the sarcophagus of Ramses II takes up residence in Paris

Ramses II welcomes us in majesty. His colossal head in red granite opens the exhibition. This half-man, half-lion sphinx also has the features of the pharaoh. 181 unique pieces are gathered, many had never left Egypt, such as the cedar wood coffin, which housed the mummy of the king of kings. The refinement subjugates, Friday April 7 in the morning, the very first visitors. “The luxury, the quality of the craftsmen’s work, it’s magnificent”, appreciate a woman. A team of a dozen people accompanies these works all over the world.

140,000 tickets have already been sold

At its head, Jackie Hoff, logistics manager for World Heritage Exhibitions. The American oversees the installation of a 750 kg limestone colossus that day. In Paris, 140,000 tickets have already been sold, at 24 euros per entry. As in 2018 for Tutankhamun, the exhibition Ramses and the gold of the pharaohs is organized by an American company, which pays the Egyptian authorities a sum kept secret, and then offers this turnkey exhibition to as many countries as possible. Three years ago, the Parisian exhibition dedicated to Tutankhamun broke all records, with 1.5 million visitors in 6 months. Egypt receives a percentage on each ticket sold. This gigantic project is about to be completed, not far from the pyramids of Giza.