A new temporary exhibition entitled ‘Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold’ will open at its first venue on 20 November 2021, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Texas. Closing on Sunday 6 March in 2022. Initial announcements suggested there will be five venues in all, three in the USA and two in Europe.
The information on this page was last checked and/or updated on 8 September 2021
The well known face of Ramses from one of his many colossal statues.
A multisensory exhibition showcasing 181 objects will explore the life and accomplishments of Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great. One of the most prolific builders ancient Egypt, from Abu Simbel in the south to the Ramesseum in Luxor, Ramses left his mark on buildings across Egypt and Nubia like no other Egyptian monarch.
Besides exception artefacts representing the king himself, there are also sarcophagi, animal mummies, jewellery, royal masks, amulets, and exquisite golden treasures from the tomb of Ramses. This collection of extraordinary objects is a testament to the workmanship of ancient Egyptian craftspeople. The exhibition includes a virtual reality trip to ancient Egypt.
Exhibition Dates
Besides the length of the tour, from November 2021 to January 2025, and the names of the five venues the exhibition will be hosted in, there are very little details at this stage.
The timing for the itinerary of exhibition at all the five venues has not been released. As soon as more details become available, this page will be updated.
Exhibition Venues
The two European venues are:
The three American venues are:
Exhibition Theme: Pharaonic Gold
Ancient Egyptians believed that by using gold a person would become immortal. Hence the presence of gold artefacts in grave goods. Only the wealthy could afford the precious metal, particularly the Pharaoh. Especially well known in this regard is the collection of grave goods from Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Although a list of artefacts to be included in the exhibition has not yet been released, it is thought that the collection will include the oldest known statue of Khafre made of pure gold. Khafre reigned during the 4th dynasty of the Old Kingdom, a period of peace and prosperity. A few photographs have been published in this article in the CultureMap Houston.
A similar exhibition was recently held at the Weltkulturerbe Völklinger Hütte, in Germany. Closed in April 2020, Pharaoh’s Gold: 3,000 Years of Ancient Egypt showcased a number of Pharaonic gold artefacts from museums in Germany and Austria.
One of the many gold artefacts recovered from Tutankhamun’s tomb: the squatting figure represents Amenhotep III. Worn by Tutankhamun, the protective pendant was believed to assist the king on his journey into the afterlife. This artefact was included in the Tutankhamun’s Treasures touring exhibition.
