Latest news with #RamessesII
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Apollo Art Auctions Presents: Fine Ancient Art & Antiquities
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link. LONDON, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apollo Art Auctions is proud to present Fine Ancient Art & Antiquities – The Prince Collection, taking place on 8th June 2025 at 1:00 PM GMT. The auction will be held live at our Central London showroom (63–64 Margaret Street, W1W 8SW) and online via the Apollo Art Auctions platform, offering collectors and institutions worldwide the opportunity to acquire rare and important works spanning millennia. This carefully curated sale features a spectacular range of antiquities from Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Viking, Medieval, and Western Asiatic cultures, dating from 6000 BC to 1600 AD. The Prince Collection offers not only exceptional artistry but also pieces with strong provenance and historical depth. Notable highlights include:Lot 2: Egyptian Sandstone Relief With Princess (Possibly Mut) - TranslatedThis exceptional sandstone relief of a princess (possibly Mut) and two lines of hieroglyphs to her right, comes with notable provenance and an impressive exhibition and publication history. It has been displayed at both the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art, and is featured in Dr. Gerry D. Scott III's authoritative volume, Temple, Tomb and Dwelling: Egyptian Antiquities from the Harer Family Trust Collection. Lot 3: Egyptian Granite Bust of a Goddess From the early reign of Ramesses II, this finely carved granite bust reflects the craftsmanship of New Kingdom Egypt. Notably featured on the cover of The Collector's Eye: Masterpieces of Egyptian Art from the Thalassic Collection, its published status underscores its cultural and scholarly value. Lot 9: Graeco-Egyptian Gold Coiled Bracelet with Snake FinialsA beautifully crafted gold bracelet dating to 225–175 BC, showcasing snake finials with symbolic ties to protection, fertility, and deities such as Isis. This luxurious item was likely worn by the social elite and is a strong example of cross-cultural artistry. Lot 73: Apulian Bell Krater with Dionysiac SceneA beautifully decorated vessel attributed to the Black Thyrsus Painter, depicting a Dionysiac celebration scene. This krater, once used for mixing wine, comes from the prestigious collection of Pierre Vérité, a renowned Parisian collector known for his connections to artists such as Picasso. Lot 91:Superb Greek Corinthian Bronze HelmetAn iconic representation of Ancient Greek warfare, the Corinthian helmet remains a cornerstone of any serious militaria or classical antiquities collection. This example is particularly noteworthy for its distinguished provenance, having come from Joseph Mairitsch in Vienna, renowned for his collection of ancient art. What sets this helmet apart is the presence of dual plume attachments, a rare feature that suggests it may have been worn during a victory parade or ceremonial celebration, rather than standard battle use. All lots will be available for in-person preview by appointment at our London showroom. Our experienced, white-gloved team oversees all aspects of handling and in-house global shipping. For more information, to book a viewing, or to register to bid:enquiries@ | +44 7424 994167Explore the catalogue and register online at: in to access your portfolio
New York Post
21-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Expert identifies ancient ‘propaganda' praising an infamous pharaoh who may have challenged Moses
Ancient 'propaganda' that was used to support the Egyptian pharaoh who is believed to be a major character of the Old Testament has been spotted in Paris, according to an expert. Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, an Egyptologist from Paris-Sorbonne University and Institut Catholique de Paris, recently spoke with Fox News Digital about his findings, which are set to be published in the coming months. The expert found the propaganda, which is supportive of Ramesses II, on the 3,300-year-old obelisk that sits in Paris' Place de la Concorde. Olette-Pelletier saw the obelisk up close in 2021 after receiving permission to climb scaffolding to conduct research. Ramesses II, who was born in 1303 B.C. and died in 1213 B.C., is considered one of the most influential and powerful Egyptian rulers of the New Kingdom. The Egyptian monarch is often cited as the most likely candidate for the pharaoh mentioned in Exodus, though an explicit name was never given in the Old Testament. The pharaoh is said to have retaliated against Moses and refused his requests in Exodus — resulting in a series of plagues. Olette-Pelletier called the pro-Ramesses hieroglyphs 'propaganda.' 3 The Luxor obelisk on the Place de la Concorde in Paris seen on May 15, 2025. AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard He identified seven cryptographies, or codes, which assert Ramesses II's authority from 1280 B.C. on. 'It was a message from Ramesses II to the nobility,' the expert said, noting the Egyptian nobility were able to read the codes. Olette-Pelletier said Ramesses II was born before his father Seti I became pharaoh – and therefore was not conceived by the gods. Not being of divine essence could have hampered his legitimacy to the throne. 'The nobility, able to read cryptographies, might be tempted by an overthrow of power since Ramesses II was not born of theogamy and therefore not divine by birth,' Olette-Pelletier said. 3 Egyptian hieroglyphs seen on the side of the Luxor obelisk. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier The expert added, '[Ramesses II] spent the first two years of his reign emphasizing his divinity with his wife Nefertari by paying homage at Egypt's great shrines, and by buying priests.' 'In the process, he changed his name from Usermaatra to Usermaatra Setepenra, [which means] 'chosen of Ra.'' The obelisk has four sides, and Olette-Pelletier noted that the side that faces the Seine (and was intended to face the Nile) shows Ramesses II 'wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.' The expert also said that Ramesses II 'underlined his divine knowledge' by using codes to convey the swaying messages. 3 According to French Egyptologist Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, the obelisk has ancient propaganda in support of Ramesses II is written on the side. AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard 'The obelisk also contains hidden texts that show the nobility that he is a legitimate and divine king, thus averting a possible coup d'état,' Olette-Pelletier said. 'So, indeed, these are propaganda texts.' The cryptographies also claim that Ramesses II was the 'provider of the Nile flood and thus of the country's wealth,' according to Olette-Pelletier. The discovery is one of many finds related to Ramesses II that have been uncovered in the past year. In September, an ancient sword belonging to Ramesses' military was unearthed in Housh Eissa, a city in Egypt's Beheira Governorate. In January, Egyptian officials announced they would begin to restore Ramesses II's temple in the Luxor Governorate, the Ramesseum.
Fox News
21-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Expert identifies ancient 'propaganda' praising pharaoh who may have challenged Moses
Ancient "propaganda" that was used to support the Egyptian pharaoh who is believed to be a major character of the Old Testament has been spotted in Paris, according to an expert. Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, an Egyptologist from Paris-Sorbonne University and Institut Catholique de Paris, recently spoke with Fox News Digital about his findings, which are set to be published in the coming months. The expert found the propaganda, which is supportive of Ramesses II, on the 3,300-year-old obelisk that sits in Paris' Place de la Concorde. Olette-Pelletier saw the obelisk up close in 2021 after receiving permission to climb scaffolding to conduct research. Ramesses II, who was born in 1303 B.C. and died in 1213 B.C., is considered one of the most influential and powerful Egyptian rulers of the New Kingdom. The Egyptian monarch is often cited as the most likely candidate for the pharaoh mentioned in Exodus, though an explicit name was never given in the Old Testament. The pharaoh is said to have retaliated against Moses and refused his requests in Exodus — resulting in a series of plagues. Olette-Pelletier called the pro-Ramesses hieroglyphs "propaganda." He identified seven cryptographies, or codes, which assert Ramesses II's authority from 1280 B.C. on. "It was a message from Ramesses II to the nobility," the expert said, noting the Egyptian nobility were able to read the codes. Olette-Pelletier said Ramesses II was born before his father Seti I became pharaoh – and therefore was not conceived by the gods. Not being of divine essence could have hampered his legitimacy to the throne. "The nobility, able to read cryptographies, might be tempted by an overthrow of power since Ramesses II was not born of theogamy and therefore not divine by birth," Olette-Pelletier said. The expert added, "[Ramesses II] spent the first two years of his reign emphasizing his divinity with his wife Nefertari by paying homage at Egypt's great shrines, and by buying priests." "In the process, he changed his name from Usermaatra to Usermaatra Setepenra, [which means] 'chosen of Ra.'" The obelisk has four sides, and Olette-Pelletier noted that the side that faces the Seine (and was intended to face the Nile) shows Ramesses II "wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt." The expert also said that Ramesses II "underlined his divine knowledge" by using codes to convey the swaying messages. "The obelisk also contains hidden texts that show the nobility that he is a legitimate and divine king, thus averting a possible coup d'état," Olette-Pelletier said. "So, indeed, these are propaganda texts." The cryptographies also claim that Ramesses II was the "provider of the Nile flood and thus of the country's wealth," according to Olette-Pelletier. The discovery is one of many finds related to Ramesses II that have been uncovered in the past year. In September, an ancient sword belonging to Ramesses' military was unearthed in Housh Eissa, a city in Egypt's Beheira Governorate. In January, Egyptian officials announced they would begin to restore Ramesses II's temple in the Luxor Governorate, the Ramesseum.
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- The Guardian
Inside the world's largest archeology museum - the Grand Egyptian Museum in pictures
A visitor looks out towards the Giza pyramid complex at the world's largest archeological museum, which is slated to fully open this summer outside of Cairo. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images The museum's main hall. Sprawling over more than 100 acres and featuring some 100,000 artifacts, it is the largest museum devoted to a single civilization. Photograph: Daniel Greenhouse/Alamy A statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the museum's main hall. Egypt's longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak first proposed the museum in 1992, and construction on the project began in 2005. Photograph:After years of delays due to political unrest and the Covid-19 pandemic, parts of the museum opened in 2023 to limited tours. Photograph: Tamer Adel/Alamy The museum's grand opening is slated for 3 July 2025. Photograph: Robin Jerstad/Alamy Officials have said they expect the museum to draw 5 million visitors per year. Photograph: Robin Jerstad/Alamy Photograph:The top of the main building is level with the Giza pyramids. Photograph: GEM The building's facade pays tribute to the nearby pyramids and is made of translucent alabaster stone. Photograph: Tamer Adel/Alamy The original Egyptian Museum, in Cairo's Tahrir Square, will continue to operate. Photograph: robertharding/Alamy However many of its artifacts, including those from the reign of Tutankhamun, have been or will be relocated to the new museum. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images The final transportation and installation of a granite statue of Ramses II in 2018. Officials spent years assembling the museum's collection. Photograph: Barry Iverson/Alamy Today the statue presides over the museum's main hall. Photograph:Designers say the building's climate-smart designs – which include a reflective roof, external shading and resource-efficient lighting – help it save more than 60% in energy costs and reduce water use by a third. Photograph: David Ribeiro/Alamy An Egyptian archeologist works next to the gilded coffin of King Tutankhamun, which underwent an eight-month restoration process, the first since the tomb was discovered in 1922. Around 150 conservators and researchers work on-site restoring and studying artifacts. Many of the artifacts on display are being shown to the public for the first time. Photograph: Mohamed Hossam/EPA
CairoScene
02-05-2025
- General
- CairoScene
Secret Messages on Egyptian Obelisk in Paris Decoded After 3,300 Years
Hieroglyphs on the Luxor Obelisk in Paris reveal cleverly hidden propaganda praising Pharaoh Ramesses II as divinely ordained. May 02, 2025 Cryptic hieroglyphics on the top of a 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk in Paris' Place de la Concorde have only just been found, and now their secret message has finally been decoded. Recent research by Egyptologist Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier suggests the inscriptions were a masterclass in ancient propaganda, designed to cement Pharaoh Ramesses II's divine legitimacy. Carved near the monument's summit, the hieroglyphs declare Ramesses II 'chosen by the gods' and of 'divine essence,' visible primarily to Nile travellers during its original placement in Luxor. The western side, once oriented toward the Nile, depicts Ramesses making offerings to the god Amun - a symbolic gesture meant to reinforce his right to rule. The obelisk also employs a sophisticated technique called three-dimensional cryptography, where hieroglyphs shift meaning based on reading direction. For instance, one inscription alternates between Ramesses' full throne name (Usermaatre Setepenre) and a declaration of his eternal reign when read left-to-right versus right-to-left. These messages, visible to elites and religious audiences during Nile voyages, blended spiritual symbolism with royal authority. While some scholars urge caution until peer review, Olette-Pelletier argues these carvings were tailored for elite audiences, blending political messaging with religious symbolism. The 23-metre monument, gifted to France in 1830, once served as a billboard of royal authority - proving ancient rulers knew a thing or two about spin. The findings await publication in Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne.
