The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry denied that rainfall affected the statue of King Ramses II at the Great Lobby of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Social media and other networking websites have published a video showing rain falling on the statue of King Ramses II located inside the Great Lobby of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Atef Moftah, the supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum project said that denying water would never affect the statue in any way.
The statue of Ramses II was not and will not be affected by rainwater and said that the museum and all of its spaces are in the best state of preservation.
Moftah explained that rainfall was expected and that this was studied while designing the museum and in the event of rain it does not represent any danger to the museum or its holdings.
The rain falling on the lobby area comes was due to the architectural and engineering design of the open lobby of the museum, he continued.
Moftah pointed out that the location of the statue of King Ramses in the foyer is specified in the original design of the museum, as it is placed under a canopy in the foyer area. This is an area in the middle of the museum.
This area is shaded and its ceiling is covered with hollow aluminum panels that create a slight refraction of sunlight.
It allows the movement of air inside the lobby, depending on ventilation and natural lighting, in order to save energy consumption and also reduce the temperature in the summer, according to Moftah.
Rainfall has also been taken into account by making drainage network, especially in the foyer area, to collect water in a tank for use for future irrigation.
The museum was designed in a scientific, methodical, accurate and well-studied manner that provides visitors with a distinct and appropriate experience: whether in the winter or summer seasons, Moftah said.
The statue of King Ramses, like other huge granite statues, is designed to be displayed in open spaces, he said, stressing that the statue is intact and was not affected by rainwater as it is made of granite.
Likewise, the commercial area of the museum was not affected because it is completely covered.
The museum building, which includes the various exhibition halls, is also completely covered, and no rain water has leaked into it, he said.
The statue of King Ramses II was located in Ramses Square from the 1950’s until 2006 before it was transferred to the museum site.
