Australian Museum Announces 'Gateway to Egypt'

Photo Credit: James Alcock

Ancient Egypt is coming back to life at the Australian Museum with the blockbuster summer exhibition Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs on view until 19 May 2024, featuring talks and events designed to give visitors a richer understanding of this fascinating era.

There are three series with regular events:

• Saturday Lectures – Exploring Ancient Egypt is a deep dive for lovers of all things Egypt! They will run monthly from Sat 25 November 2023 until 27 January 2024.

• Egypt – In Conversation features talks hosted by journalists: the second Wednesday of the month from 13 December 2023 until 14 February 2024

• Tomb Talks include canapés, drinks and Q&A with an Egypt expert: the second Tuesday of the month from 12 December 2023 until 13 February 2024

• Breakfast Behind the Scenes – Egypt Unearthed includes shakshuka, a talk and a VIP tour: the third Wednesday of the month from 17 January until 20 March 2024

SERIES: SATURDAY LECTURES – for true Egyptophiles!

The Afterlife of Ramses II's Tomb

Professor Malcolm Choat will take audiences on a journey through time to explore the tomb of Ramses II and its own afterlife. Learn what happened to the tomb between the pharaoh's burial in the 18th dynasty, and the tomb’s excavation in the 19th century.

Date: Saturday 25 November 2023

Time: 10.30am - 11.30am

Ages: 16+

Location: UG Theatre, Australian Museum

Cost: Member $36, non-Member $45, Concession $31.50 (price valid until 27/11)

Journey to the Afterlife

Archaeologist Dr Anna Latifa Mourad-Cizek, explores the spells and beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians, as they prepared for death and the afterlife.

Date: Saturday 23 December 2023

Time: 10.30am - 11.30am

Ages: 16+

Location: UG Theatre, Australian Museum

Cost: Member $28, non-Member $35, Concession $31.50 (price valid until 27/11)

The Egyptian "Conquest" of Nubia

Archaeologist Dr Aaron de Souza unpacks the tumultuous relationship between Egypt and Nubia that Ramses II inherited. Where did this tension come from and how did both sides exist under such long-term conflict? A fascinating and complex story of cooperation and coexistence.

Date: Saturday 27 January 2024

Time: 10.30am - 11.30am

Ages: 16+

Location: UG Theatre, Australian Museum

Cost: Member $28, non-Member $35, Concession $31.50 (price valid until 27/11)

SERIES: EGYPT IN CONVERSATION – engrossing talks hosted by journalists

Introduction to Egypt

Curator and Egyptologist Melanie Pitkin sits down with journalist and passionate Egyptophile Caroline Baum for a broad conversation about all things Ancient Egypt: the people, places and phases of history.

Date: Wednesday 13 December 2023

Time: 12pm - 1pm

Ages: 16+

Location: UG Theatre, Australian Museum

Cost: Member $28, non-Member $35, Concession $31.50 (price valid to 27/11)

It’s Alive! Ancient Egypt in Popular Culture

Travel with archaeologist Dr Craig Barker on a journey to Ancient Egypt…via Hollywood. Exploring everything from horror and sci-fi to romance and historical biopics. Did they reflect the “real” Egypt?

Date: Wednesday 10 January 2024

Time: 12pm - 1pm

Ages: 16+

Location: UG Theatre, Australian Museum

Cost: Member $28, non-Member $35, Concession $31.50 (price valid until 27/11)

How to Excavate an Ancient Egyptian Tomb

ABC broadcaster Simon Marnie chats with Egyptologist Professor Martin Bommas about the little-known aspects of archaeology and what it really takes to discover, excavate and restore a pyramid.

Date: Wednesday 14 February 2024

Time: 12pm - 1pm

Ages: 16+

Location: UG Theatre, Australian Museum

Cost: Member $28, non-Member $35, Concession $31.50 (price valid until 27/11)

SERIES: TOMB TALKS – chats, canapés and a spotlight tour

The Nile High Club: Drinking, Drugs and the Divine

Archaeologist Mary Hartley will talk about the Festival of Drunkenness – just one celebration where drinking was seen as a gateway to the divine! After a drink of your own, you’ll enjoy your own VIP tour with Egyptologist Natasha Baramillis.

Date: Tuesday 12 December 2023

Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm | 7pm - 9pm

Ages: 18+

Location: LG Members Lounge, Australian Museum

Cost: Member $140, non-Member $175, Concession $157.50

Reuse & Recycling in Ancient Egypt

The second event in the Tomb Talks series explores the age-old question - when is it acceptable to break up and reuse someone else's coffin for your own?

Dates: Tuesday 9 January 2024

Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm | 7pm - 9pm

Ages: 18+

Location: LG Members Lounge, Australian Museum

Cost: Member $140, non-Member $175, Concession $157.50

CSI Egypt

Explore science facts and science fiction as bioarchaeologist Professor Ronika Power sits down with self-professed Egyptophile and comedian AJ Lamarque to explore life (and death) on the Nile.

Dates: Tuesday 13 February 2024

Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm | 7pm - 9pm

Ages: 18+

Location: LG Members Lounge, Australian Museum

Cost: Member $140, non-Member $175, Concession $157.50

SERIES: BREAKFAST BEHIND THE SCENES – for early risers!

Lessons from the Dead: Tales of a Bioarcheologist

After an Egyptian-inspired shakshuka breakfast, join charismatic bioarchaeologist Professor Ronika Power as she provides unique reflections on research and ethics, and how dying in Ancient Egypt helps us to better understand the lived experience of people from the past, and connect with them as individuals.

Date: Wednesday 17 January 2024

Time: 7.30am - 9am

Ages: 16+

Location: G, Brian Sherman Crystal Hall

Cost: Member $200, non-Member $250, Concession $225

Ancient Egypt, Modern Curatorship

Sit down for breakfast with Dr Melanie Pitkin, the Senior Curator at the Chau Chak Wing Museum, and explore the ethics of museums, provenance and ownership histories.

Date: Wednesday 21 February 2024

Time: 7.30am - 9am

Ages: 16+

Location: G, Brian Sherman Crystal Hall

Cost: Member $200, non-Member $250, Concession $225

Digging up the Past - The Tombs of the Pharaoh's Officials

Discover Ancient Egypt with archaeologist and Director of the Australian Centre for Egyptology, Dr Karin Sowada, as she provides this exclusive behind the scenes glimpse of her life helping to unravel the mysteries of the past.

Dates: Wednesday 20 March 2024

Time: 7.30am - 9am

Ages: 16+

Location: G, Brian Sherman Crystal Hall

Cost: Member $200, non-Member $250, Concession $225

For more information and to book tickets, visit: australian.museum/event/gateway-to-egypt-programs/