Australians, like the populations of many other countries, have long flocked to exhibitions about Ancient Egypt. Between 2007 and 2023, there were six major shows across the country. But this year there have been three: Canberra’s Discovering Ancient Egypt, Sydney’s Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs and Pharaoh at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, which opened last week.

The NGV has high hopes for its winter blockbuster, which occupies the entire ground floor. With about 500 objects from the British Museum, it is by far the largest of the three shows. Sydney’s Ramses, which closed in May, had 180 items and the ongoing Discovering Ancient Egypt in Canberra has 220 objects.