![]() ![]() The second major factor is the Pharaoh’s astonishing penchant for self-promotion and mythologizing, Sullivan said. He ruled for more than 60 years as part of the 19th Dynasty, w hich physically allowed him so much time to build and stamp his name across the country, and he was an incredibly prolific builder.” “But Ramses the Great had two big things going for him,” Sullivan said. ![]() In terms of becoming a household name, King Tut has one serious advantage because his tomb was found intact in 1922, at a time when most other known tombs had been looted and in some cases emptied out completely. He also expanded Egypt’s empire and augmented power with his wars against the Hittites, including the epic battle of Kadesh, said to be the biggest chariot battle of all time. Ramses II made his mark with many temples, obelisks, and colossal statues of himself. When it comes to 21st century notoriety, Ramses the Great – who reigned from 1279 through 1213 BCE – only has one serious rival, King Tutankhamun, Sullivan said. In terms of public interest and name recognition, Ramses the Great continues to stand out over most of the estimated 170 Pharaohs who ruled Egypt during the Pharaonic Period, which lasted 2,700 years, about 10 times as long as the history of the United States as a country. It’s no surprise the exhibition has been reeling people in. “Usually you have to go to New York, Europe, or Cairo.” “Here on the West Coast we don’t have many places where we have access to these kinds of masterworks of Egyptian art,” Sullivan said. Sullivan calls “Ramses The Great And The Gold Of The Pharaohs” a rare opportunity to see the artifacts, which are on loan from the Egyptian government. The exhibit shows relics from Ramses II’s tomb, as well as an assortment of burial objects from Dashur and Tanis, two incident cities along the Nile. Sullivan calls the show well worth seeing because of its displays of statuary from the New Kingdom and pieces of royal jewelry from other periods of Egyptian history, though she wished that the curation had delved more deeply into the historical context of the objects on display. “Era Of Gold, Era Of Empire” is a complement to the de Young show. Those who see Sullivan’s talk will also learn about the master craftsman Sennedjem who decorated the royal tombs of Ramses, and the Pharaoh’s imposing father Sety, whose stunning painted wooden coffin is in the show. Sullivan will delve into the lives and legacies of other major historical figures museum visitors will meet at the de Young show – including the powerful women of his reign such as his ‘great royal wife’ Nefertari and the king’s mother Tuya. Though the free talk is open to the public, seating is limited, so reservations are strongly encouraged. The talk is organized by The Humanities Institute of UCSC and co-sponsored by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) and UC Santa Cruz Special Collections & Archives. Those who are interested in ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs and want to get a vivid cultural, religious, and political context for the ancient artifacts on display at the de Young should reserve a spot for “ Era of Gold, Era Of Empire,” Egyptologist and UCSC history professor Elaine Sullivan’s talk on Sunday, October 2, at the Museum of Art and History in downtown Santa Cruz. ![]() Look at the long lines at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, which is now hosting the exhibition “ Ramses The Great And The Gold Of The Pharaohs,” on display through February 12.Ĭrowds at the de Young are staring at sarcophagi, puzzling over mummified cats and lion cubs, and admiring the colossal stone Ramses the Great head at the beginning of the exhibition. Ramses the Great has been dead for 3,235 years, but this powerful Pharaoh still keeps a hold on the public imagination. ![]()
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