A Sphinx Draws Him: Maximilian of Austria’s Egyptian Treasures Return

A Sphinx Draws Him: Egyptian Treasures of Archduke Maximilian Back in Miramare

When: 2 April 2026 – 1 November 2026
Where: Stables of Miramare Castle, Trieste

This exhibition reunites over one hundred objects from Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria’s Egyptian collection, returning from long-term custody in Vienna to Trieste. The presentation combines archaeological material with historical and museological perspectives, tracing how objects were collected, studied and reinterpreted over time.

Highlights

The display includes a wide range of objects — from funerary items to everyday artifacts — that illustrate the religious, social and artistic dimensions of ancient Egypt as filtered through a 19th-century European collector’s choices.

• More than 100 artifacts including statues, stelae, amulets and burial objects;
• Sections on the history of Maximilian’s collection and its transfer to Vienna in 1891;
• Interpretations of 19th-century collecting practices and modern museum contexts;
• Educational programme with workshops for schools, families and the general public.

Why attend

The exhibition offers a layered narrative: it presents the ancient objects themselves, the stories of their modern collectors, and contemporary reflections on heritage display and interpretation. It also highlights Trieste’s role as a 19th-century hub for trade and cultural exchange in the Mediterranean.

Practical information

• Venue: Stables of Miramare Castle, Trieste
• Dates: 2 April 2026 – 1 November 2026
• Organisers and partners: Museo storico e Parco del Castello di Miramare; Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna); Museo Egizio of Turin; Municipality of Trieste; PromoTurismoFVG
• Tickets and bookings: https://www.coopculture.it/it/prodotti/sulle-tracce-dellantico-egitto/
• Official information: https://miramare.cultura.gov.it/

The project pairs scholarly research with public outreach events — conferences, guided talks and hands-on workshops — to engage diverse audiences with the history and meanings of Egyptological collections.