The Grand Egyptian Museum, overlooking the pyramids, will hold the first international conference on Tutankhamun in May of next year to coincide with the opening of the museum, which is built to serve as a scientific institution that includes a center for scientific research and restoration, according to a statement made by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities on Sunday.
The cornerstone of the museum was laid in February 2002 for its opening on 12 December 2012, but the work was postponed after the outbreak of popular protests in January 2011 that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.
The ministry had in August 2013 moved parts of the Tutankhamun treasure from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to the Grand Museum in order to display them at the opening in August 2015.
The treasure of the golden pharaoh consists of 5,000 pieces.
Tutankhamun was a pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty (1567-1320 BC) who died mysteriously at the age of eighteen in 1352 BC after ruling for nine years.
Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh al-Damaty said in a statement on Sunday that the conference will be held to promote the huge museum project, but he did not mention who would attend.
Edited translation from Reuters
