Gayer Anderson Museum or Bayt al-Kritliyya

The Gayer Anderson Museum is one of the unique museums in Cairo. It is located right next to the Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun in the Sayyida Zeinab neighbourhood. The museum is a house dating back to the 17th century that is a great example of the architecture of the time. It is also known for its vast collection of furniture, carpets, and other objects, which is why it is a rare gem among the city’s landmarks.

Who was Gayer Anderson?

The museum of the house was named after Major R.G. Gayer-Anderson Pasha, who lived there between 1935 and 1942. He was a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1904 and later worked with the Egyptian Army in 1907. He became a Major in 1914 and then Assistant Adjutant-General for recruiting in the Egyptian Army.

He retired in 1919 and became the Senior Inspector in the Egyptian Ministry of Interior and, later on, the Oriental Secretary to the British Residency in Cairo. He continued to live in Egypt after his retirement in 1924, focusing his interests on Egyptology and Oriental Studies.

History of Gayer Anderson Museum or Bayt al-Kritliyya

A wealthy Muslim woman from Crete once owned Bayt al-Kritliyya, hence its name: “House of the Woman from Crete.”

It is a remarkable example of architecture in Cairo from the 17th century, specifically the Mamluk Period. The museum consists of two houses, one of which was built by Hagg Mohamed Salem Galmam El-Gazzar in 1632. The other house was built by Abdel-Qader al-Haddad in 1540, which was also called “Beit Amna bint Salim” after its last owner. The two houses were merged by a bridge built at the third-floor level.

In 1935, Major Gayer-Anderson moved into the house. He installed several modern conveniences, such as electricity and plumbing and restored sections of the house, like the fountains. He also added his collections of art, furnishings, and carpets that he gathered from all over Egypt.

Gayer-Anderson fell ill in 1942 and had to leave the country, so he gave the house and its contents to the Egyptian government to be transformed into a museum. King Farouk gave him the title of Pasha in return for his thoughtful gesture.

The film was the location for several Egyptian and foreign films, including the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

The Layout of the Gayer Anderson Museum

The house or the two houses merged have 29 rooms:

Haramlik and Salamlik

Like many houses built at the time, the house is divided into two sections: the Haramlik, or the family residence, where the women usually resided, and the Salamlik, also known as the guest house, where visitors were usually received.

The haramlik, with its marble floor and stairway, overlooks the courtyard, which contains a fifteen-meter-deep Bats’ Well or Bier el-watawit.

In this house, the Mak’ad, or reception room, is open air and decorated with many different objects, including brass bowls dating back to the 14th and 17th centuries.

The Qa’a is the central apartment in the Haramlik, where fruits, flowers, and drinks are served. There, you can also find a part of the “holy carpet,” also known as Kiswa, the fabric covering the Kaaba from Mecca. It was a gift given by Major General Yehia Pasha.

The Harem is also a spacious room with windows on all sides, allowing light and fresh air to flow freely. The room contains several Persian cupboards from a palace in Teheran.

The service room is well known for its Turkish-style furniture and cupboards, designed by Anderson Pasha.

The Reading room has a window seat and shelves inspired by Islamic designs. The walls are decorated with Chinese Flower paintings on rice paper. The Writing Room now serves as the museum’s curator’s office and study room. It is furnished with tables and benches to accommodate visitors, and the walls have pictures and ancient examples of Egyptian drawings and writings.

An exciting room in the house is the secret chamber behind a door resembling a regular cupboard. With a lock turn, the cupboard opens to reveal the room behind it, which was used as a hiding place for people or objects in an emergency.

The house’s flat roof is now a roof garden, enclosed with mashrabias with Coptic designs, which are rare among some ancient houses in Old Cairo.

Then comes the Persian room, where the furniture dates back to the later Persian or Shah Abbas period, except for the bed, which is from Egypt, and the Byzantine room, which connects the Haramlik to the Salamlik.

