Howard Carter

Nov. 1 (UPI) — The Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, is one of the world’s largest and opened on Saturday after decades of delays and a cost of more than $1 billion.

The 5 million-square-foot museum features exhibits and artifacts ranging across 7,000 years, from prehistory to about 400 A.D., according to CBS News.

It also is the world’s only museum that is dedicated to one culture, which is ancient Egypt.

“It’s a great day for Egypt and for humanity,” Nevine El-Aref told CBS News. “This is Egypt’s gift to the world.”

El-Aref is the media advisor to Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy.

“It’s a dream come true,” El-Aref added. “After all these years, the GEM is finally and officially open,” he said.

The triangular structure is located about a mile from the pyramids of Giza, which makes it a can’t miss for those who want to experience Egyptian antiquities up close with tours of the pyramids and a visit to the museum.

The GEM’s construction initially was budgeted for $500 million, but that price more than doubled over the past three decades amid delays and cost overruns.

Egyptian sources and international contributions covered the building cost.

The museum first was proposed in 1992, but significant events occurred between then and now, including the 2011 “Arab Spring” revolution in Egypt, a military coup d’etat in 2013 and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, delaying its completion, CNN reported.

The GEM’s main entrance features a 53-foot-tall obelisk suspended overhead and is viewable from below via a glass floor.

A grand staircase containing 108 steps enables visitors to access the museum’s main galleries and view large statues from top to bottom.

The GEM has 12 main halls for exhibits and encompasses a combined 194,000 square feet that can hold up to 100,000 items, according to the museum.

The museum also two galleries that are dedicated to the pharaoh Tutankhamun and contain 5,300 pieces from his tomb, NBC News reported.

Those galleries and others will exhibit items that never have been made available for public viewing.

It’s also the first time that all of the young pharaoh’s items have been exhibited under the same roof since British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered King Tut‘s tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1922.

The museum’s walls and slanted ceilings mimic the lines of the nearby pyramids, but the structure does not exceed them in height.

The museum’s opening prompted the Egyptian government to declare a national holiday on Saturday.

How it ranks with the world’s other iconic museums remains to be seen, but it likely will rank favorably with its unique collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts and other attractions.

BBC Bargain Hunt viewers flocked to Twitter as the latest instalment of the beloved antiques show aired – and they were united in their frustration over the same issue

Bargain Hunt aficionados were left feeling miffed as they settled down for the latest instalment of the fan-favourite BBC show.

The episode whisked viewers away to Norfolk, specifically King’s Lynn and Swaffham, with stalwart auctioneer and TV personality Charlie Ross steering the ship alongside antiques aficionados Caroline Hawley and David Fergus.

However, no sooner had Charlie introduced the competing red and blue teams than did fans take to social media to express a sense of déjà vu plaguing the programme.

Disgruntled viewer took their frustration online, stating on X: “Bargain Hunt is so predictable. Needs a total shake up. Get rid of Charlie Ross would be first #bargainhunt.”

Complaints didn’t stop there, with another viewer chiming in during their midday break: “Just sat down at home to have some lunch with the wife before moving on to my next job and she’s watching Bargain Hunt on @BBC – I cannot believe that utter drivel is still going and it’s not changed since it first started!”, reports Cornwall Live.

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An additional comment came from a disappointed fan: “@BBCBargainHunt love this programme but editing a bit off today.”

Within the episode’s narrative, we saw team members Kerri and Lorraine of the red team compete against Bruno and Tom of the blue team, all set on snagging profits from their antique finds procured at a King’s Lynn fair before hitting the auction block.

The red team’s eclectic mix of items, including a Norwegian brooch, a vintage typewriter, and some dinner-service china, sadly failed to rake in the expected cash, culminating in a disappointing £40 loss.

Despite their items not making a profit and ending up £58 down, Lorraine stayed cheery, commenting: “Ah well, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!” The blue team had banked on a vintage table football game, a captivating blue vase, and a duo of silver treasures to win over the bidders.

As Charlie declared the winners, the red team could not contain their excitement, which led to Charlie responding with amusement: “Shrieks of delight! So much joy despite not even making a profit.”

During the programme, viewers were treated to Dr Sue Gattuso’s intriguing stories about Howard Carter, shared with presenter Charlie Ross, revealing the exciting chronicles of the local legend and his significant find of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.

Charlie took a deep dive into the world of the celebrated Swaffham archaeologist, as the episode played out amidst Norfolk’s picturesque backdrop.