Pharaoh Review: Melbourne Winter Masterpieces

In collaboration with the British Museum, The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is currently hosting (14 Jun – 6 Oct) one Australia’s most spectacular exhibitions for 2024 that is part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces with PHARAOH. This exhibition is split across two areas of the NGV that showcases over 500 artifacts from Ancient Egypt which spans over 3000 years – Pharaoh is nothing short of breathtaking as it takes the attendee on a journey through history where the Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt were worshiped as Gods.

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Apart from the amazing artifacts that are carefully showcased throughout this 2-part exhibition, including snippets of historical information to accompany these items, presentation plays a key component. From the design of the spaces to the lighting and even music – it is literally like you are stepping back in time. I’ve never experienced such a compelling atmosphere in an exhibition such as that of Pharaoh which even tugs at your emotional heartstrings.

There is one area of the exhibition that has 8 giant sized statues of Sekhmet, the Warrior Goddess and Goddess of Medicine who has the head of a lioness and a sun disk from various eras of Ancient Egypt as they watched silently over us mere mortals, which was quite a powerful experience. It felt like you were walking through the main chamber of an  Ancient Egyptian religious temple. A true wow moment… apart from the Kings of Egypt, their Gods played an important role in their culture and even their invaders, the Romans built statues and temples to honor these deities for the Egyptians.

From statues, trinkets, jewellery (perfection), you are also treated to two sarcophagi which have some amazing attention to detail, including vibrant colours that have really stood the test of time. There is even a gigantic stone fist from one of the greatest Pharaohs of all-time, Ramses II (1279 – 1230 BCE) or Ramses the Great from the Temple of Ptah in Memphis Egypt. Speaking of colossus, there is a very large head of King Amenemhat III (1854–1808 BCE) who again overlooks the people visiting this exhibition.

Although these were gods who walked amongst men, the exhibition \makes you realise that they were human like us – with one beautiful life size statue of Horemheb holding his wife’s hand as a loving gesture who was alive during the era of Tutankhamun ( 1336–132 BCE). Conquerors will be conquerors as we learn that a life size red granite statue of a lion from the era of Pharaoh Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BCE) was re-inscribed by Pharaoh Tutankhamun which was a relatively common practice of the Pharaohs. Another highlight of Pharaoh was a magnificent wall from a mastaba tomb that belonged to the dignitary Urienptah. It’s definitely an exhibition which must be experienced.

Apart from the succinct text that accompanies the 500+ artifacts, there is an accompanying exhibition audio guide that can be purchased which goes into greater detail of the 3000 years of history but just be warned you will need more time. The exhibition also caters for younger Egyptologists with information tailored for them, including programs and events. All in all, Pharaoh has something for people of all ages.

Final Thoughts?

With just a few more weeks left for the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces’ Pharaoh, I would highly recommend that you visit this spectacular exhibition that takes you on a wondrous journey of a time of men and gods. With some of the most stunning Ancient Egyptian artifacts to have ever graced our shores, Pharaoh will leave you wanting more and slightly more scholared… and if a picture is worth a thousand words, here are several!

For more information please visit – https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/pharaoh