Solar Boat Museum, Cairo
The Solar Boat Museum in Cairo is a remarkable testament to ancient Egyptian maritime history and its connection to the great pyramids. The museum houses a full-size ancient Egyptian boat that was discovered in pieces in 1954, buried in a pit beside the pyramid. This boat, often referred to as the "solar boat" or "Cheops' ship," dates back to 2,500 BC during the Early Bronze Age.
What makes the solar boat truly intriguing is its unique character as a high-sea vessel. With its dimensions and typology, it was clearly designed for extensive sea voyages. The primary purpose of this ship was to facilitate trade with Lebanon, where the Egyptians sourced the valuable cedarwood needed for ship and building construction. Byblos, a prominent port city in Lebanon at the time, played a pivotal role in this trade, and hence, the term "Byblos ship" was used to distinguish deep-sea vessels from those used on the Nile or for coastal fishing.
The Solar Boat, measures an impressive 43.5 meters in length, 6 meters in width, and has a draft of 1.5 meters. It was discovered in various pieces within one of the five wells surrounding the Pyramid of Cheops. These pits were an integral part of the pharaoh's funerary complex, which included the pyramid itself, the surrounding enclosure, temples, connecting pathways, and attached pyramids.
The Solar Boat was constructed using cedar and acacia wood, both of which were commonly found in the region during that era. Today, these trees are much rarer, highlighting the passage of 4,500 years and the changes in the natural landscape.
Why You Should Visit:
This museum is a matter of national pride to the Egyptians, as it should well be.
The wooden ship itself, several thousand years old, is magnificently kept and a great example of a water-based civilization's arts and technology.
Access is very good for the viewer, stairs enabling it to be seen from below, alongside and above.
Tip:
Note that this place is air conditioned so do it after you see the pyramids – you will feel much better.
What makes the solar boat truly intriguing is its unique character as a high-sea vessel. With its dimensions and typology, it was clearly designed for extensive sea voyages. The primary purpose of this ship was to facilitate trade with Lebanon, where the Egyptians sourced the valuable cedarwood needed for ship and building construction. Byblos, a prominent port city in Lebanon at the time, played a pivotal role in this trade, and hence, the term "Byblos ship" was used to distinguish deep-sea vessels from those used on the Nile or for coastal fishing.
The Solar Boat, measures an impressive 43.5 meters in length, 6 meters in width, and has a draft of 1.5 meters. It was discovered in various pieces within one of the five wells surrounding the Pyramid of Cheops. These pits were an integral part of the pharaoh's funerary complex, which included the pyramid itself, the surrounding enclosure, temples, connecting pathways, and attached pyramids.
The Solar Boat was constructed using cedar and acacia wood, both of which were commonly found in the region during that era. Today, these trees are much rarer, highlighting the passage of 4,500 years and the changes in the natural landscape.
Why You Should Visit:
This museum is a matter of national pride to the Egyptians, as it should well be.
The wooden ship itself, several thousand years old, is magnificently kept and a great example of a water-based civilization's arts and technology.
Access is very good for the viewer, stairs enabling it to be seen from below, alongside and above.
Tip:
Note that this place is air conditioned so do it after you see the pyramids – you will feel much better.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cairo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Solar Boat Museum on Map
Sight Name: Solar Boat Museum
Sight Location: Cairo, Egypt (See walking tours in Cairo)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Sight Location: Cairo, Egypt (See walking tours in Cairo)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Walking Tours in Cairo, Egypt
Create Your Own Walk in Cairo
Creating your own self-guided walk in Cairo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Old Cairo Walking Tour
Old Cairo, otherwise known as Coptic Cairo or Masr al-Qadima, largely predates the city of Cairo as we know it. Some Egyptologists think that a settlement here existed as far back as the 6th century BC. Later, the Romans built on the site a fortress named Babylon. Today, this ancient threshold of history is still in place, its weathered ramparts and sturdy bastions bearing witness to the ebb and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Cairo Downtown Walking Tour
Egyptians often refer to Cairo as Maṣr, which is the Arabic name for Egypt. This is due to the city's importance for the country, in part manifested by its closeness to the ancient pyramids. Indeed, the area of present-day Cairo has been the center of Egypt since the days of the pharaohs. The strategic territory at the base of the Nile Delta first hosted the town of Memphis.
By the 4th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
By the 4th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
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