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Ancient Egypt
Welcome to Germany: Ramses II’s coffin unveiled
The coffin of Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II was unveiled amid high security. Photo
©Oliver Berger/dpa
Ramses II is considered a powerful ruler of ancient Egypt – and now you can get up close to the pharaoh’s aura at an exhibition in Cologne. Egypt is watching closely.
Arrival at Royal Box: The coffin of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II was unveiled in Cologne under high security measures. On Monday morning, a large transport box was carefully opened to reveal the precious sarcophagus to be shipped to Germany. The box was marked with “fragile” – indicating that the contents were truly fragile.
The coffin is part of an exhibition opening at the Odysseum Museum in Cologne on July 13. It is called “Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs” and will begin at GermanyThe haul, which has already caused quite a stir in Paris and elsewhere, contains more than 180 artifacts and Egyptian treasures, including sarcophagi, animal mummies, jewelry, royal masks and amulets.
Pharaoh Superlative
The most striking feature, however, is the sarcophagus of Ramses II (also known as Ramses the Great). It can only be seen at selected sites in the show – and now also at CologneRamses II is considered the most senior pharaoh, having come to power in 1213 BC when he was already in his 90s. He died. His tenure lasted 66 years, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world. He is also said to have had more than 100 children.
“Today we would say: He was an imperialist ruler. That would be a critical perspective,” Egyptology professor Richard Bousman explained at the unveiling. “You could also praise it and say: He had power. Egyptian extend.”
The coffin is a very interesting historical source because of the many inscriptions on it – what Bousman calls “archival notes”. They tell which tombs Ramses II was taken to after his death to protect him from tomb robbers. The coffin now on display was found with the mummy in an archaeological cemetery on the west bank of the Nile in 1881 and is an “emergency coffin” in which Ramses II was reburied over time. The mummy is now in Cairo.
The coffin is there and the sprinklers are off
The museum said it had been working on bringing the exhibition to Cologne for years. Until four months ago, it was unclear whether the coffins would also come. “This is a decision by the Egyptian authorities,” said Andreas Waschke, the Cologne organizer. The building was inspected by a “special delegation.” Among other things, the sprinkler system was switched off. The insurance amount is more than 1 billion euros. “Every one of these exhibits is an irretrievable treasure.”
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