Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities

Since 1982, the museum has been housed in the Gustav Horn palace at Fredsgatan 2, a building with a complex history. Originally, Field Marshal Gustav Horn built a three-story palace on the site between 1642 and 1648. Following a fire in 1873, the building was converted into the Stockholm Mortgage Bank (Stockholms Intecknings Garanti Aktiebolag) by architect Ernst A. Jacobsson. In 1905, architect Rudolf Arborelius designed a two-story banking hall inspired by the Palazzo Bevilaqua in Bologna. The facade was later simplified in 1934 by architect Hakon Ahlberg. The building became a state monument in 1995 and underwent a major renovation by Statens fastighetsverk (SFV) in 2006 to adapt the spaces for exhibitions and accessibility.

The museum holds a significant collection of Egyptian antiquities, including eight mummified ancient Egyptians. A centerpiece is the mummy of Neswaiu, an ancient Egyptian priest from Thebes who lived in the 4th century BC. Neswaiu served as a priest in a temple dedicated to the god Montu. The mummy is displayed with its cartonnage and beadnet. The collection also features mummies of animals such as cats, birds, fishes, and snakes, as well as a portrait of the pharaoh Sesostris, which was donated by the Egyptian government in recognition of Swedish participation in the Aswan Dam project.

The museum possesses the largest collection of Cypriot antiquities outside of Cyprus, derived from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition. This collection is of great scholarly value and was expanded with a new gallery sponsored by the A.G. Leventis Foundation in 2009. Beyond Egypt and Cyprus, the museum holds collections of Greek and Roman antiquities, Near Eastern antiquities from Shah Tepe, Luristan bronzes, and Islamic art. These diverse holdings illustrate the cultural exchanges and historical developments across the Mediterranean and Near Eastern regions.

Medelhavsmuseet serves as Sweden's main archaeological museum for Mediterranean cultures, offering a comprehensive look into ancient civilizations. Its collection of Cypriot artifacts is unique in its scale outside the island nation, providing critical insights into the region's history. The museum's integration into the National Museums of World Culture in 1999 underscores its national importance. The preservation and display of the Neswaiu mummy, including digital unwrapping projects, highlight the museum's role in advancing the study of ancient history through modern technology.