The mummies return: Three ways to satisfy pharaoh fever

SPOTLIGHT / The return of the kings

Australian fans of pharaohs are spoilt for choice in 2024, with attractions including Ramses the Great’s bust.

Since Napoleon Bonaparte marched into Cairo in 1798, the world of ancient Egypt has fascinated Western minds. Centuries on, Australia is experiencing a resurgence of Egypt mania with the arrival of two treasure shows – a third is on its way – thanks to some pandemic-related reshuffling of museum schedules. Fans of Brendan Fraser’s 1999 action-filled desert romp, The Mummy, will be impressed with the Australian Museum’s ancient Egyptian exhibition Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs (until May 19; $52). This time-travelling blockbuster imbibes some key film plot points, including an encounter, via a virtual-reality headset, with the mummy of Ramses the Great, complete with flaming eyes.

But it is the figure of Ramses himself, his cedar coffin and other extraordinary archaeological treasures that outdazzle any Hollywood special effects. Still obsessed? Head down the Federal Highway to National Museum of Australia’s Discovering Ancient Egypt (until September 8; $25), showcasing more than 220 objects from the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in the Netherlands. There’s a dedicated mummy room with a presentation of human and animal remains, and a re-created life-size Nubian temple. Then, from June 14, the National Gallery of Victoria will stage Pharaoh ($38), coming directly from the British Museum, home of the Rosetta Stone. Linda Morris

READ / Future imperfect

A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into civil war in Prophet Song.

Irish writer Paul Lynch’s fifth novel, Prophet Song ($33), won the 2023 Booker Prize in November. It follows the fate of Eilish Stack, scientist and mother of four, whose trade unionist husband disappears following a protest march as a near-future Republic of Ireland descends into authoritarianism and civil war. With his urgent, poetic language and run-on text, Lynch conveys the horror of Eilish’s situation as she tries to protect and maintain a normal life for her children while the state tightens its screws. Not an easy read, but a compelling one, and a terrifying, timely reminder of how easily tyranny can take hold. Nicole Abadee

LISTEN / A woman’s work

In her new podcast, Julia Louis-Dreyfus interviews women older than herself to glean their wisdom.

If you liked the quirky dialogue of hit TV shows Seinfeld and Veep, then you’ll love Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast Wiser Than Me. Louis-Dreyfus, 63, interviews strong, intelligent, no-nonsense women older than herself – among them Diane von Furstenberg, Jane Fonda and Fran Lebowitz – on the wisdom they have to impart. Each episode is a hilarious, heartfelt romp, and Louis-Dreyfus’ fans won’t be disappointed. At times, she unwittingly slips into former characters, such as Seinfeld‘s Elaine, when discussing the merits of culottes with a bemused von Furstenberg. Louis-Dreyfus also shares her own intimate details, from her cancer battle to having a narcissistic father, as well as her precocious school-yearbook entry. The interviews are refreshingly honest, such as Lebowitz’s thoughts on why revenge is good. And don’t miss the cameos from Louis-Dreyfus’ mother, Judith, which are guaranteed to give you the warm fuzzies. Anne Hyland

PLAY / Tomorrow’s world

A Melbourne exhibition explores the blurred line between natural and synthetic life.

Synthetic biology, species de-extinction, chimera creatures, science fiction, AI and the blurred line between what’s natural and what’s not are explored in Not Natural, an exhibition by the Science Gallery at the University of Melbourne (February 17-June 29). As the only Aussie hub in the prestigious Global Science Gallery Network, Science Gallery Melbourne uses installations, performance and workshops to explore the dynamic bonds between science, art and innovation. Frances Mocnik

SHOP / Wringing endorsement

Nimble’s activewear range is made from plastic bottles and has been tested to withstand sweat, salt and chlorine.

Heaving a heavy gym bag around isn’t our ashtanga, but going from yoga to a beach swim is. Enter Australian activewear brand Nimble and its latest “Sweat to Splash” range. MoveLite is the hero fabric; made from plastic bottles diverted from landfill, it has been rigorously tested to withstand seasons of sweat, salt and chlorine. The 12-piece collection doesn’t sag or become misshapen when wet and, in response to the needs of real customers, the sports-bra range now supports larger sizes (shorts and bras, from $79 each). Namaste. Frances Mocnik

REFILL / Swipe right

Solmates’ refillable applicator may help reduce the hassle of applying sunscreen to kids.

Every so often, a product so blindingly simple and, at the same time, so fiendishly clever lands on our desk that we can’t help but fall a little bit in love. And so it was with these gorgeous little applicators from local start-up Solmates. You know all those half-filled bottles of sunscreen lotion that clutter up your bathroom, kitchen and car during the summer months - not to mention the struggle of actually applying it to the scrunched-up faces of disinclined offspring? Just decant about 50ml into these irresistibly fun, roll-top containers (made from ocean plastic, of course) and attach, by way of a silicon tether, to rucksacks and belts for easy, nag-free, on-the-go swiping. Mums and dads all over Australia are dropping to their knees in thanks ($30). Sharon Bradley

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