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Egyptian and European flags fly over the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing within its 120-year-old museum, the first stage of a broader replenishment program for the palatial building. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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A recently golden funerary mask of king Psusennes I, is displayed at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing within its 120-year-old museum, the first stage of a broader replenishment program for the palatial building. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities speaks in front of a 16-meter long papyrus named Waziri-1 Papyrus containing inscriptions from the Book of the Dead dating back to 50 BC, at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing within its 120-year-old museum, the first stage of a broader replenishment program for the palatial building. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities speaks in front of a 16-meter long papyrus named Waziri-1 Papyrus containing inscriptions from the Book of the Dead dating back to 50 BC, at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing within its 120-year-old museum, the first stage of a broader replenishment program for the palatial building. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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A section of the16-meter long papyrus named Waziri-1 Papyrus containing inscriptions from the Book of the Dead dating back to 50 BC, is displayed at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing within its 120-year-old museum, the first stage of a broader replenishment program for the palatial building. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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The Colossal head of the god Serapis, center, one of the most important gods in the Greek and Roman periods, is displayed at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing within its 120-year-old museum, the first stage of a broader replenishment program for the palatial building. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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A visitor watches a recently displayed golden funerary mask of king Psusennes I, at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing within its 120-year-old museum, the first stage of a broader replenishment program for the palatial building. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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A visitor films a recently displayed golden funerary mask of king Psusennes I, at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing within its 120-year-old museum, the first stage of a broader replenishment program for the palatial building. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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Series of bronze funerary statues of king Psusennes I, are displayed at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing within its 120-year-old museum, the first stage of a broader replenishment program for the palatial building. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Egypt unveils renovated wing of oldest museum, new papyrus

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 10:42 PM ET Feb. 20, 2023 PUBLISHED February 20, 2023 @10:42 PM

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's ministry of tourism and antiquities unveiled a renovated wing of its oldest museum Monday, home to a 16-meter (52-foot) -long scroll unearthed last year.

The refurbishment marks the first stage of broader renovations for the 120-year-old salmon-colored palatial complex in downtown Cairo, opposite the capital's famed Tahrir Square.

Waziry Papyrus, the centerpiece of Monday's unveiling, contains around 113 spells from the Book of the Dead. The museum also has added modern glass protection and new interior lighting.

The opening ceremony of the upgraded wing was led by Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Eissa.

For well over a decade, Egypt has been building a state-of-the-art museum near the pyramids which is set to house tens of thousands of ancient artefacts. The Grand Egyptian Museum has so far cost over $1 billion and its opening date has been repeatedly delayed.

Egypt often publicly touts ancient discoveries to attract more tourists, a major source of foreign currency for the cash-strapped North African country. The sector suffered a long downturn after the political turmoil and violence that followed a 2011 uprising.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.