With the unveiling of the new Gallery of Kings and the restored Temple of Ellesija, the celebrations for the bicentennial of the Museo Egizio are in full swing. This milestone marks a historic achievement for the world’s oldest Egyptian museum, of which Fondazione CRT is a founding partner. Until November 22, the museum opened its doors for free, launching Festival 200, a rich program of exhibitions, events, and conferences dedicated to 200 years of excellence.

Fondazione CRT’s Role

The restoration of the Temple of Ellesija was made possible thanks to the support of Fondazione CRT, a founding partner of the Fondazione Museo delle Antichità Egizie di Torino. For over 20 years, Fondazione CRT has proudly supported the Museo Egizio’s restoration projects and cultural initiatives, contributing to its growth and promotion. The restoration of the Temple of Ellesija is part of the extraordinary funding allocated by the foundation to celebrate the Bicentennial.

Fondazione CRT continues to enhance the growth and prestige of the Museo Egizio, which remains an internationally significant cultural institution and a prime example of successful collaboration between public and private entities.

The Temple of Ellesija

Carved into the rock by Thutmose III (1479–1425 BCE) near Abu Simbel, the Temple of Ellesija was dedicated to Horus of Miam and Satet. Shaped like an inverted T, it features decorations of the king making offerings to the gods. Over time, it underwent significant changes: the decorations were damaged during the reign of Akhenaten (1352–1336 BCE) and later restored by Ramses II (1279–1213 BCE), who reconfigured the rear wall triad with Amun, Horus, and the king himself. The temple eventually became a Christian place of worship.

Rescued by UNESCO during the construction of the Aswan Dam, the temple was moved to Turin in 1967 and reconstructed in the Ernesto Schiaparelli wing of the Museo Egizio. Visit the dedicated page.

A year of celebration

This reopening marks the latest milestone in a busy calendar of new exhibitions and events that characterized 2024, the year of the Museo Egizio Bicentennial. Celebrations will continue throughout 2025, culminating in the completion of the glass and steel-covered courtyard and the hypogeum project, designed by OMA – Office for Metropolitan Architecture of Rotterdam.