Solar Boat Museum

Where is the museum located

The Solar Boat Museum can be seen and visited in Giza just to the left of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. 

What is a solar boat and what was it used for

On the whole, in appearance, and especially with wide beams, a high bow and stern, the boat resembles the ancient Viking ships and is about 36 m long and almost 20 meters wide. The name “Solar” was given by archaeologists to the boat because of its resemblance to a ship on which, according to preserved ancient images, the sun god was floating in the sky. 

The question of why this boat was used still causes controversy among scientists. Officially, there are two versions:

• The boat was built and buried next to the pyramid especially for Pharaoh Cheops, so that he could use it in the afterlife. 
• The boat was used to deliver the body of the dead pharaoh to the pyramid for burial. Then it was disassembled and placed in a pit under the slabs.

History of the museum

In the mid-twentieth century, archaeologist Kamal al Mallah discovered densely stacked slabs that hid a previously unexplored room. Opening the plate, scientists discovered the disassembled Solar boat. All details were made of acacia and cedar. 

Restorers assembled a boat of 1224 parts for more than ten years, being next to the pyramid. Moreover, only natural materials were used that were used for construction in ancient Greece: wood, grass ropes. There was no metal part in the boat. 

Sunny boat!

After restoration, the rook was placed on the second floor of a building specially built for this building, where a certain level of humidity is maintained. The entire first floor is occupied by an exposition dedicated to the excavation and restoration of the boat (photographs, documents, notes, etc.). 

Museum hours are from 9:00 to 16:00. All visitors are required to wear special shoes at the entrance, which does not scratch the polished floors.