Millions of modern tourists have no doubt stood where chose to capture his Sphynx and Pyramid of Ghizeh in 1857. But there is something hidden, a history as yet unearthed, in Frith's image, for the feet of the mysterious creature are yet to be fully excavated. It is as though, notes the caption, he is "rising out of the sand"...

When Maxime Du Camp published the first illustrated book of images of the Middle East, it became a bestseller. In 1849, the French government, concerned that the Egyptian people would squander their own history, sent Du Camp to Egypt to photograph archaeological sites and inscriptions. His travelling companion was Gustave Flaubert, who wrote: "I had my first sight of the Orient through, or rather in, a glowing light that was like melted silver on the sea..."

In Ascension of the Grand Pyramid, Peridis captures a group of Europeans being escorted, sometimes hand in hand, by evidently friendly locals. "I've found heaps of these images," Finch says. "One of the rationales for these photos was that they presented a really safe view of Egypt. The idea that you could go and, even though it was in this very exotic location, it was welcoming and they would help you..."

Small Worlds: Travel photography of the nineteenth century, National Gallery of Victoria, Australia.

Distant memories, The Age, Australia, May 12, 2007.

As it turns out, movers and shakers in ancient Egypt had a lot in common with their counterparts in the modern world.

Paperwork piled up, waiting for signatures. Out-of-town business required time-consuming travel. And, of course, there were the obligatory schmooze-fests that one had to attend as much for the politicking as the partying.

The Triangle's high rollers can get an up-close look at the similarities and differences between their lifestyles and those of their financial forebears courtesy of the Temples and Tombs exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The travelling exhibit runs from April 15 through July 8 [2007] on loan from the British Museum. It showcases 85 pieces of art that are more than 3,000 years old.

The exhibit cost around $1 million to bring to town, and so far has attracted north of 15,000 visitors, an attendance number that Museum of Art Director Larry Wheeler would like to see pep up...

Egypt exhibit shows 'movers and shakers' haven't changed all that much, Triangle Business Journal, Wisconsin, USA, May 11, 2007.

Ministry of Culture will carry on with the second and the third stages of a project of developing the Valley of Kings in Luxor City, Upper Egypt. The first stage, which started three years ago, finished by building an international centre for guests.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Zahi Hawass said the centre is an example of the Egyptian government's plans for the renovation of the Valley of the Kings that first came to light in Japan.

Hawass added the second and third stages will be completed in cooperation with the Italian side.

Culture ministry carries on with 2nd, 3rd stages of kings' valley renovation, Egypt State Information Service, Egypt, May 14, 2007.

The director of the British Museum told Akhbar Al-Youm on 12/5/2007 that it was considering an Egyptian request to display the Rosette Stone at the Grand Museum of Egypt due to open in 2011.

Hana Bolton said the museum will look seriously into the Egyptian request.

Britain to look into Egyptian request over Rosetta Stone, Egypt State Information Service, Egypt, May 12, 2007.

The head of the German Museum in Berlin has rejected anew an Egyptian request to have the bust of ancient queen Nefertiti displayed at a Cairo exhibition.

The director of the museum said he fears that the bust would be disintegrated as it is made of limestone.

He also cited security concerns for rejecting the Egyptian request...

Berlin museum rejects anew Egyptian request to display Nefertiti's bust, Egypt State Information Service, Egypt, May 12, 2007.