Egyptomania motifs occur in episode 3 of season two, titled "Avatar". It opens with a sequence showing an archaeological excavation somewhere in Egypt in 1898. When one of the archaeologists enters the tomb, he perceives a strange green light from one of the chambers. When his colleagues and assistants go to pull him back, they realise it is too late, and the poor fellow is gone. Terrified, they all run into the desert.
Back in present day, Bruce Wayne looks at the Egyptian artifacts that are to be exhibited in the museum of Gotham City. When someone tries to steal the scroll of Osiris from the museum at night, Bruce comes back to the gallery, this time as Batman. He finds out that it was Ra’s al-Ghoul, his old enemy, who tried to steal the scroll. Ra’s al-Ghoul manages to overpower Batman and steal the scroll. Bruce decides to go to Gibraltar to find Ra’s al-Ghoul’s daughter, Talia, who is desperately in love with Bruce, to ask for her help. Together they go to Egypt, where they find out that Ra’s al-Ghoul is searching for the lost tomb of Thoth Khepera, a powerful queen of Egypt, who ruled over two continents and gained immortality. Ra’s is now trying to achieve the same. Having escaped from Ra’s al-Ghoul’s trap, Bruce and Talia arrive at the tomb of Thoth Khepera, where they encounter Ra’s and his minions. When Ra’s al-Ghoul orders his minions to open the sarcophagus of queen Thoth Khepera, he finds out that it is filled with ancient scrolls. But when he tries to grasp them, they all turn into dust. He then discovers a secret passage leading to the place where the queen dwells. She reveals herself to him as a beautiful young woman, who promises to grant him immortality. When they start kissing, the queen magically sucks the life out of Ra’s, who turns into an old man. Talia and Bruce manage to intervene just in time to save him from death. The queen is buried in her tomb, and everyone escapes from it. Later on, Talia decides to free her father from Bruce’s custody. Together they ride into the desert, leaving Bruce behind, alone.
This episode uses a number of stereotypes commonly associated with ancient Egypt. For instance, an Egyptian queen (whose appearance is modelled on the image of Cleopatra, as played by Elizabeth Taylor in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s Cleopatra) is portrayed as possessor of secret and mystical knowledge that can grant immortality to its possessor. It is noteworthy that the queen’s name is modelled after the name of Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom, which is meant to give her additional authority as a possessor of secret knowledge. The scroll of Osiris, perhaps modelled on the scroll of Thoth, known from the demotic tale of Setna I (featuring also in Karl Freund’s The Mummy) is also important for the plot. In addition, Egyptian archaeology is portrayed as only seeking treasures, rather than as a scientific activity meant to understand the past. The motif of the mummy’s curse is also a dominant feature in this episode.

Author: Filip Taterka