The Egyptian galleries reward patience. Plan ninety minutes and walk slowly: the most powerful objects here are small, and rushing past them is a quiet tragedy.
The seated scribe
Begin with a small seated figure made of painted limestone. The eyes — inlaid with crystal — appear to follow you. Stand close and from the side, not straight on.
Daily life rooms
Cosmetic spoons, painted boxes, gameboards. These quiet objects show what eternity meant to the people who carved them: a continuation of breakfast, music, and play.
The sphinx and the temple gallery
A pink-granite sphinx greets you at the entrance to the monumental hall. Walk around it twice: once for the face, once for the muscular paws.
Sarcophagi and mummies
Approach respectfully — these are people. Read one cartouche aloud (silently) and try to recognise the same name on a nearby stela.