🔎 The Grand Egyptian Museum, since its official opening earlier this month, has sparked unprecedented renewed interest in Ancient Egyptian civilization — with more than 20k visitors rushing to its gates the day following its opening, and over 35k tickets sold on the first Friday after.

With interest and curiosity come questions, and while most may be answered by walking through the Tutankhamun galleries or gazing upon Khufu’s marvelously preserved solar boats, some questions beget questions, triggering a never-ending spiral into all things magically Ancient Egyptian. What happened to Cleopatra VII’s tomb? What does the Book of the Dead say? What secrets are yet to be uncovered? And what better way to satiate our collective curiosities than by indulging in all things Egyptology?

🎞️ DOCUMENTARIES WORTH YOUR TIME-

Anthropologists and Egyptologists are some of the world’s bravest unsung heroes. Scouring through the sands and the earths, their days are spent in search of the unknown. While that search may bear fruit, it also may not — it’s all part of the game. If you’re curious to see how the world’s treasures come to be found, here are some documentaries we’d recommend pressing play on.

#1- Unknown: The Lost Pyramid: An 84-minute documentary featuring two of Egypt’s most famed archaeologists — Zahi Hawass and Mostafa Waziri — The Lost Pyramid follows Hawass as he begins excavations in the Saqqara necropolis in search of the elusive Pyramid of Huni — one never found, but mentioned extensively in historic records. Simultaneously, Waziri is leading a different team of archaeologists in search of a rival discovery.

While the pyramid remains elusive, the documentary showcases a slew of other awe-inspiring discoveries, including a 16-meter-long, perfectly preserved papyrus found by Waziri, and aptly called the Waziri Papyrus. The documentary highlights the difficult nature of the profession, the sacrifices made, and the brutal nature of the environments explored. You’ll watch as new mummies are unearthed and treasures found, with a series of interviews with archaeologists dotted throughout, narrating little known facts about Ancient Egypt.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can stream the documentary on Netflix. You can also find the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 1:54).

#2- Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb: Featuring a slew of Egyptian archaeologists, including Waziri, the documentary — directed by James Tovell — follows a team of archeologists and local aides as they unearth a sealed, previously unearthed, and unlooted tomb belonging to Wahyte, a high-ranking priest from Egypt’s fifth dynasty. With commendable direction and production, insightful expert interviews, and unfiltered exposition, the 2020 documentary details one of the biggest archaeological discoveries in recent years. It’s a lengthy watch, so keep a plethora of snacks handy.

WHERE TO WATCH-You can stream the documentary on Netflix. You can also find the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:13).

#3- Cleopatra’s Final Secret: A fun tidbit of history, it’s claimed that Cleopatra VII once said “no man will find my tomb.” While the statement has been debunked by many, it remained a challenge to one Kathleen Martinez, a Dominican lawyer-turned-archaeologist who saw the statement as a challenge, for she is no man. Martinez approached Hawass, who granted her the license to begin excavations, though it did not come easy. The docu-series follows Martinez, alongside the Egyptian navy and Titanic-finder Bob Ballard, as they begin their search for the tomb of the iconic Ptolemaic Pharaoh, whom they believe is buried in Alexandria’s Taposiris Magna. While the tomb itself remains undiscovered, Martinez and her team unearth several significant discoveries at the site.

WHERE TO WATCH- Cleopatra’s Final Secret aired on National Geographic Abu Dhabi in late October, and while no reruns have been announced thus far, we’d expect there to be one soon enough. While not available to stream in Egypt, the docu-series can be found on Disney+ globally. Watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 1:15).

🍿 FILMS FOR YOUR PLEASURE-

If documentaries just aren’t your cup of ancient tea, there’s no shortage of cinematic masterpieces on Ancient Egypt that are worth your time. If you’re watching for the first time, do take everything with a grain — or a shipment — of salt, seeing as these tales are heavily fictionalized, and (sometimes very) loosely based on actual Ancient Egyptian history.

#1- Cleopatra: The most popular — and expensive — cinematic work about Ancient Egypt, the 1963 Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor as history’s most enigmatic monarch, is one of Hollywood’s most celebrated works. With an initial budget of USD 2 mn, the film ended up costing a staggering USD 44 mn — adjusted to inflation, that’s around USD 450 mn today.

The movie ended up yielding USD 57.7 mn in the box office, returns barely covering the costs incurred by 20th Century Fox, which sold swathes of land to pay for it. The film follows Julius Caesar’s arrival in Egypt and the ensuing events that saw Egypt become part of the Roman empire after the queen’s death.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can rent or buy Cleopatra on AppleTV. Watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime 4:47).

#2- The Mummy: A global cult classic starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, 1999’s The Mummy follows a group of treasure hunters as they venture to Egypt to uncover long-hidden treasures. They do find treasures indeed, but they find something far more sinister: living mummies on a quest for vengeance. Given its year of production, the film still holds up quite well in terms of visual effects and production. While it perpetuates the prevalent stereotypes pertaining to supposed Ancient Egyptian curses and the like, it’s all for the sake of drama — and isn’t meant to be an accurate depiction of any sort.

