Alison Jones discovers the reality of Ancient Egypt at an exhibition aiming to quash some of the more bizarre Hollywood theories.

Were the pyramids the work of aliens? Are the tombs of the Pharaohs cursed? And why would Raiders of the Lost Ark get a thumbs up from an Egyptologist when it comes to accuracy? A new exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry sets out to unravel some of these millennia old myths and mysteries, and also to expose visitors to pieces that have been packed away in storage, away from the public eye, for decades.

Secret Egypt has been curated by Chris Kirby, an Egyptologist and Head of Collections at the Herbert, together with his co-curator, and Keeper of Collections, Ali Wells.

Their aim was to create a showcase that stood out from other exhibitions, from the conventional displays of art or religious and historical objects.

“We wanted to take a subject that is generally well known but just approach it in a provocative and exciting way,” says Chris.

He was inspired by how much resonance the period still has today, that it continues to be a source of ideas for everything from blockbuster films, like Raiders, Stargate or The Mummy, to adverts for comparison websites.

“It has a got a lot of power in our society, it is something that people relate to. But there are misconceptions and misunderstandings about Ancient Egypt. In the exhibition we look at some of these enduring myths and at the evidence behind them, then we ask the visitor to reassess that evidence.”

The display will be divided into six themes, one of them sensationally titled “Did aliens build the pyramids?”, a tabloid-esque phrase that, Chris admits, got the British Museum a little rattled when he came asking for items to borrow.

“I think they were worried we were going to have some strange fringe theory going on but when I explained it they understood the approach.

“What the question does is demonstrate that there are some quite fantastic ideas about how ancient Egyptian monuments and pyramids were built, as if we had to find some science fiction explanation because it’s not possible for “primitive” people to have been able to build something as spectacular as the great pyramids.