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Exhibitions / A Ramses show that has little to do with Ramses

17 0
25.03.2026

Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold is, let’s not shy away from it, a profit-seeking exhibition mounted by an entertainment business. Neon opened its high-tech space at Battersea Power Station last year with dinosaurs, and has partnerships with the likes of Harry Potter and Marvel. The gold mask fronting Ramses’s publicity has nothing to with Ramses. Neither does the other gold and jewellery on display: his tomb was looted long ago, and all that remains is his recycled cedar box, sarcophagus and the king himself. A notable offer in the expansive retail zone is the chance to have your name drawn on papyrus by a robot.

But go forewarned, and you will enjoy the experience. After all, there are many striking objects here, atmospherically lit and the better for being given space among the textured walls and giant photos. The 180 exhibits range from monumental stone carvings to mummified cats, their paws and tails lovingly bandaged. OK, these animals (others include crocodiles and beetles) have nothing to do with Ramses. But hey, they’re fascinating to see.

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© The Spectator