After 2,700 Years, Oxford Museum Brings King Taharqa’s Shrine Back to Life in Colour

A free experience opening on November 13 reveals the original colours of an ancient Kushite shrine brought from Sudan in 1936, using digital projection technology and two documentary films.

The Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford is preparing to unveil a new digital experience that restores the original appearance of King Taharqa’s 2,700-year-old shrine through projection mapping technology.

Opening on November 13, 2026, the free installation will reveal how the monument’s intricately carved sandstone walls once appeared before most of their vibrant colours faded over the centuries.

Researchers used microscopic pigment analysis, infrared imaging and advanced imaging techniques to identify traces of red, yellow and blue pigments that originally decorated the shrine’s carvings.

Among the most significant discoveries was evidence of Egyptian blue, one of the earliest known synthetic pigments, widely used in ancient Egyptian and Nubian art to depict religious figures and symbolic elements.

Digital projection technology will allow visitors to see a reconstruction of these colours directly on the sandstone walls without repainting or physically altering the original monument.

The shrine was constructed during the reign of King Taharqa, a ruler of the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty who governed Egypt and Kush.

Originally located within the Temple of Amun-Ra at Kawa, in present-day northern Sudan, its carved reliefs depict the king presenting offerings to the gods, reflecting the religious beliefs and royal traditions of the period.

Following archaeological excavations by Oxford University teams in the 1930s, the shrine was dismantled and transported to Britain in 150 wooden crates, arriving at the Ashmolean Museum in 1936.

It remains the only freestanding ancient Egyptian-style temple structure displayed in Britain and occupies a prominent position in the museum’s Ancient Egypt and Sudan galleries.

The digital installation is accompanied by two specially produced films.

The first traces the shrine’s history, from its construction in ancient Sudan to its archaeological discovery, transfer to Oxford and the scientific investigations that uncovered its original colours.

The second explores the shrine’s carved scenes, explaining the religious symbolism, divine figures, royal clothing and offerings depicted on its walls.

The installation also marks the 90th anniversary of the shrine’s arrival at the museum.

Visitors can experience the installation in the Ashmolean Museum’s Ancient Egypt and Sudan galleries, with free admission to both the museum and the new display.

The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and no closing date has been announced for the installation.

The new experience offers visitors to Oxford an opportunity to rediscover the artistic and religious heritage of ancient Egypt and Kush through a perspective rarely available in traditional museum displays.

By revealing the original colours of carvings that have appeared largely monochrome for centuries, the installation helps visitors better understand the symbolism and visual richness of ancient civilisations.

The project also demonstrates how digital technology can enhance cultural tourism and museum experiences without compromising the preservation of original artefacts.

However, its impact on visitor numbers and tourism revenue will only become measurable after the installation opens, once actual attendance figures and visitor data become available.