The last time I visited the Egyptian Museum about ten years ago it was magnificently dusty and uncared for, redolent of the early days of Egyptomania when Bernardino Drovetti was able to loot large numbers of antiquities whilst serving as Napoleon’s consul and then flog them to the King of Savoy. Since then it has been in restauro, overseen by Saverio Isola. We had a wonderful tour with a curator who was passionately knowledgeable. He showed us early mummies:
The decorated chests which contained human remains:
Linens preserved as grave goods:
The script which provided the information needed by the dead:
A bust of Tutankhamun:
Some memorable heads:
We ended with his favourite bust of Rameses II:
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 