So successful was the film that it was followed by a series of sequels, as well as a 2017 remake starring Tom Cruise, which is available to stream on Netflix. A 2026 remake directed by serial horror director Lee Cronin is also in the works.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can stream The Mummy on Prime Video. You can also find the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 3:55).

Honorable (and not so honorable) mentions:

💡 NON-FICTION READS-

The Ancient Egyptians didn’t have the luxury of digital streaming — that we know of — and so ink and chisel were the only means of storytelling. So much of Ancient History was written down, and so much has survived for your reading pleasure.

#1- The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead: Straight from the source, the Book of theDead includes a plethora of prayers, incantations, and rites pertaining to the Ancient Egyptians’ belief of the afterlife. It’s a true trove of information for those amongst us who seek a deeper understanding of the Egyptians’ way of life (and death). The book is essentially a guide to the Papyrus of Ani, currently in the possession of the British Museum, which details ancient funerary rituals.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can read the Book of the Dead on Project Gutenberg. Keep an eye on AUC Press and Diwan for a restock of the paperback edition.

#2- Ancient Egypt: A Photographic History: Divided into the different eras of Ancient Egyptian history, this photographic encyclopedia put together by British anthropologist Nigel Fletcher-Jones details over 4k years of civilization, with a slew of Ancient monuments accompanied by intriguing descriptions, drawing a semi-complete picture of Egyptology.

WHERE TO GET IT-You can find the book at Diwan and AUC Bookstores.

#3- Women in Ancient Egypt: Published in 2022 by the AUC Press, Women in AncientEgypt is the culmination of 24 international scholars’ research on women’s lives in Ancient Egypt. The book, edited by Egyptologist Mariam Ayad, details the role — and status — of women in Ancient society across multiple aeons in chronological order, noting changes in stature throughout the years.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can find the book at AUC Bookstores.

#4- Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt: First published in 1986, Robert A. Armour’s study of the ancient deities is one of the genre’s most celebrated classics. The book covers a collection of Ancient Egyptian mythical tales, and is essentially a one-stop-literary-shop if you’re interested in knowing more about the gods and goddesses worshipped in Egypt millennia ago. The book is also supplemented by a variety of photographs and illustrations.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can find the book at AUC Bookstores.

Honorable mentions:

📚 FANTASTICAL FICTION-

An Egyptology buff but not so much a history one? Here are a few of our favoritenovels showcasing, depicting, or inspired by Ancient Egyptian civilization.

#1- Neferura: Published in February 2024, Neferura by Egyptologist Malayna Evans is a mythological fiction perfect for fans of Madeline Circe and Natalie Haynes. The novel tells the story of Neferura, the forgotten daughter of the iconic Egyptian woman-king: Hatshepsut. The novel offers a fictional account of Neferura’s life during the reign of her mother, detailing life at court and its treacheries and never-ending scheming. The power struggle between Hatshepsut and Thutmose III is at the center of the story, narrated by the oft-forgotten daughter.

While the novel succeeds at offering an intricately-woven political drama, it may not contain much reference to Egyptian mythology in an academic sense.

WHERE TO READ IT- You can find Neferura as an eBook on Amazon. You can also place a special order at The Bookspot.

#2- The Antiquity Affair: If you’re in a reading slump, this is the kind of book that will get you out of it. Published in 2023, The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelly follows two daughters of a famed American Egyptologist as they one day find themselves in Cairo, trying to stop a secret society from getting their hands on a legendary Egyptian artefact said to bestow ultimate power upon its owner. While the novel takes place in 20th century Cairo, many facets of Ancient Egypt are showcased through the Indiana-Jones-esque plot. Plus, who wouldn’t want to read a criminal chase through the halls of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir?

WHERE TO GET IT- You can find the eBook on Amazon or listen to the audiobook on Storytel.

Honorable mentions:

  • Death comes as the End, Agatha Christie — Amazon ;
  • The Heretic Queen, Michelle Moran — Amazon ;
  • River God, Wilbur Smith — Amazon.

🤔 GRAB YOUR TINFOIL HAT-

What if the Ancient Egyptians were right about reincarnation? Born in 1904, British Dorothy Eady was only three years old when she died and was resuscitated. The years following saw Eady exhibit a series of unconventional behaviors, claim she is far from home, and begin relaying dreams where she is visited by mysterious god-like figures. As the years would pass, Eady would find the Egyptian exhibit in the British Museum, run up and cry, “this is my home.”

Eady began showing immense interest in Egyptology, claiming to have been the lover of Seti I in a past life. She moved to Egypt, married an Egyptian with whom she had a son called Seti, and came to be known for the rest of her life as Umm Seti. Her contributions to Egyptology are numerous, and at times, spine-chilling. Eady would make wild claims pertaining to certain rituals, hidden locations, and religious practices. These claims would all come to be confirmed without fail, begging the question: was Eady truly a reincarnation of a priestess who sinned by taking a Pharaoh as a lover? To this particular question, the answer was never found. The case of Dorothy Eady remains a mystery to this day.

You can find out more about Dorothy Eady by watching this YouTube video, or by reading The Search for Omm Setty by Jonathan Cott, available on Amazon, and Omm Sety’s Egypt by Hanny El Zeiny and Catherine Dees, available as an eBook and paperback on Amazon.

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