The Ways And Wonders Of An Ancient Culture

I moved into an area focusing on harems. This was not what we think of in terms of the word, but estates where queens and other women could be on their own and pursue their own interests. It was a place away from life at court.

These vases caught my eye.

Music was part of life in harems. The flute is one such instrument that is handed down from ancient Egypt.

This box also drew my attention.

For today we close out with a small statue of a harem overseer. I'll return to this exhibit following tomorrow's theme day.

Far Away And Thousands Of Years Ago

A bit morbid, perhaps, but seeing coffins of ancient Egypt fascinates me.

Coming out of this area, I paused to photograph another of the video projections accompanying the exhibit, making it feel as if you were looking thousands of years into the past.

Displayed here are stelae, often found in funerary chapels or tombs.

Two more shots to close things out today, but more to come.

The Mistress Of The House

Among the coffins here in this exhibit were video projections, slowly shifting, with stylized imagery of ancient Egypt.

The next coffin, I photographed details on the owner of the final resting place. At least until it ended up in a museum. One wonders what she'd think of that. After over two thousand years, it still looks marvelous.

The next coffin also drew my attention. A coffin reused.

Another coffin, with another story.

Temporary Interruption

As one of the panels here notes, ancient Egyptians viewed death as a temporary interruption in life, and the afterlife was the realm of Osiris. Everyday objects were often buried with them for use in that afterlife. 

More of those coffins of the ancient Egyptians.

Mummification

More items today from the tomb of Nefertari.

 

Coming back into the main area of the exhibit, I photographed this panel.

Here we have an area displaying tools and materials used in the process of preparing the dead for mummification. Internal organs would be removed, the brain would be removed via the nostrils, and certain chemical processes would be engaged to embalm and preserve the body.

"It's called mummification. You'll be dead when they do this." ~ Evie

"For the record, if I don't make it out of here, don't put me down for mummification." ~ Rick, The Mummy

Canopic jars were used to contain the organs of the deceased.

No mummies for this exhibit, so there was no need to be cautious about reading from the Book of the Dead, as I mentioned to a friend who went to see the exhibit before I did. But there were coffins.