The WA Museum Boola Bardip today opened its doors to Discovering Ancient Egypt – a new, major exhibition exploring ancient Egyptian civilisation and how they lived and celebrated the afterlife.
In an Australian-first, this must-see exhibition features more than 240 ancient objects on loan from Rijksmuseum van Oudheden’s treasured Egyptian and Nubian collections in the Netherlands.
Western Australian Museum Chief Executive Officer, Alec Coles said Discovering Ancient Egypt is a journey along the Nile into the ancient Egyptian world, bringing together some of the world’s most ancient treasures.
“The ancient civilization of Egypt has inspired the imagination of people for centuries. Egyptian artefacts span more than three millennia and provide glimpses into a rich cultural heritage,” Mr Coles said.
“As you enter the Museum you embark on a six-part journey through time, learning about who the ancient Egyptians were, what they believed in, and how their civilization evolved and endured through millennia.”
Rare artefacts brought to WA include intricately decorated coffins and mummies, extracts from the Book of the Dead, fascinating statues, intricately carved Stelae (tablets), amulets and jewellery, and much more.
This exhibition is the first time the results and analysis of recent CT scans of three mummified remains are revealed. The exhibition also reveals new insights into ancient Egyptian culture made possible through excavation, 3D-scanning and other recent research undertaken by Rijksmuseum van Oudheden and its partners.
“I am delighted to see WA Museum partnering with a world-renowned institutions such as Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in the Netherlands to bring the secrets of this ancient civilization to Western Australia,” Mr Coles said.
“Visitors can get up close to objects from one of the world’s top ten Egyptian collections as well as participate in digital experiences and hands-on activities for all-ages including a large replica of The Temple of Taffeh, short films, projections, and digital games like learning phonetic hieroglyphs’ pronunciation.”
A program of associated events has been curated by the WA Museum including expert talks, guided tours, school holiday activities; an after dark experience featuring live music and themed Afterlife Bar; a thrilling night of horror and history in partnership with Revelation Film Festival, and so much more.
The exhibition has been brought to Australia by WA Museum in partnership with Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, the National Museum of Australia, Queensland Museum and the Australian Government International Exhibitions Insurance.
Discovering Ancient Egypt runs until 8 October 2023, open daily from 9.30am to 5pm.
Ticket prices include $15 junior, $17.50 concession and $20 standard. A family pass is available for $60. Additional fees apply for entry into the Museum’s permanent galleries.
Join the WA Museum’s membership program to access member discount
tickets.