Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt immerses visitors in the experience of two present-day searches on land and sea for the elusive queen, which extend from the sands of Egypt to the depths of the Bay of Aboukir near Alexandria. The artifacts weigh in at about 30 tons in total, including two 16-foot granite statues of a Ptolemaic king and queen from the 4th to 3rd centuries B.C.
“We are thrilled to host the west coast premiere of this extraordinary exhibition,” said Jeffrey Rudolph, president and CEO of the California Science Center. “The exhibition will help our guests explore the science of archaeology and the process of recovering these artifacts which reveal new and fascinating details of Cleopatra’s life.”
The artifacts in the exhibit are woven into the story of her rule and life in ancient Egypt during the Ptolemaic period. After Egypt succumbed to Roman forces and Cleopatra famously took her own life following the suicide of her lover Mark Antony, the Romans attempted to wipe her legacy from the pages of history. Cleopatra has remained one of history’s most intriguing enigmas, and her final resting place is one of Egypt’s great unsolved mysteries. The story of her life and time unfolds in a dramatic setting with high-definition multimedia and original soundscapes, including a complimentary audio tour provided to every guest, making the exhibition a rich, multisensory experience.
The exhibition is organized by National Geographic and Arts & Exhibitions International, a division of AEG Live, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM).
Visitors to the exhibition follow the modern-day parallel stories of two ongoing expeditions being led in Egypt. The galleries display items recovered in these explorations by Franck Goddio, French underwater archaeologist and director of IEASM, and by Zahi Hawass, former Minister of State for Antiquities of Egypt, with Kathleen Martinez, who is searching for Cleopatra’s tomb in the desert at Taposiris Magna.
The exhibition showcases artifacts from Franck Goddio’s continuing underwater search off the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, where he has recovered items that were part of Cleopatra’s world, as well as that of her dynasty. His search, sponsored by the Hilti Foundation, began in 1992. Goddio’s finds bring visitors inside his search for the lost world of Cleopatra, including remnants from the grand palace where she ruled and the sunken ancient cities of Canopus and Heracleion, two bustling centers of commerce and culture in her era, where she would have spent time for both religious and pleasure-seeking pursuits.
“The aim of our work is to reveal traces of the past and bring history back to life. We are delighted to present our underwater archaeological achievements and discoveries off the coast of Egypt to the American public,” said Goddio.
The California Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic Exposition Park just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway at 700 Exposition Park Dr. The Science Center is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Guests are encouraged to buy their tickets online at californiasciencecenter.org to reserve an entry date and time. The general information number is (323) SCIENCE.
Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt admission prices are $19.75 for adults 18 to 59; $16.75 for youth 13 to 17, college students with ID and seniors 60 and older; and $12.75 for children 4 to 12. Member rates are $12.75 for adults; $11.75 for youth 13 to 17, college students with ID and seniors 60 and older; and $10.75 for children 4 to 12. Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt and IMAX combination ticket prices are $26 for adults 18 to 59; $21.25 for youth 13 to 17, college students with ID and seniors 60 and older; and $16.50 for children 4 to 12. Member rates for combo tickets are $18.25 for adults; $16.25 for youth 13 to 17, college students with ID and seniors 60 and older; and $13.75 for children 4 to 12. Special rates for schools and other groups of 15 and over apply. The exhibit’s special group information number is (213) 744-2019. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Admission to all other Science Center exhibits is free. More information is also available at californiasciencecenter.org .
