President Milanović Visits Library of Alexandria and Opens Exhibition “Echoes of Egypt: Sphinxes in Croatia”
During his working visit to Egypt, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović and his spouse, Sanja Musić Milanović, visited the Library of Alexandria (Bibliotheca Alexandrina) in Alexandria on Sunday, where the exhibition “Echoes of Egypt: Sphinxes in Croatia” is on display. The exhibition is organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Cairo and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, marking the anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“Today, we decided together with the wonderful Bibliotheca Alexandrina, to put the spotlight on another aspect of our mutual cultural heritage. First, our book donation comprises the volumes written by Croatian authors solely on ancient or modern Egypt. Second, the exhibition “Echoes of Egypt: Sphinxes in Croatia” we’re opening today marks the friendly relations between Egypt and Croatia, countries of rich cultural and intellectual tradition,” said the President of the Republic.
In his ceremonial address, President Milanović spoke about the ties between Croatia and Egypt, emphasizing that the rich cultural, political, and demographic exchanges between the two countries “are not only continuing but also intensifying.” “I thank everyone involved in this exhibition, especially the Embassy of Croatia, which organized it, and Mr. Kiš, who curated it,” concluded President Milanović, officially opening the exhibition “Echoes of Egypt: Sphinxes in Croatia.”
The exhibition showcases Egyptian heritage in Croatia and its echoes through the centuries: from ancient Egyptian sphinxes in Diocletian’s Palace in Split, through Renaissance manuscripts, Baroque and Classicist sphinxes in Croatian public spaces, to the early 20th century and the era of architectural “Egyptomania.” The sphinx has been an artistic motif that has continually connected these two cultures, civilizations, and countries. The exhibition will be open from 2 to 13 November 2025.
The exhibition was curated by Tomislav Kiš, a doctoral student at the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. It was co-financed through a public call by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and supported by the Archaeological Museums in Zagreb, Split, and Zadar, the Split City Museum, and the State Archives in Osijek and Dubrovnik.
Prior to visiting Alexandria, President Milanović attended the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo on Saturday. “Egyptian antiquity is clearly deeply embedded in the culture and identity of the Egyptians. While they are a Muslim, Islamic state, they place great importance on this heritage,” President Milanović said, reflecting on his impressions from the museum’s opening.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić