Exhibition- Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt
The British museum
Completed 2022
Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt is a temporary exhibition at the British Museum marking 200 years since the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs. It explores the race to decode this ancient script, revealing the lives, beliefs, and stories of a civilisation through artefacts like the Rosetta Stone, papyri, and sarcophagi. Greenway Associates proudly served as Quantity Surveyors for this remarkable installation.
Detail of “The Book of the Dead” of Queen Nedjmet on Papyrus © The British Museum
OUR ROLE
Liam McFaul served as the lead Cost Consultant on this temporary installation.
Greenway Associates are honored to have worked alongside the British Museum for over 15 years, supporting numerous remarkable exhibitions, including this unforgettable project.
Hieroglyphs- a pictorial language © The British Museum
Temple lintel of King Amenemhat III © The British Museum
THE INSTALLATION
The Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt exhibition at the British Museum marks the bicentenary of the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs, offering an extraordinary glimpse into one of the world's oldest civilizations. This groundbreaking event delves into the mysteries of a language lost for centuries, showcasing how the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 revolutionised our understanding of ancient Egypt, unlocking over 3,000 years of history.
Rosetta Stone © The British Museum
The exhibition explores the journey of decoding hieroglyphs, spotlighting key figures like Jean-François Champollion and Thomas Young, whose tireless efforts transformed hieroglyphs from an enigma to a readable script. It traces the challenges and breakthroughs that enabled scholars to connect hieroglyphs, demotic script, and ancient Greek, revealing the richness of Egyptian culture and daily life. Visitors discover how hieroglyphs were not just symbols but a living, spoken language used for everything from poetry and treaties to tax records and jokes.
Artefacts on display include the iconic Rosetta Stone, ancient papyri, and intricately inscribed sarcophagi. These objects provide insights into the beliefs, humor, and daily practices of the ancient Egyptians, who cherished good food, letter-writing, and the promise of the afterlife. The exhibition also highlights the enduring fascination with Egypt in European and Arabic traditions, where hieroglyphs were often regarded as magical or alchemical.
Mummy bandage © The British Museum
The immersive design of the exhibition brings history to life, using the same inscriptions and objects studied by Champollion and his contemporaries. Alongside these artefacts, stories of international rivalry, groundbreaking discoveries, and human ingenuity are presented, capturing the drama and determination behind this monumental achievement.
“The Enchanted Basin” © The British Museum
Greenway Associates are proud to have been the appointed Quantity Surveyors to this captivating temporary installation, which celebrates the legacy of Egyptian hieroglyphs and their profound impact on our understanding of human history.
Cartonnage of the Lady Baketenhor © The British Museum
“Touching insight into the lives of ancient Egyptians”
“A fascinating show about how the code was cracked”
“A mesmerising show. Hugely rewarding”
PROJECT DETAILS
Client: The British Museum
Cost Consultants: Greenways Associates
Completed: 2022
For more information on this exhibition, or to talk about any other cultural project, please contact our Cultural Projects Expert, Jared Mensah.