Egyptian pharaohs
From Cheops to Ramses II
The exhibition invites visitors to step back in time and rediscover Egypt at the time of the Pharaohs, through masterpieces of Antiquity. This legendary civilization, spanning three millennia, fascinates and captivates young and old alike. As a prologue to the exhibition, grains of sand lifted by the wind reveal the remains of ancient Egypt as they appeared to French scientists during the Egyptian Campaign of 1798 to 1801, and drawn by the painter David Roberts, who wrote in his notebook “We are a people of dwarfs visiting a nation of giants”.
Originally, ancient Egypt had its own cosmogony, providing a rich account of the genesis of the world. The sacred forces of the gods clash and reveal themselves on the walls of Atelier des Lumières, taking us to the point when man first appeared on earth.
The journey then continues along the sacred river Nile, source of life. The rhythm of floods and seasons provides the fertile silt needed for a luxuriant flora and fauna to thrive. Daily life in ancient Egypt is brought to life through magnificent bas-reliefs, paintings and ancient papyri. Gigantic construction sites and feats of ancient architecture, the pyramids take shape before the eyes of visitors: one by one, the colossal blocks pile up to form the tombs of the eternal kings, guarded by the majestic Sphinx.
