What is it about ancient Egypt that holds such enduring fascination? The word Pharaoh itself – from Egyptian pr-’o, meaning great house – conjures images of immeasurable wealth: gold and silver, towering monuments, bejewelled sarcophagi. But surely there is more to the epoch’s allure than the loot?
The National Gallery of Victoria’s 2024 Winter Masterpieces blockbuster exhibition, Pharaoh – announced on Wednesday and opening next June – will showcase more than 500 individual pieces from the British Museum’s permanent collection, exclusive to Melbourne, in the largest international loan the London institution has ever undertaken.
