Cover The ancient Egyptian statue of Merenptah at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
The ancient Egyptian statue of Merenptah at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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The statues of Pharaoh Merenptah, Princess Shepenwepet II and goddess Iunit were unveiled today at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which is set to host the city’s largest Egyptian exhibition next month.
The Hong Kong Palace Museum today unveiled three remarkable sculptures from ancient Egypt: the Striding Statue of Merenptah (1213–1203 BCE), the Striding Statue of Shepenwepet II, God’s Wife of Amun (about 747–656 BCE) and the Seated Statue of Iunit (1550–1295 BC). These will be featured among 250 treasures in the forthcoming exhibition Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums, opening on November 20, 2025.
Running until August 31, 2026, in Gallery 9, the exhibition is described as the most comprehensive and longest‑running presentation of ancient Egyptian masterpieces ever staged in Hong Kong. It marks the first time the city has hosted artefacts and recent archaeological discoveries on loan directly from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), the owner and lender of all pieces in the showcase.
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Above A staff member from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities inspecting the ancient Egyptian statue of Merenptah at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
A staff member from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities inspecting the ancient Egyptian statue of Merenptah at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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The centrepiece unveiled today, Pharaoh Merenptah’s Striding Statue, measures 2.4 metres tall and weighs more than 1,700 kilograms, making it the heaviest artefact in the show. Merenptah—son and successor to Rameses II—is depicted striding forward, arms by his sides, crowned with the royal nemes headdress and uraeus cobra, both symbols of divine authority. The regal posture embodies power, vitality and command, while the sculpture’s masterful proportions typify the artistry of the New Kingdom and its lasting influence on Egyptian royal portraiture.
“This sculpture is idealised. Nobody in their sixties or seventies can look this fit,” says Daisy Wang, the deputy director of curatorial and programming for the Hong Kong Palace Museum. “Pharaohs are human yet sacred beings. This image of Merenptah reflects divinity rather than realism.” Examination of Merenptah’s mummy has shown that he suffered age‑related ailments, including circulatory and joint problems.
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Above From left: the ancient Egyptian statues of Shepenwepet II and Iunit (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
From left: the ancient Egyptian statues of Shepenwepet II and Iunit (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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Equally significant are the statues of Shepenwepet II and Iunit. The former (25th dynasty, about 747-656BCE) portrays the daughter of King Piankhy, who held the distinguished title God’s Wife of Amun, one of ancient Egypt’s most prestigious religious roles. She is shown in a fitted dress, left arm raised to hold a flywhisk symbolising authority. The piece reflects both deep religious devotion and the political influence of royal women in temple life.
The latter (18th dynasty, about 1550–1295 BCE) was discovered in the 1980s and identifies the Theban goddess, consort of the war god Montu. Iunit is sculpted with a full wig, seated upright, both hands resting on her knees. Her right hand holds the ankh, which is the ancient Egyptian “key of life”. During the New Kingdom, Iunit was worshipped at the Temple of Karnak in Thebes as part of the divine pantheon.
Above Team members from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Hong Kong Palace Museum unboxing the ancient Egyptian statue of Merenptah at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Team members from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Hong Kong Palace Museum unboxing the ancient Egyptian statue of Merenptah at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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At today’s press conference, Dr Louis Ng, director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, said that his museum has a three-year track record of safely handling national treasures during their transportation, installation and exhibition. “Every single Egyptian exhibit in this show is a national treasure,” he says. “So we’re paying great attention to its safety.” As well as making special arrangements on the storage, transportation and display of the relics with the SCA, the museum has also enhanced its security so that it meets the highest international standards.
Plans for the Hong Kong exhibition began after Ng attended the opening of a parallel presentation of SCA treasures at the Shanghai Museum in 2024. “After six months of discussion with the SCA and another six months of arrangements, I’m pleased that we can bring these treasures to Hong Kong,” he says.
“This collaboration not only showcases an extraordinary collection of artefacts but also reflects our commitment to curatorial innovation, cultural exchange and heritage inheritance.”
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Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
