Ancient Egyptian pharaoh's boat is being reassembled in public at the Grand Egyptian Museum

CAIRO (AP) — A boat belonging to an Egyptian pharaoh is being assembled in full view at the Grand Egyptian Museum’s exhibition hall.

Staff began piecing together the cedarwood boat, one of two that were found that belong to King Khufu, Tuesday morning as dozens of visitors watched.

The assembly of the 42-meter (137-foot) -long vessel, which sits next to its already-assembled twin that has been on display, is expected to take around four years, according to Issa Zeidan, head of restoration at the Grand Egyptian Museum. It contains 1,650 wooden pieces.

King Khufu ruled ancient Egypt more than 4,500 years ago and built the Great Pyramid of Giza.

“You’re witnessing today one of the most important restoration projects in the 21st century,” said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy, who attended the event.

The $1 billion museum, also known as GEM, was touted as the world’s largest when it was lavishly inaugurated last month. It's home to nearly 50,000 artifacts, including the collection of treasures from the tomb of the famed King Tutankhamun, which was discovered in 1922. The museum, located near the pyramids at the edge of Cairo, is expected to boost Egypt’s tourism revenues and help bolster its ailing economy.

The boat was one of two discovered in 1954, opposite the southern side of the Great Pyramid. The excavation of its wooden parts began in 2014, according to the museum’s website.

The exact purpose of the boats remains unclear, but experts believe they were either used to transport King Khufu’s body during his funeral or were meant to be used for his afterlife journey with the sun god Ra, according to the museum.

Archeologists prepare to reassemble the second solar boat of King Khufu, at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Archeologists measure an ancient wooden block as they prepare to reassemble the second solar boat of King Khufu, at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Archeologists carry an ancient wooden block as they reassemble the second solar boat of King Khufu, at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

People film archeologists as they reassemble the second solar boat of King Khufu, at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Visitors view the first solar boat of King Khufu, at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

DENVER (AP) — Brandon Marsh hit a three-run homer as part of a seven-run first inning, Aaron Nola pitched efficiently into the seventh and the Philadelphia Phillies spoiled Colorado’s home opener by beating the Rockies 10-1 on Friday.

The Phillies set the tone early by sending 11 batters to the plate against Michael Lorenzen (0-1) to begin the game. They finished with 13 hits, including three homers — all by lefties — with the wind blowing from left field. Marsh hit a sinker that went a projected 454 feet to the second deck in right-center. In the second, Bryce Harper launched a solo shot. Kyle Schwarber added a 460-foot drive to right field in the fifth.

Nola (1-0) scattered five hits and gave up one run over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out nine — the bullpen had six more — as Philadelphia won its eighth straight over Colorado. The latest one marked the Rockies' most lopsided loss in a home opener.

It also was win No. 350 for Phillies manager Rob Thomson, making him the fastest to reach the mark in club history (604 games).

There were 48,366 fans who showed up on a sunny but cool afternoon. The Rockies, a team coming off three straight 100-loss seasons, dropped to 18-16 in home openers, including 17-15 at Coors Field.

It was a rough outing for Lorenzen, who allowed nine runs and 12 hits over three innings. Mickey Moniak had one of Colorado's five hits in his first game of the season. Moniak started on the injured list due to a sprained right ring finger.

The Rockies were coming off a three-game series win in Toronto. They didn't capture their first series last season until early June against Miami.

The Phillies will throw lefty Jesús Luzardo (0-1, 9.00 ERA) on Saturday. The Rockies hadn't announced a scheduled starter, but right-hander Chase Dollander (1-0, 9.00) is expected to get some work.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen calls for a new ball after giving up a three-run home run to Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

From left to right, Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh celebrate as Marsh crosses home plate after hitting a three-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola works against the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, right, congratulates Kyle Schwarber after his solo home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Valente Bellozo in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh, right, follows the flight of his three-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)