Queens of Egypt. Through September 2, 2019 at the National Geographic Museum in Washington D.C.

Queens of Egypt.  Through September 2, 2019 at the National Geographic Museum in Washington D.C. 

This exhibit focuses on seven Egyptian queens from the New Kingdom period, beginning with Ahmose-Nefertari (who reigned from 1539 to 1514 B.C.) and culminating with Cleopatra (technically known as Cleopatra VII).  It includes historical objects on loan from five European and Canadian museums, with most on loan from Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy.  These objects include a pair of Nefertari's sandals as well as a model of her lavishly decorated two-level catacomb augmented with a virtual presentation that can be viewed with virtual-reality glasses. The exhibit also presents a rare portrait bust of Cleopatra VII from Museo Egizio that has never been displayed in the U.S.  Visitors are even invited to smell some of the heady perfumes used by these queens, particularly Cleopatra who actually wrote a treatise about perfume production and formulas she developed herself.

Beautifully decorated tomb of Queen Nefertari in the Valley of the Kings.  Image courtesy of Flickr user kairoinfo4u.

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