{"id":675985,"date":"2025-11-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/11\/21\/your-guide-to-falling-down-the-egyptology-rabbit-hole\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T00:00:00","slug":"your-guide-to-falling-down-the-egyptology-rabbit-hole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/11\/21\/your-guide-to-falling-down-the-egyptology-rabbit-hole\/","title":{"rendered":"Your guide to falling down the Egyptology rabbit hole"},"content":{"rendered":"

? The<\/strong> Grand Egyptian Museum, since its official <\/strong>opening<\/a><\/strong> earlier this month, <\/strong>has sparked unprecedented renewed interest in Ancient Egyptian civilization<\/strong> \u2014 with more than 20k visitors rushing to its gates the day following its opening, and over 35k<\/a> tickets sold on the first Friday after.<\/p>\n

With interest and curiosity come questions<\/strong>, and while most may be answered by walking through the Tutankhamun galleries<\/a> or gazing upon Khufu\u2019s marvelously preserved solar boats, some questions beget questions, triggering a never-ending spiral into all things magically Ancient Egyptian. What happened to Cleopatra VII\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n

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?\ufe0f DOCUMENTARIES WORTH YOUR TIME-<\/p>\n

Anthropologists and Egyptologists are some of the world\u2019s bravest unsung heroes.<\/strong> 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 \u2014 it\u2019s all part of the game. If you\u2019re curious to see how the world\u2019s treasures come to be found, here are some documentaries we\u2019d recommend pressing play on.<\/p>\n

#1- Unknown: The Lost Pyramid: <\/strong>An 84-minute documentary featuring two of Egypt\u2019s most famed archaeologists \u2014 Zahi Hawass and Mostafa Waziri \u2014 The Lost Pyramid<\/a> follows Hawass as he begins excavations in the Saqqara necropolis in search of the elusive Pyramid of Huni \u2014 one never found, but mentioned extensively in historic records. Simultaneously, Waziri is leading a different team of archaeologists in search of a rival discovery. <\/p>\n

While the pyramid remains elusive, the documentary showcases a slew of other <\/strong>awe-inspiring discoveries<\/strong>, 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\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n

WHERE TO WATCH-<\/strong> You can stream the documentary on Netflix<\/a>. You can also find the trailer on YouTube<\/a> (runtime: 1:54).<\/p>\n

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#2- Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb: <\/strong>Featuring a slew of Egyptian archaeologists, including Waziri, the documentary<\/a> \u2014 directed by James Tovell \u2014 follows a team of archeologists and local aides as they unearth a sealed, previously unearthed, and unlooted tomb belonging to Wahyte<\/a>, a high-ranking priest from Egypt\u2019s 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\u2019s a lengthy watch, so keep a plethora of snacks handy. <\/p>\n

WHERE TO WATCH-<\/strong>You can stream the documentary on Netflix<\/a>. You can also find the trailer on YouTube<\/a> (runtime: 2:13).<\/p>\n

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#3- Cleopatra\u2019s Final Secret: <\/strong>A fun tidbit of history, it\u2019s claimed that Cleopatra VII once said \u201cno man will find my tomb.\u201d 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<\/a> 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\u2019s Taposiris Magna. While the tomb itself remains undiscovered, Martinez and her team unearth several significant discoveries at the site. <\/p>\n

WHERE TO WATCH-<\/strong> Cleopatra\u2019s Final Secret aired<\/a> on National Geographic Abu Dhabi<\/a> in late October, and while no reruns have been announced thus far, we\u2019d expect there to be one soon enough. While not available to stream in Egypt, the docu-series can be found on Disney+<\/a> globally. Watch the trailer on YouTube<\/a> (runtime: 1:15).<\/p>\n

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? FILMS FOR YOUR PLEASURE-<\/p>\n

If documentaries just aren\u2019t your cup of ancient tea, there\u2019s no shortage of cinematic <\/strong>masterpieces on Ancient Egypt that are worth your time.<\/strong> If you\u2019re watching for the first time, do take everything with a grain \u2014 or a shipment \u2014 of salt, seeing as these tales are heavily fictionalized, and (sometimes very) loosely based on actual Ancient Egyptian history.<\/p>\n

#1- Cleopatra:<\/strong> The most popular \u2014 and expensive \u2014 cinematic work about Ancient Egypt, the 1963 Cleopatra<\/a>, starring Elizabeth Taylor as history\u2019s most enigmatic monarch, is one of Hollywood\u2019s most celebrated works. With an initial budget of USD 2 mn, the film ended up costing a staggering USD 44 mn \u2014 adjusted to inflation, that\u2019s around USD 450 mn today. <\/p>\n

The movie ended up yielding USD 57.7 mn in the box office<\/strong>, 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\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

WHERE TO WATCH-<\/strong> You can rent or buy Cleopatra on AppleTV<\/a>. Watch the trailer on YouTube<\/a> (runtime 4:47).<\/p>\n

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#2- The Mummy: <\/strong>A global cult classic starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, 1999\u2019s The Mummy<\/a> 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\u2019s all for the sake of drama \u2014 and isn\u2019t meant to be an accurate depiction of any sort. <\/p>\n

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

WHERE TO WATCH-<\/strong> You can stream The Mummy on Prime Video<\/a>. You can also find the trailer on YouTube<\/a> (runtime: 3:55).<\/p>\n

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Honorable (and not so honorable) mentions:<\/strong><\/p>\n