I visited the exhibition “El Egipto de Eduard Toda” at the National Archaeological Museum with curiosity, but without high expectations. I thought it would be just another show built around the museum’s permanent collection, with pieces I’d already seen on previous visits.

But from the moment I stepped inside, I was surprised to find a remarkable number of objects I had never seen before: personal documents, tracings, original photographs, and even Egyptian artifacts that had long remained in the museum’s archives, far from public view. It felt like opening a private archive, a glimpse into a quiet, personal journey through the 19th century.

Eduard Toda, a diplomat, traveler, and passionate admirer of ancient Egypt, assembled much of this collection during his time as vice-consul in Cairo between 1884 and 1886. What moved me most was how he didn’t simply collect objects, he gathered fragments of life, memory, and culture. Rather than imposing himself as a collector, he seemed to accompany what he found, with respect and devotion.

I especially loved the inclusion of the immersive experience of Sennedjem’s tomb, which allows visitors to digitally explore the interior of this jewel of Egyptian funerary art. It felt like stepping into a sacred capsule: walls covered in symbols, colors still vibrant, a serene and almost timeless atmosphere. It didn’t just enhance the visit, it added a sensory dimension that beautifully echoed the spirit of discovery Toda must have felt at the time.

The exhibition is on view until October 5, 2025, on floor -1 of the museum (Calle Serrano 13, Madrid), with free admission and brings together a selection of original objects, letters, photographs, drawings, and antiquities that formed part of one of the first public Egyptian collections in Spain. Everything is presented with great care, inviting not only learning, but to connect across time.