Sydney, Tuesday 14 May 2024: As a cradle of civilisation Egypt made important contributions to early human development and had a significant impact on Western culture via its enduring influences in ancient Greece and Rome.
Greek philosophers such as Plato and Herodotus acknowledged the debt they owed to Egypt and ancient Romans also admired and emulated many aspects of Egyptian civilisation.
To better understand Egypt’s links to our civilisation, ACU Ramsay Scholars recently undertook a special excursion to the Australian Museum in Sydney to tour its extraordinary exhibition, ‘Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs’.
Ramses the Great ruled Egypt for 67 years, the second longest reign for any pharaoh, and lived to an ‘astonishing’ 92 years. The ‘Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs’ exhibition explores his life, achievements, and monuments.
Exclusive to the Australian Museum in Sydney, the exhibition features ‘182 priceless artefacts including the sarcophagus of Ramses II – one of the most impressive royal coffins from ancient Egypt ever to be discovered – and other treasures and one-of-a-kind relics, some of which have never left Egypt before’.
Other exhibition artefacts include ‘animal mummified remains, magnificent jewellery, spectacular royal masks, exquisite amulets, and ornate golden treasures of the tomb, showcasing the superb workmanship of Egyptian artisans.’ The exhibition also features a virtual reality experience; ‘a whirlwind tour of two of Ramses’ most impressive monuments: the temples of Abu Simbel and the Tomb of Queen Nefertari, the favourite Royal Consort of Ramses II’.
On the morning of the excursion, Ramsay scholars were treated to a lecture organised by ACU Western Civilisation academic A/Professor Johanna Harris. The lecture, ‘From the desert: ancient Egypt and the story of Gold’ was delivered by Macquarie University Egyptologist, Nubiologist and archaeologist Dr Julien Cooper.
Dr Cooper is a recent recipient of an ARC Future Fellowship “Rescuing Pharaoh’s Gold Mines: Archaeological conservation in Eastern Sudan”. He completed his PhD in Egyptology at Macquarie University and has held postdoctoral fellowships at Oxford and Yale universities, as well as serving as an Assistant Professor at United International College-Bejing Normal University (Zhuhai).
Reflecting on the day, ACU Ramsay Scholar Sabine Ford-Arthur, who is undertaking a Master of Liberal Arts, said the trip was a ‘fascinating and insightful experience, significantly enhanced by Dr Cooper’s ‘highly engaging lecture’’.
“Dr. Cooper provided a thorough yet succinct overview of not only ancient Egyptian history, but of the history of archaeology and curation of Egyptian artefacts, allowing us to appreciate the complexities of museum exhibitions and their presentation of antiquity,” Sabine said.
“My personal favourite artefacts at the exhibition were the jewellery and amulets, worn to protect the people from evil spirits and curses. It was a thoroughly well-organised day and has certainly sparked my interest for further research into the religious life of ancient Egypt.”
ACU Ramsay Scholar Lachlan Field, also studying a Master of Liberal Arts, is a teacher and said the day provided inspiration for teaching his year 12 students.
“Dr Cooper’s lecture included a fascinating exploration of Western interest in the Egyptian world since Roman times,” Lachlan said. “This continued interest, still well and truly alive today, was palpable as we visited the Ramses exhibition. There is something unique about Egypt that seems to capture our imagination in a special way. This has certainly provided food for thought as I teach Ancient History to my own year 12 students.”
The exhibition is showing at the Australian Museum until 19 May. For information on studying Western Civilisation at ACU visit: https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/find-a-course/new-courses/western-civilisation
Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098 / sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org