Britain has long had an incredible appetite for everything Ancient Egypt. Spurred on by archaeologists in the 20th Century, British intrigue has helped to unveil a whole host of incredible discoveries across Egypt, laying the foundations for more local efforts to come.
As a result, the country has over a century of connection to the fascinating ancient civilisations of what was a titan of the Mediterranean. With all of their grand monuments, intricate antiquities, and fascinating mythologies, it’s easy to get wrapped up in Egyptology and the famed setting.
With another move to feed the need for more Ancient Egypt experiences, The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge kicked off its new Made in Ancient Egypt exhibit in October. They made the bold move to charge £14.50 to explore the exhibit, but feedback through its first month relays that it’s more than worth the cost.
Made in Ancient Egypt is Worth Every Penny
Many Ancient Egypt exhibits across museums around the world showcase a great many artefacts from the old kingdoms and explain what time they’re from and what they may have been used for. It’s a proven approach that never fails to draw in the crowds.
The Fitzwilliam Museum has pivoted the approach from the end product to the creators behind what are now prized artefacts. Made in Egypt is all about revealing the untold stories of the people who made the most fascinating pieces of their collection, as well as the technologies and techniques that made each work possible.
Among the most eye-catching Ancient Egyptian creations are the Books of Dead, the decorated coffins, the glass vessels, and the elaborate granite statues. It was a vast undertaking in many regards, and so, the museum decided to make Made in Ancient Egypt its first charged exhibition.
To bring it together, the exhibition required cutting-edge research to fulfil its vision of offering a truly unique, in-depth, and accurate look at the craftspeople of Ancient Egypt. Beyond the scale and work put in, the museum has also had to contend with a drop in Cambridge arts funding and the massive hike in transportation costs.
Fuelling the Fascination with Ancient Egypt
Even though a museum putting on a paid exhibit is a bit unexpected in the UK, the feedback so far certainly indicates that it’s warranted. The novel approach will only help to fuel our national fascination with Ancient Egypt, which has us looking for experiences far beyond the confines of museums and historical intrigue.
While there haven’t been many top-tier releases, 1999’s The Mummy remains a hugely popular flick that leans into both British archaeological ties to Egypt and punchy, fun, Indiana Jones-like action sequences. More prominently, due to being more recent and regular releases, however, Ancient Egypt meets the British fans in online gaming.
Across the vast collection of online slot machines, you’ll invariably find Ancient Egyptian games in the new, top picks, and popular sections. The vast Eye of Horus series is the prime example of this, from the original to its Jackpot King entry.
In the months ahead, there will be a new The Mummy movie. Trying to distinguish itself from the beloved action-comedy of 1999’s entry and the ill-fated Tom Cruise film from 2017, the 2026 The Mummy will be an all-in horror for a novel draw to the box office.
Perfectly timed to tap into the craze and what could be an increased interest in the field, the Made in Ancient Egypt exhibit will run until 12 April 2026, offering a unique look at the elaborate craftsmanship of one of the most iconic civilisations in history.
