Friday March 29th, 2024
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This Hall is Home to 3,000 Years of Egyptian History in Textiles

We take a look inside the sabil-turned-school-turned-museum that houses over 3,000 years of Egypt’s textile history.

Fadila Khalid

This Hall is Home to 3,000 Years of Egyptian History in Textiles

Throughout the entirety of Egyptian history, Egyptian textiles have reflected the cultural hallmarks of each era. In 2022, the Egyptian Textile Hall at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat was inaugurated, bringing nearly 650 artefacts to light.

The hall’s collection includes woollen robes that date back to the Amarna Period, which have been put on display for the first time and serve as evidence of the ancient Egyptians' use of wool. The collection also features lint, silk, cotton, various fabrics and tents, models of shirts and gowns from the Greco-Roman period, as well as essential tools for ancient spinning and weaving.

Each piece is accompanied by an identification plate with its manufacture date and story. The exhibit includes a collection of heritage and traditional fabrics showcasing the traditional costumes of Egyptians in modern times, from Sinai, Siwa, Nile Delta, Upper Egypt, and Nubia.

Many of the artefacts were transferred from the Textile Museum on Al-Moez Street, as well as several Egyptian museums and stores.

You can visit the textile hall at the NMEC every day from 9 AM to 5 PM.