By Noma Faingold. (August 2, 2026)
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is counting on the public’s continuous fascination of ancient Egypt when FAMSF presents, “Treasures of the Pharaohs,” from August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, at the de Young Museum. The touring exhibition spans 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, showing how the all-powerful pharaohs shaped religious practices, social structure and daily life.
Photo by Gary Sexton
“You have all those thousands of years, from 3100 BC, when Egypt was unified, to 30 BC, when it was invaded by Rome, where the king was thought of as the ultimate ruler, but also as a deity. This was ingrained into the belief system,” Renée Dreyfus said, the George and Judy Marcus Curator in Charge of Ancient Art at FAMSF. “It’s the way the gods intended things to be. It’s justice. It’s truth. It’s something the king was supposed to uphold for his people to live in peace and harmony. Being able to track the continuity throughout all of those years is rather important. It tells you that people did not waver in their beliefs.”
“Treasures of the Pharaohs” showcases 130 rare antiquities on loan from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Luxor Museum, in Luxor, Egypt, ranging from monumental granite statues to delicately crafted gold jewelry, many being shown for the first time in North America. The exhibition was curated by Dr. Tarek El Awady, former director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Outer anthropoid coffin of Thuya. Dynasty 18, New Kingdom, reign of Amenhotep III . Wood covered with gilded stucco with inlays of blue glass, obsidian (eyes), light blue, dark blue, and red glass, Tomb of Yuya and Valley of the Kings. Luxor Museum in Cairo, Photograph by Massimo Listri
Dreyfus saw the exhibition in Rome at the Scuderie del Quirinale more than once, including when it opened last October. It drew more than 400,000 visitors and was extended through June 14. “I was really thrilled because the objects are superb. They are top-of-the-line examples of Egyptian art, including objects from the Golden City,” she said.
For the de Young run, Dreyfus has organized the exhibit a little differently, creating six thematic sections. “We have more room than Rome,” she said. “I am following the narrative more closely because I feel these objects can speak for themselves, if you lay the exhibition out in a way that is very obvious.”
“Treasures of the Pharaohs” will move onto the Kimbell Art Museum from in Fort Worth, Texas, March 14 through September 19, 2027.
The first section is dedicated to kingship, social hierarchies and rites that affirm the pharaoh’s immortality. A statue from the fourth dynasty of the king Menkaure (2532-2503 BC) is a focal point.
Triad of Menkaure flanked by Hathor and the personification of the Nome of Thebes. Giza Necropolis, Valley temple of Menkaure’s Pyramid. Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4. Schist. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Photograph by Massimo Listri
The next section concentrates on people who play essential roles to reinforce the pharaoh’s power and link to the gods, such as the queen, priests and scribes.
Other sections dig deep into religious beliefs and the concepts of the afterlife, which we know about because of all of the tombs that were excavated. The religious structure was that there were numerous gods to rely on for healing, fertility, victory and the annual flooding of the Nile. Only one pharaoh, Amenhotep III (1390– 1352 BC), tried to convert the population into believing in just one god. His son, Akhenaten, who succeeded Amenhotep, quickly returned to traditional beliefs.
Pectoral pendant of Amenemope, Dynasty 21, Third Intermediate Period, Gold, lapis lazuli, feldspar, and glass. Tomb of Amenemope, Tanis , Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Photograph by Massimo Listri
Limestone relief of Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and two princesses worshipping the Aten, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty Akhenaten. Limestone and pigment.Photograph by Massimo Listri
Everyday life is explored in another section, featuring objects such as jewelry, cosmetics, tools, and furnishings. The antiquities in this section demonstrate how beauty and refinement shaped life beyond the pharaoh’s circle and reveal how even the most basic items could be elegantly designed, yet be functional.
Collar of Psusennes I. Tomb of Psusennes I, Tanis. Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty 21. Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, and jasper The Egyptian Museum in Cairo. . Photograph by Massimo Listri
Servant brewing beer. Giza Necropolis. Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5. Limestone, painted. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Photograph by Massimo Listri
The Golden City section might be the most spectacular in the exhibit. The New Kingdom, or the Golden Age of Egypt (1550–1070 BC), is the most commonly known period other than the Pyramid Age. All the famous pharaohs thrived during that era, from Hatshepsut to Akhenaten and Nefertiti, Tutankhamun and Ramesses II. One piece that Dreyfus loves is a detailed gilded wood chair belonging to Princess Sitamun during the reign of Amenhotep III. It was eventually discovered in a royal tomb. “It stops me in my tracks every time,” she said. “It was used by Sitamum and then placed in the burial of her grandparents as a precious offering. She loved her grandparents. She wanted it in the tomb of her grandparents for eternity.”
Armchair of Princess Sitamun. Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Tomb of Yuya and Thuya. New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III. Wood, with gold leaf and stucco, and plant fibers, Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Photograph by Massimo Listri
What might appeal to visitors of “Treasures of the Pharaohs,” according to Dreyfus, is more than just getting to peruse preserved ancient artifacts up close. “People also like seeing what’s the same. They want something to relate to, like love of life and the hope for the afterlife,” she said. “We have the same dreams that they had.”
“Treasures of the Pharaohs” will be on view at the de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., from August 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027.
For details, tickets and much more visit the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco website.
5 Things to Know about Ancient Egypt and thr exhibit- Read or listen here.
Curator Dr. Tarek El Awady delivered a talk on opening day. (The program starts at 4:10)
Egyptian archaeologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass also made an appearance that afternoon for a book signing of the exhibition catalogue he wrote that features 250 illustrations in 388 pages and is available at the museum shop or online.
Necklace of Ahhotep with Golden Flies, Second Intermediate period – Eighteenth
Dynasty, Gold, Length of the chain 59 cm, length of the pendants 9 cm. Photograph by Massimo Listri
The catalogue by Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass There is a large selection of related books and gifts from jewelry, scarves, sculpture, and perfume bottles to prints, puzzles, and much more.
Special events include a Late Night Edition on August 20, and an Egyptian Classical Music Concert on September 26.
Guided tours are available as well as free audio tours provided by Bloomberg Connects. A kids audio tour is also available. You may also listen to them before and after your visit.
Photo by Gary Sexton
Parent’s Press offers “A Family Adventure Through Ancient Egypt” with great ideas for an exciting visit with children.
Noma Faingold is a writer and photographer who lives in Noe Valley. A native San Franciscan who grew up in the Sunset District, Faingold is a frequent contributor to the Richmond Review and Sunset Beacon newspapers, among others. She is obsessed with pop culture and the arts, especially film, theater and fashion. Noma has written about poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, artists Tamara de Łempicka, Isaac Julien, and Wayne Thiebaud, numerous independent filmmakers, and singer/songwriters Janis Joplin, Diane Warren, and Linda Smith for EatDrinkFilms.
Family statue of the mayor Sennefer, his wife Senetnay, and daughter Mutnefret Dynasty 18, New Kingdom Granodiorite. Cache of Karnak Temple, Luxor Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Photograph by Massimo Listri