The ancient Egyptian room used to be Gayer Anderson’s study, and it still contains some ancient Egyptian objects, including an ancient map of Egypt engraved on an ostrich egg, a black and gold mummy case dating back to the 18th century BC, and a bronze ancient Egyptian cat with gold earrings.

In the Mohamed Ali room, you’ll find an Ottoman apartment with green and gold decorated walls and furniture from the Rococo period, including a throne chair dating back to one of the earlier Khedives.

Finally, the Damascus room is a late 17th-century room from Damascus by Anderson. The ceiling is unique, inscribed with a poem praising the Prophet Muhammad.

Legends about the Gayer Anderson House

Like many pretty old houses, locals and visitors circulate different stories and legends about them; among the legends surrounding the Gayer Anderson house is that it was built on the remnants of an ancient mountain called Gebel Yashkur (Hill of Thanksgiving), is to be where Noah’s Ark came to rest after the flood and that the last of the floodwater was drained through the well in the courtyard of the house. This legend inspired Anderson to build a sailing boat on the Nile in front of the house.

A different story says that the house and the sailing boat were protected by a Sheikh called Haroun al-Husseini, who is buried under one of the corners of the house. He is said to have blinded three men who attempted to rob the place, causing them to stumble around the house for three days and nights until they were finally caught.

As for the famous well in the house is said to possess miraculous qualities, such as if a lover gazes into the water, they would see the face of his or her sweetheart instead of their reflection. A legend surrounds this well. It is said that back when the house was two houses before they were merged, a young man lived in one of the houses, and a beautiful young woman lived in the other. One day, the young woman looked into the well, and in response to her incredible beauty, the well overflowed, so she ran and bumped into the young man in the opposite house, who immediately fell in love with her. They eventually got married, literally and figuratively bringing the two houses together.

Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future

As custodians of Egypt’s cultural heritage, the Gayer Anderson Museum is vital in preserving and promoting the country’s rich artistic and architectural legacy. Through its ongoing conservation efforts and educational programs, the museum seeks to engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds, fostering a deeper appreciation for Egypt’s cultural heritage and inspiring future generations to cherish and protect it.

From its humble beginnings as a private residence to its current status as a renowned cultural institution, the Gayer-Anderson Museum continues to enchant and captivate audiences worldwide. It offers a window into Egypt’s storied past and vibrant present. As Cairo’s hidden treasure, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of art and architecture to transcend time and connect people across cultures and civilizations.

How to Get There

The Gayer-Anderson Museum is next to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Sayyida Zeinab, Cairo. It can be reached by taxi or the Cairo Metro from the Sayyida Zeinab station. The museum entrance is through the main entrance to the mosque or another door at the rear of the complex.

Ticket Prices and Opening Times

The museum opens every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The tickets to the museum are EGP 60 for foreign adults, EGP 30 for foreign students, and EGP 10 for Egyptian nationals. If you want to take some photos with a professional, you need to buy an extra ticket for EGP 50, while mobile photos are allowed for free.

Exploring Cairo’s Past

Beyond its impressive architecture and stunning artefacts, the Gayer Anderson Museum provides a unique opportunity to delve into Cairo‘s rich and diverse history. Each room offers insight into the lives of the people who once inhabited these historic buildings, from the wealthy merchants and aristocrats to the humble craftsmen and artisans.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the museum is its role as a living testament to the cultural exchange that has shaped Cairo over the centuries. The eclectic mix of architectural styles and decorative elements reflects the city’s long history as a melting pot of cultures, where ideas and influences from across the Islamic world converged.

Conclusion

A visit to the Gayer Anderson Museum is not merely a journey through history but a celebration of the enduring beauty and cultural richness of Egypt’s past and present. As one of Cairo’s most cherished landmarks, it serves as a reminder of the city’s illustrious heritage and a testament to the resilience of its people. So, whether you’re a seasoned traveller or a curious explorer, add the Gayer Anderson Museum to your itinerary and experience the magic of Cairo’s hidden gem.