It was a parade like no other, a royal display any other this city has ever seen. The ancient land of Egypt witnessed a one-of-a-kind grand procession where 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies on Saturday were moved from downtown Cairo to a new museum three miles away.

Amidst tight security, the lavish evening saw 22 mummies –18 kings and four queens being transported from the peach-coloured, neo-classical Egyptian Museum to their new resting place – the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.

The massive multimillion fanfare ‘The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade’ saw each mummy being carried on a decorated gold-and-blue-hued vehicle fitted with special shock-absorbers and surrounded by a convoy, including replica horse-drawn war chariots. To ensure even more safe transference of the mummies, special nitrogen-filled boxes to help protect them against external conditions were placed. Even their route was freshly paved for the event. Each of the 22 vehicles was embellished with the name of the royal mummy it carried.

The carriages were transported in chronological order of their reigns –from the 17th Dynasty ruler, Seqenenre Taa II, to Ramses IX, who reigned in the 12th Century BC. One of the main attractions of the event was the most famous pharaoh of the New Kingdom –King Ramses II, who ruled for 67 years and is remembered for signing the first known peace treaty. Another one was Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled at a time when female pharaohs were very uncommon.