Search

The current paper explores the reasons of the outstanding role of ancient Egypt in the first universal exhibition held in London (1851), and especially in the later one held in Paris (1867). The Crystal Palace in London housed an interesting replica of Egyptian architecture, as well as number of antiquities from the land of the Nile. In a similar fashion, Auguste Mariette designed an Egyptian temple in the exhibition venue in Paris (1867), transferring to the French capital the Pharaonic architecture in a true way. In this cultural realm many projects were conceived, such as the sculpture by Bartholdi for the Suez Canal (which inspired his colosal Statue of Liberty in New York), or his sculpture dedicated to Champollion. Through the universal exhibitions of the nineteenth century the image of ancient Egypt became more true and exact, although it maintained its exotic appeal, which somehow is still present in the Egyptomania, as a trace of our cultural legacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]