Established in 1839 at the initiative of Pope Gregory XVI, the Gregorian Egyptian Museum spans nine rooms and features a grand semicircular gallery opening onto the terrace of the "Niche of the Pinecone," home to various sculptures. These rooms, originally part of the private apartment and retreat of Pius IV in the Belvedere Palace of Innocent VIII, were curated by Barnabite Father Luigi Ungarelli, a prominent Egyptologist of the time and a disciple of Ippolito Rosellini. Traces of the initial design remain, including exotic architectural elements and wall decorations intended to evoke the atmosphere of the Nile.

The museum’s collection is notable for its connection to the region's history, featuring materials from Roman Egypt and Egyptian-inspired Rome. Many of the earliest pieces were brought to the city under imperial orders to adorn buildings, temples, and villas. Among these is the statuary group from the Gardens of Sallust (Horti Sallustiani), now showcased in the Hemicycle. Additionally, the museum includes numerous Roman-made Egyptian works that reflect a significant phase in the evolution of pharaonic culture, such as items originally from the opulent setting of Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli.

The final three rooms of the museum are devoted to artifacts from the Ancient Near East, which were added to the collection in the 1970s.