Destination's Journey

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  • Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra

    Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra

    Discover Ancient Egypt At The National Museum of Australia in Canberra

    On display until 8 September 2024 at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Discover Ancient Egypt displays fascinating artifacts from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden).

    What’s on Display

    Entering the museum, you are greeting by a statue of Anubis, the Egyptian god of funerary rites, protector of graves, and guide to the underworld. From here, the displays take you through the lives of ancient Egyptians, with an emphasis on the funerary process.

    Statue of Anubis at the Entrance to the Australian Museum Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Statue of Anubis at the Entrance to the Australian Museum

    Stelae

    Used for a variety of purposes, stelae are stone or wooden slabs containing information. Uses included burial markers placed outside tombs, monuments that commemorated special events, the marking of boundaries or made offerings to gods. As such they provide a great inside to the thinking of the Egyptians.

    Funerary stela of Hor, Late period 26th Dynasty c.664-525 BCE
    Funerary stela of Hor, Late period 26th Dynasty c.664-525 BCE
    Limestone offering stela of Khu and his family, Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1878-1843 BCE
    Limestone offering stela of Khu and his family, Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1878-1843 BCE
    Stela of Pamaaf, showing Pamaaf making an offering to Re-Horakhty and a figure of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Stela of Pamaaf, showing Pamaaf making an offering to Re-Horakhty and a figure of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris
    Limestone offering stela, 12th Dynasty, c.2080-1940 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Limestone offering stela, 12th Dynasty, c.2080-1940 BCE

    Sarcophagi and Coffins

    This was one of the largest parts of the display, with 10 coffins on display. The detail of the decorations used on them really has to be seen to be appreciated. Not only are the outsides covered, but the interior as well.

    Also in this section, were several mummies. To demonstrate the latest scientific techniques used an interactive display allowed us to see what a 3D scan revealed. This meant that the interior and composition of the mummy could be determined without unwrapping and damaging the body inside.

    Cartonnage of Nehemsu, 22 Dynasty, 943-746 BCE
    Cartonnage of Nehemsu, 22 Dynasty, 943-746 BCE
    Inner coffin of Amenhotep - High Priest of Amun, 21st Dynasty 1076-944 BCE
    Inner coffin of Amenhotep – High Priest of Amun, 21st Dynasty 1076-944 BCE
    Detail of the Inner coffin of Amenhotep 1076-944 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Detail of the Inner coffin of Amenhotep 1076-944 BCE
    Coffin of Haytemhat, Late Period 722-332 BCE
    Mummy cover of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
    Mummy cover of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
    Inner coffin of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
    Inner coffin of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
    Coffin of Haytemhat, Late Period, c.722-332 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Coffin of Haytemhat, Late Period, c.722-332 BCE

    Canopic Jars

    During the mummification process, the internal organs and brain were removed. As these would be needed in the afterlife, they were stored in canopic jars. On display, were a series of jars, showing how the designed changed from square boxes, to stone jars.

    Canopic chest, Late Period, 722-322 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Canopic chest, Late Period, 722-322 BCE
    Three canopic jars
    Three canopic jars

    Burial Goods

    To ensure the dead enjoyed the afterlife, the tombs contained objects they would need. This could be as simple as a model of a boat, or a complex diorama showing the making of bread and the brewing of beer, to ensure that these were is plentiful supply.

    Winged scarab, representing the rising sun
    Winged scarab, representing the rising sun
    Tomb statue of Hormin 19th Dynasty, 1290-1213 BCE
    Tomb statue of Hormin 19th Dynasty, 1290-1213 BCE
    Pyramidion of Pauty, New Kingdom 1539-1077 BCE
    Pyramidion of Pauty, New Kingdom 1539-1077 BCE
    Ship model 722-322 BCE
    Ship model 722-322 BCE
    Model Granary, Middle Kingdom 1980-1760 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Model Granary, Middle Kingdom 1980-1760 BCE

    What Did We Think?

    This was a fantastic exhibition and highly recommended to anyone who likes archaeology or ancient history. Laid out with plenty of detailed descriptions, the displays are amazing. If you’re in Canberra while it’s on, it’s a great way to see Egyptian artifacts without leaving the country.

    Replica of the Rosetta Stone
    Replica of the Rosetta Stone

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