisco, United States of America.

In his speech during the opening ceremony, Fathy welcomed the attendees, expressing his delight at being in San Francisco to open the “Treasures of the Pharaohs” exhibition, which marks the third collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. He emphasized that this partnership has contributed to presenting exceptional Egyptian antiquities to audiences across the United States.

He clarified that each artifact in the exhibition is a masterpiece in its own right, carefully selected to collectively narrate the story of ancient Egyptian civilization and its achievements in artistic and cultural progress. He also urged attendees to contemplate the details of the artifacts and the exceptional craftsmanship they reflect, highlighting how the ancient Egyptian artist, using the simple tools of his era, created timeless works that demonstrate a unique ability to transform stone, metals, and gems into artistic masterpieces that defy time.

The Minister expressed his confidence that the exhibition would impress its visitors and serve as an inspiration for them to visit Egypt and discover its diverse tourism, antiquities, and cultural assets, similar to the great success achieved by the exhibition during its first stop in the Italian capital, Rome.

He affirmed that temporary archaeological exhibitions serve as ambassadors for Egypt, its civilization, and its culture, crossing seas and borders carrying not only priceless archaeological treasures but also cultural messages and human stories that reflect the grandeur of ancient Egyptian civilization and its enduring inspiration to the world.

He concluded his speech by thanking all parties and individuals who contributed to organizing the exhibition, wishing the attendees a pleasant tour among its unique archaeological treasures.

For his part, the Mayor of San Francisco thanked Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, for his attendance and participation in the exhibition’s opening, and expressed his appreciation to all parties and institutions in Egypt and the United States that collaborated to make this cultural event a reality. He praised the efforts of the de Young Museum team and the organizing company in presenting the exhibition in such a distinguished manner.

He also congratulated the Egyptian people on the outstanding performance of the Egyptian national football team in the World Cup competitions.

He noted that the exhibition features 130 exceptional artifacts that have traveled thousands of years to reach San Francisco, carrying with them the stories of one of the greatest and most influential civilizations in human history.

He expressed his happiness that San Francisco is the first city in the United States to host the “Treasures of the Golden City of Luxor,” providing the city’s residents and visitors with an exceptional opportunity to closely experience the grandeur of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Following the opening ceremony, attendees toured the exhibition halls, where they examined the displayed artifacts and their historical, artistic, and cultural significance.