Ramses and the Gold of the Pharoahs exhibition arriving

The exhibition Ramses and the Gold of the Pharoahs is on loan from Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.

The collection also includes jewellery, masks, amulets and animal sarcophagi and many of which have never left Egypt before.

Sydney will be the second city to show Ramses' gold sarcophagus which has only been displayed in Paris before.

Australian Museum director and CEO Kim McKay said the sarcophagus of Ramses II was the "star attraction" of the exhibition and a "a wonderful opportunity" for Australians to see the "rare, fragile artefact in real life".

"Ramses' coffin is a work of inestimable value and a powerful symbol of one of the greatest leaders of the ancient world," she said.

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"Egyptians worshipped their Pharaohs, and their devotion to Ramses II can be seen through the craftsmanship of the coffin."

The coffin of Ramses II and its occupant was discovered in 1811 within the Royal Cache at Deir el-Bahari, on the west bank of the Nile River, opposite the city of Luxor and east of the Valley of the Kings.

King Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, ruled Egypt for nearly 67 years, the second longest reign of any pharaoh in Ancient Egyptian history.

Ramses was known as a mighty warrior who secured peace with his neighbours, led an extensive building campaign that included scores of gigantic monuments to himself, and is believed to have fathered over 100 children.

Other artefacts on display include a 725kg limestone colossus of Ramses II, gold masks and jewellery including a 3000 year old gold collar and mummified cats, crocodiles, mongoose and a lion cub.

The exhibition features a virtual reality experience that takes visitors on a whirlwind tour of two of Ramses' most impressive monuments: the Tomb of Queen Nefertari, his favourite Royal Consort, and the temples of Abu Simbel.

The exhibition is on from November 18, 2023 to May 19, 2024.