THE mysteries of the Pharaohs are to be revealed as visitors to the Bowes Museum learn about the secrets of ancient Egypt.

The Amazing Egyptian exhibition will see visitors taken on a journey at the museum, near Barnard Castle.

The display will be set out to guide visitors along via the eyes of an embalmer named Lukman.

He will tell about the Egyptians’ belief in more than one God and the rituals they felt they had to follow to reach the afterlife.

The display will explore the customs and traditions surrounding life and death in the land of the Pharaohs.

The secrets of mummification will be revealed and mummified items will be on show.

There will also be sections from the Ancient Egyptians’ Book of the Dead and a boat believed to carry the dead on a celestial journey.

The exhibition will also have shabti figures which were initially placed in the tomb as a substitute for the dead body.

Amy Longstaff, the museum’s education officer, said: "One of our aims was to show that even the greatest Pharaohs believed that they had to appease the Gods to make a successful journey to the afterlife."

The exhibition, runs from Saturday, July 2 until Wednesday, August 31 with doors open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Entry is £9 for adults, £8 concessions and £4.50 students with details from 01833-690606 or www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk.