Queens of ancient Egypt – these words stimulate the imagination, evoking images of exotic women dressed in exquisite robes and accompanying pharaohs in elaborate temple rituals. We owe these visions, at least in part, to 19th-century painters such as John Reinhard Weguelin (1849–1927) and Frederick Arthur Bridgman (1847–1928), who popularized Orientalist images of ancient Egyptian women.
Continue reading “The mystery of the vanishing queens of Late Period Egypt”
Aida, often referred to as an “Egyptian opera,” became a classic almost immediately after its premiere in 1871. Initially, it was intended to grace the celebrations marking the opening of the Suez Canal, but ultimately this plan did not come to fruition – more than two years passed between the inauguration of the Canal and the first performance of Aida. Set in ancient Egypt, it continues to attract thousands of viewers, fascinated by the tragic story of the main character and the stunning music by Giuseppe Verdi. Few people know that the “archaeological” character of this opera was the work of a man whose name is now known to every enthusiast of ancient Egypt – the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette (1821–1881).
Continue reading “An Egyptologist of the opera. Auguste Mariette and “Aida””
