Join us for the 2025 Touring Exhibitions Pavilion in Paris on 14-16 January
GODDESSES IN EGYPT’S SUNKEN CITIES: ISIS AND APHRODITE
The exhibition focuses on famous and powerful goddesses and queens of antiquity whose names and legends persist to this day. The show reveals the existence and importance of the cults to goddess Isis (identified by the Greeks as goddess Aphrodite) by presenting original finds of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) under the direction of Franck Goddio, from the sunken ancient cities of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus off the coast of Egypt and the legendary Portus Magnus of Alexandria.
ARCHAEOLOGY PROVES HISTORY: THREE MYTHICAL, BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL WOMEN
In each of these three sunken sites, where mythology meets great history, this fascinating cult to Isis-Aphrodite took different aspects and extraordinarily beautiful and powerful women of history have been associated with them. Following the footsteps of Isis-Aphrodite, the exhibition in fact reveals the links that iconic, historical or legendary women who were identified with this goddess, or who considered themselves to be her, had with these sites: Helena of Troy, queen Arsinoë II the famous Cleopatra VII. The exhibition vividly proves their presence by presenting original archaeological evidence.
PREMIERE: REALISTIC 3D RECONSTRUCTIONS OF TEMPLES TO APHRODITE AND ISIS TAKE VISITORS TO SUNKEN CITIES
Thanks to recent archaeological excavations, the realistic 3-D rendering of an Aphrodite temple (tholos) in Thonis-Heracleion could be created, including its architectural elements, furniture, ritual instruments and donations recovered from the remains of the sanctuary. This reconstruction of a Doric Order tholos with its original religious furnishing is of great historical importance. The tholos was founded in the late 5th century BCE or very early 4th century BCE. It collapsed into a canal during an earthquake in the mid-2nd century BCE. The natural disaster helped to preserve the remains of it on the seabed.
The latest archaeological excavations also made it possible to create a 3-D reconstruction of the temple of Isis on the Royal Island of Antirhodos in Alexandria, where Cleopatra VII had also a palace. This sanctuary, founded by Cleopatra’s father, was a site of prime importance for the queen who considered herself to be the goddess Isis-Aphrodite and for her lover Marc Antony who considered himself to be Osiris-Dionysos. This major historical monument is revealed for the first time with its architectural elements, furniture, ritual instruments, interior decoration and artefacts from the treasury such as royal and imperial donations, all recently discovered in the ruins of the sanctuary. The Isis temple was destroyed by an earthquake around 55 CE.
GENERAL CURATORSHIP: Franck Goddio, President and founder of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), is an archaeologist of almost 40 years standing. He instigated underwater research and excavation in Aboukir Bay, where the two long lost towns of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus were discovered. In Alexandria he explored, mapped and excavated the Eastern harbour (Portus Magnus). He co-founded the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at Oxford University (OCMA). The excavations are still on going.
LENDER: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt. Either discoveries from Franck Goddio's research or lend from museums, all the artefacts presented in the exhibition come from Egypt.
MUSEOGRAPHER: Martine Thomas-Bourgneuf, a freelance museographer, was involved in earlier exhibitions with archaeologist Franck Goddio such as “The Treasure of the San Diego”, “Egypt’s Sunken Treasures”, and “Osiris, Egypt’s Sunken Mysteries”.
SCENOGRAPHER: Atelier Sylvain Roca is a world-across exhibit and interior design studio.
Curatorial excellence / Treasure collection
The rare specificities of this exhibition are that it is an extension of recent archaeological research, supplemented by loans from Egyptian museums. Franck Goddio is monitoring the exhibition's itinerary, and is available to brief museum teams and marketing teams, and to give scientific or general public talks as required.
For Franck Goddio setting up an exhibition is the logical extension and the natural successful outcome of his work as an underwater archaeologist and excavation director. In the past, he has curated near 20 great exhibitions directly linked to his excavations in the Egyptian waters showcasing between 150 and 500 items throughout the world. The exhibitions are been designed to be modular and adaptable, easily installable and dismountable. Lighting systems are included in the majority of the displays.
The artefacts presented are originals on loan from Egypt and are the results of the underwater archaeology conducted by IEASM.
PAST VENUES
“Egypt’s Sunken Mysteries” 2015 – 2021 (Each venue lasted 6 months)
consisted of 293 objects. It was shown in Paris,Institut du monde arabe; London, British Museum; Zurich, Rietberg Museum; Saint-Louis (MO) Saint Louis Art Museum; Minneapolis (MN) Minneapolis Art Museum; Simi Valley (CA), Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, and Richmond (VA), Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
“Cleopatra, the Search for the last Queen of Egypt” 2010 – 2013
Extension of exhibition “Egypt’s Sunken Treasures”, presenting 142 objects. A collaboration with National Geographic and Arts & Exhibitions International, the exhibition toured Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Los Angeles.
“Egypt’s Sunken Treasures” 2006-2009
Over 500 items discovered during underwater excavations in Egypt illustrated more than 1500 years of history, particularly the Ptolemaic period. It was shown in Berlin, Paris, Bonn, Madrid, Turin and Yokohama.
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The Touring Exhibitions Pavilion is the annual event dedicated to international travelling exhibitions in Paris.
A large friendly pavilion space welcomes exhibitions professionals for 2 days of networking, conferences and meetings, followed by 1 day of exhibition visits.
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