Home          Mosques          Muslim Heritage          Personalities          Travel         Contact Us


National Military Museum - Open Air Displays

Cairo Citadel is also home to the Egypt’s National Military Museum and this museum was established in 1937. This museum is quite large in size and displays many arrays of weaponry used by the Egyptians forces. Here some photos are shared from the open air displays, in front of the museum.

There were many cannons displayed in a row inside an open courtyard of the museum. A 16.2cm caliber gun, British made Armstrong Gun, a 33 centimeter mortar, a German Pipe Gun (75mm caliber) to name few. The gun which was most liked by public was the Russian built which was used for the coastal defence in the 1967 War. 

A sign at the entrance of the Cairo Citadel shows that it is also home of the Egyptian Military Museum
A sign at the entrance of the Cairo Citadel shows that it is also home of the Egyptian Military Museum
Photo of an Egyptian soldier holding a child next to the walls of the museum
This building belongs to the Military Museum Department - it appaers to be their administration wing because it was off limit to public
A wooden pavilion in the courtyard of the museum with guns displayed in front of it
Here cannons are displayed in a row inside an open courtyard of the museum
Here cannons are displayed in a row inside an open courtyard of the museum
Two coastal defence guns on display - in the background, minaret and green dome of the Mosque of al-Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun can be seen
Two coastal defence guns on display - in the background, minaret and green dome of the Mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad can be seen
This cannon is 16.2cm caliber and it is from the Muhammad Ali Pasha era
This cannon is 16.2cm caliber and it is from the Muhammad Ali Pasha era
Here's a 33 centimeter mortar from the reign of Mohammad Ali
This Armstrong Gun was used for the coastal defences in the past - this British gun was made in 1846
This Armstrong Gun was used for the coastal defences in the past - this British gun was made in 1846
This German Pipe Gun (75mm caliber) is from the First World War
This is a 48mm British Naval Gun from the WWI
German manufactured Kerop 8cm field gun - this gun was used during the WWI
A young boy chilling with his new toy
This Russian built gun was used for the coastal defence in the 1967 War
This gun seemed to be the favourite of the crowd and they were enjoying being on top of it
This gun seemed to be the favourite of the crowd and they were enjoying being on top of it

It was Friday and whole complex of the Cairo Citadel and the National Military Museum was very busy with the local visitors. A statue of Ibrahim Pasha (1789 – 1848) is erected in front of the museum. He was the eldest son of Muhammad Ali Pasha.

Then there was a Russian designed SA-2 surface to air missile (SAM) on a standard launcher. Next to the missile few military fighter jets were lined up. Among tanks was a Russian made tank (122mm gun) was given to the Egyptian army in 1955 and it took part in 1956 and 1967 wars. A MiG-21 fighter jet was also on display, this Russian built plane was one of the few used by the Egyptian Air Force in the past.

 

Crossing Carnage

The scene on wall is described as “Crossing Carnage” it refers to the Egyptian military operation to cross the Suez Canal in 1973 against Israel. Two amphibious transporters were on display which were used to move the soldiers in the 1973 War.

 

 

A busy evening at the National Military Museum Cairo
A busy evening at the National Military Museum Cairo
Statue of Ibraim Pasha
Statue of Ibraim Pasha
In the background of the stature, the mosques of al-Nasir (green dome) and Muhammad Ali Pasha (silver dome) are visible
In the background of the stature, the mosques of al-Nasir (green dome) and Muhammad Ali Pasha (silver dome) are visible
A Russian designed SA-2 surface to air missile (SAM)
A Russian designed SA-2 surface to air missile (SAM)
A MiG-21 fighter jet on display
A MiG-21 fighter jet on display
Another Russian built fighter jet on display
Another Russian built fighter jet on display
Russian designed Yak-18, trainer aircraft (silver colour) and a Polish designed PZL104 Wilga (orange colour)
Russian designed Yak-18, trainer aircraft (silver colour) and a Polish designed PZL104 Wilga (orange colour)
The scene on wall is described as "Crossing Carnage"
The scene on wall is described as "Crossing Carnage" in 1973
Two amphibious transporters on display which were used to move the soldiers in the 1973 War
Two amphibious transporters on display which were used to move the soldiers in the 1973 War
Different types of Egyptian military tanks on display
Different types of Egyptian military tanks on display
This is Russian made tank (122mm gun) was given to the Egyptian army in 1955
This is Russian made tank (122mm gun) was given to the Egyptian army in 1955
Here a soldiers is shown with a gun in his hand with the caption below " the Best Soldiers on Earth"
Here a soldiers is shown with a gun in his hand with the caption below " the Best Soldiers on Earth"
A large ball sitting in the garden of the Egyptian Military Museum may belong to a catapult
A large ball sitting in the garden of the Egyptian Military Museum may belong to a catapult
Tall marble column on the left was used in the Amr ibn al-As Mosque - this column has a Cornithian capital on the top
Tall marble column on the left was used in the Amr ibn al-As Mosque - this column has a Cornithian capital on the top
A small garden in front of the museum door and the minarets of the two mosques can be seen

Busts of the Egyptian Rulers

 

In front of the entrance of the National Military Museum, busts of Egypt’s famous rulers were lined up on both sides. This is the list of the busts on display;

Menes aka Narmer (3000 BC), it is believed that he was the first ruler of the First Dynasty to unify the Egypt.

 

King Ahmos, he ruled Egypt between 1539 – 1514 BC.

 

Thutmosis or Tuthmosis III, he was the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty and he ruled between 1479–1425 BC.

 

Ramesses II, he is considered to be one of the greatest rulers of the ancient Egypt and he reigned between 1279–1213 BC.

 

Sultan Saladin (Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub), he ruled Egypt between 1173 – 1193 AD.

 

Saif ad-Din Qutuz, he was the third ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty and he ruled only between 1259-1260 but achieved huge success.

 

Mamluk Sultan Baibars (Rukn al-Din Baibars), he ruled Egypt between 1260 – 1277.

 

Muhammad Ali Pasha, he was a vali of Ottoman government and he ruled Egypt between 1805 – 1848.

 

 

In front of a cafe, beside a small garden, this appears to be the statue of Muhammad Ali Pasha with a sword in his hand
In front of a cafe, beside a small garden, this appears to be the statue of Muhammad Ali Pasha with a sword in his hand
A statue of Menes aka Narmer (3000 BC) - it is believed that he was the first ruler of the First Dynasty to unify the Egypt
A statue of Menes aka Narmer
Statue of King Ahmos, he ruled Egypt between 1539 - 1514 BC
King Ahmos
Statue of Thutmosis or Tuthmosis III, was the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty and he ruled between 1479–1425 BC
Statue of Thutmosis or Tuthmosis III
A statue of Ramesses II
A statue of Ramesses II
Sultan Saladin (Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub)
Sultan Saladin (Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub)
Saif ad-Din Qutuz
Saif ad-Din Qutuz
Statue of Mamluk Sultan Baibars (Rukn al-Din Baibars)
Statue of Mamluk Sultan Baibars (Rukn al-Din Baibars)
A statue of Muhammad Ali Pasha
A statue of Muhammad Ali Pasha
Entrance of the military museum
At the entrance, two 5.3cm caliber guns are on display and they are from the Muhammad Ali Pasha's era.