24 June to 28 November 2010

Egypt holds a great mysterious allure. More than 4,500 years ago, on the border between the fertile Nile valley and the desert, gigantic pyramids and temple complexes were built for life in the netherworld. With these monuments, the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom brought about the culmination of Egyptian art and culture. One of those pharaohs was Sahure.

In 1907, the famous Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt (1863 –1938), discoverer of the bust of Nefertiti, made a sensational find in the pyramid complex of Sahure: a giant picture book in stone. The deeds of the mighty pharaoh were depicted in the finest relief technique on surfaces originally covering some ten thousand square metres. The overwhelming beauty of this art fascinates the beholder.

In the exhibition precisely detailed models conveyed an impression of the complex. A pharaohs’ gallery presented originals from collections in Paris, New York, Boston, Berlin and Munich. Paintings and documents from Borchardt’s house in Cairo told of the people behind the great discoveries.

Curator of the Department of Antiquities Prof. Dr. Vinzenz Brinkmann (Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung)
Sponsored by Dr. Marschner Stiftung, Škoda Auto Deutschland GmbH
With additional support from Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung, InterContinental Frankfurt, Deutsche Bahn, EgyptAir
Media partners Frankfurter Rundschau, Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt am Main
Cultural partner hr2-kultur