Page 37 - museum penflat

THE SUEZ CANAL AND THE
GENIUS OF PLACE

With a history of more than 150 years, the place for a museum that narrates the story of
Suez Canal crystallises the vital significance of this monumental project, commemorates its
Egypt’s location. The origins of the canal stretch heroes, and envisions its future.
far back into human history, extending to our
ancient Egyptian ancestors and their attempts Over the past three years, it has been my
to connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Red privilege to oversee, by commission of H.E.
Sea via the Nile River. Today, the Suez Canal with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the restoration
its unique geographical position, continues to of the building, the preparation of its galleries,
prove day after day that it is the gateway to and the transfer of its collections and exhibits.
global trade, a vital artery of prosperity for the I am honoured to be part of the enormous
world. team entrusted with this project and what it
represents in terms of cultural, civilisational, and
To understand the present and build a bridge to historical significance, as well as its vision that
the future, we must look to our incomparable transcends barriers of place and time, spreading
history with all its challenges, events, battles, a message of innovation, dedication, and human
and accomplishments. We must evoke the ingenuity to the world.
past with all its lessons in order to honour the
sacrifices and the heroism of those who fought As you go through the pages of this catalogue
to safeguard and preserve the canal for future and take a tour of the galleries of the Suez
generations. We owe it to them to document Canal Museum and its diverse archaeological
their achievements and immortalise their legacy. and cultural holdings, I hope you will come to
understand how a waterway was able to change
The Suez Canal has witnessed many significant the face of life in the region and contribute to
events over the years and has always reflected global prosperity and the flourishing of trade,
the major developments in Egypt’s history. and how it holds the key to a bright future for
Today, it has been selected as the site of the coming generations.
most ambitious mega-project of Egypt’s
New Republic. The restoration of the original
headquarters of the Suez Canal Company to
their former glory is a fitting tribute to the Admiral Ossama Rabiee
storied history of the canal. There is no better Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority