The Meroë Head of Augustus returns to Liverpool

Published on 06 February 2018

The Victoria Gallery and Museum have announced a new exhibition for 2018, Professor John Garstang’s most famous excavation, the Meroë Head of Augustus.

The Meroë Head of Augustus is borrowed from the British Museum, and returns to the city as part of the BBC Civilisations Festival. The bronze head will be returning to the University of Liverpool for the first time since its re-discovery in 1910. The object dates back to c. 27-25 B.C.E.

Nicola Euston, Museums and Galleries Manager at the University of Liverpool, said: “Augustus’ head has survived through the centuries and has a fascinating story to tell; it was the 35th object included in the BBC Radio 4 series ‘A History of the World in 100 objects’.

“We are beyond delighted to see The Meroë Head of Augustus return to the University, and honoured to be exhibiting it at the VG&M. We are also celebrating our 10 year anniversary over the course of its stay with us and there are an exciting set of events coming up.”

To celebrate its arrival at the University, on 9 March the VG&M will host a free Symposium which will see lecturers and experts in their fields discuss the artefact over the course of the day.

The Garstang Museum

Professor Garstang excavated sites in Egypt, Sudan and the Near East on behalf of The University of Liverpool’s ‘Institute of Archaeology’, which he founded in 1904. Today, you can visit the Garstang Museum which houses objects discovered in Garstang’s excavations.

At the Museum you can find out what excavation was like one hundred years ago, journey through the Egyptian past from the time before the pharaohs to the dawn of Christianity, and come face to face with a New Kingdom mummy.

The Meroë Head of Augustus will be available for public viewing from 3 March to 30 June 2018 and will be free entry.