The Coptic Museum

Coptic Museum Cairo

The Coptic Museum is a landmark in the history of the Egyptian art, confirming the immortality of this art and its inheritance . The Coptic Museum is a stunning museum located in the historic area of 'Old Cairo', which is known as the Coptic Christian quarter of the city. It is situated on the ancient site of Babylon, which was the earliest part of Cairo and served as a Roman fortress town. You can easily find the museum near Mar Girgis (St George) metro station.

Coptic Museum Pieces

Morkos Smeika Pasha established the museum in 1910 to gather scattered objects from various monasteries in Egypt and to preserve the history of Christian Egypt. In addition to the museum buildings, there are gardens, courtyards, and the area is surrounded by ancient Coptic churches. The six churches, some dating back to the 5th century AD, include the renowned 'Hanging Church' of the Virgin Mary and the church of St Sergius.

Coptic Museum Icons

The Coptic Museum is a landmark in the history of the Egyptian art, confirming the immortality of this art and its inheritance . The Coptic Museum is a calm and serene place with a beautiful building adorned with mosaics and ancient mushrabiya screens. It contains a vast collection of objects from the Christian era, connecting ancient Egyptian times to the Islamic conquest of the country. The displayed artifacts highlight a neglected period in Egypt's history and demonstrate how the Copts' artistic development was influenced by pharaonic, Graeco-Roman, and Islamic cultures. In the early 1980s, the museum underwent renovations and added two new annexes, expanding its collection of 16,000 artifacts arranged in twelve sections in chronological order.

Coptic Museum photos

There are stunning displays of textiles, tapestries, and woven icons featuring detailed designs inspired by religious themes. Additionally, there are exquisite examples of stonework, ceramics, and woodwork, such as the remarkable carving known as the 'Petition of the Rats,' where three rats raise a white flag in front of a cat. Numerous Coptic texts and scripts are also showcased. Among the exhibits is a bronze eagle discovered in the Roman fortress of Babylon.

1 Coptic Cross in the shape of an ankh
2 Coptic fresco depicting Christ & the Desciples
3 Musical instrument used in Coptic ritual

Coptic Museum Highlights

• What to Expect When You Visit the Coptic Museum

When you go to the Coptic Museum, you can expect to see a vast and captivating collection of artifacts. It is a peaceful place where you can wander around calmly, both inside the museum and in its beautiful gardens. If you want to escape the busy atmosphere of downtown Cairo, this is the perfect place to visit. The Coptic Museum is a landmark in the history of the Egyptian art, confirming the immortality of this art and its inheritance . The Coptic Museum is surrounded by several ancient Coptic churches, some of which date back to the 5th century AD. Don't forget to visit the Hanging Church and the Church of St. Sergius, as they are popular tourist attractions included in many of our Egypt Tour Packages.

Coptic Museum in Cairo Egypt

• The Sections and Icons in the Coptic Museum

Wood Section:
The Coptic Museum is a landmark in the history of the Egyptian art, confirming the immortality of this art and its inheritance . The Coptic Museum has a remarkable collection of wooden antiquities, including Nile views and paintings. These wooden artifacts, obtained in 1947, are considered the oldest of their kind and feature special inscriptions.

Stones Section:
This section showcases remnants from various Christian eras, collected from different locations.

Manuscripts Section:
The library of the Coptic Museum houses around 700 books and 1,000 documents, all made of linen paper.

Textile Section:
The Coptic Museum is a landmark in the history of the Egyptian art, confirming the immortality of this art and its inheritance . The Coptic Museum houses a unique collection of textiles from different Coptic eras. These textiles provide valuable insights into the art of textile making during the Christian era.

Wicker and Leather Section:
This special section displays beautifully crafted works, including small chains made of colored hays.

Ivory Section:
The Ivory Section features several statues and small dummies with intricate ornamentation.

The Coptic Museum is a landmark in the history of the Egyptian art, confirming the immortality of this art and its inheritance . The Coptic Museum also has other sections dedicated to the study of Christian history in Egypt. It is the most prominent museum in Egypt for this purpose.

Coptic Museum old Cairo

How to get there

The Coptic Museum is a landmark in the history of the Egyptian art, confirming the immortality of this art and its inheritance . The Coptic Museum is at Mar Girgis Metro Stop, Old Cairo. Opening hours are from 9.00am to 5.00pm daily except Friday.