The Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria has opened its first temporary archaeological exhibition since its reopening, titled "Alexandria: Identity and Culture Through Time," as part of the celebration of Alexandria Governorate's National Day and to mark International Translation Day. The exhibition will remain open to visitors until the end of September 2026.
The exhibition features 21 artifacts selected from the museum's collections kept in its storerooms, on public display for the first time, through a museum display scenario that highlights the richness and diversity of Alexandria's cultural heritage and the importance of Greek and Roman inscriptions and writings in documenting many aspects of daily life in the city through the ages.
The pieces on display range from ancient coins, oil lamps and pottery vessels to underwater artifacts recovered from Abu Qir Bay, as well as papyri, ostraca and mummy labels bearing Greek texts, shedding light on aspects of daily life, trade and funerary practices in Alexandria.
Dr. Ahmed Hamida, Head of the Museums Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the exhibition reflects the sector's commitment to making the collections of Egyptian museums available to the public and highlighting artifacts kept in storerooms that have never been displayed before, enriching the visitor experience and offering the opportunity to learn about other aspects of Egypt's history and civilization.
He noted that the exhibition marks the start of a series of temporary archaeological exhibitions to be organized at the museum, allowing its collections to be presented in a renewed way and highlighting their outstanding pieces, strengthening its role as a cultural and scientific institution that helps introduce the history of Alexandria and its standing as a city where civilizations and cultures met.
Heba Hamdy, Head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt and Sinai Museums, explained that the selection of 21 artifacts from the Graeco-Roman Museum's collections offers a comprehensive picture of aspects of daily, economic, social and funerary life in Alexandria during the Greek and Roman periods.
Dr. Walaa Mostafa, Director of the Graeco-Roman Museum, said the exhibition relies entirely on the museum's collections kept in its storerooms, reflecting the richness and diversity of its holdings and allowing the public to see some of the artifacts that have never been displayed before.
She added that the exhibition evokes Alexandria's standing as a city whose history has been linked to communication between civilizations and cultures, and highlights the importance of translation and ancient inscriptions and writings in reading historical sources, understanding aspects of life in the city and passing on this cultural heritage through the ages.
