Ornate coffins with mummified remains have proven one of the most popular exhibits at the National Museum’s Egyptian exhibition. Photo: National Museum of Australia.
The National Museum of Australia (NMA) estimates more than 200,000 people will have come through the doors of its blockbuster exhibition Discovering Ancient Egypt by the time it closes on Sunday, 8 September.
More than 192,000 people from Canberra, interstate and overseas have seen the exhibition since it opened in December last year, with modelling showing it’s likely to exceed 200,000 in the week or so.
This would make it the most popular in the NMA’s 23-year history, pipping A History of the World in 100 Objects (British Museum), which ran from 9 September 2016 to 29 January 2017 and had 178,220 visits.
Chair of the NMA Katherine McMahon said the rare collection, on loan from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden), showcased decorated coffins, ornate sculptures, rare Book of the Dead scrolls, exquisite jewellery and mummified remains of people and animals, including a cat and a crocodile.
She said she was delighted that the exhibition was likely to break museum records for popularity.
“This exhibition has offered our visitors an incredible journey spanning 3000 years of history,” she said.
“We are proud to ensure Australians and other international visitors have been able to connect with an ancient culture and world they might not see otherwise.
“Discovering Ancient Egypt offers people the opportunity to immerse themselves in an ancient culture enduring over many thousands of years, and that continues to inspire and intrigue.
“The success of our Canberra exhibition goes to show our fascination with the land of the pyramids knows no bounds.”
The National Museum’s Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition, scheduled to close on 8 September, has drawn record crowds. Photo: NMA.
Crowds have been flocking to the Canberra museum to see the Egyptian collection from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities since day one.
Many of the rare ancient artefacts are brought back to life through the use of modern technology, which has also been a drawcard for the exhibition.
The exhibition draws on centuries of study of the lived experiences of the ancient Egyptians, exploring their gods, society, creativity and belief in an eternal afterlife.
Discovering Ancient Egypt runs at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra, until Sunday, 8 September. Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Exhibition entry and tours can be booked online.
Original Article published by Sally Hopman on Riotact.
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