Take a Journey to Ancient Egypt

at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History

For many people (including me), a trip to Egypt ranks pretty high up on a travel wish list.
And for good reasons!

Who isn’t mesmerised by the iconic towering pyramids, wonderfully preserved mummies, and delightfully pictorial hieroglyphics? All of these icons show us tantalising glimpses of the lives of ancient Egyptians?

Welcome to the Egyptian Mummies and Eternal Life Exhibit

Nova Scotians can now visit ancient Egypt without leaving the province. You can and should see the Egyptian Mummies and Eternal Life at Halifax’s Museum of Natural History. All are on display until fall 2020.

The exhibit, part of a collaboration with Museo Egizio in Florence, Italy, boasts hundreds of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including jewellery, furniture, sarcophagi, and even mummies.

 There’s never been a better time to get out and enjoy the province, and the museum’s extensive COVID-19 practices will keep you and your family safe while you’re visiting. Jeff Grey, the curator of visitor experiences and exhibits, showed me around this unique exhibit that promises fascinating fun for all ages.

Mummification

When you think of ancient Egypt, mummies are probably the first thing that comes to mind. However, have you ever wondered exactly how the process of mummification worked? The first of three exhibit rooms share this secret – and many others – with visitors.

You’ll see actual rolls of perfectly preserved bandages used in the mummification process. In addition to dressings, you will also see the embalming instruments and the canopic jars used to protect the organs after removal during mummification.

But of course, the real stars of this room are the mummies themselves. They are lovingly embalmed, wrapped, and forever preserved in preparation for the journey to the afterlife. The mummy of a young woman and, poignantly, an infant with its simple wooden coffin reveals elaborately decorative wrapping techniques used by ancient Egyptians. The wonderfully preserved mummified head of a young man contains visible strands of hair, even after more than 2000 years, and it’s easy to imagine him as he would have been in life, not so different from any of us. There are even fragile fragments of funerary papyrus scrolls of the Book of the Dead placed in tombs to help guide the soul through the afterlife.

Death Masks and Sarcophagi

You’re probably familiar with the gold mask of Tutankhamun, one of the most famous works of art in the world. Death masks like this, and less-ornate ones for the average person who couldn’t afford gilded versions, were placed on mummies. This way the soul could recognize its body and return to it. The second exhibit room features some of these beautifully painted masks from different periods in ancient Egypt.

Perhaps the most stunning items in the whole exhibit are the intricately carved and decorated sarcophagi. These are still quite vibrant and evocative after thousands of years. One notable example reveals not only the exterior but also the interior. It is covered with hieroglyphics, images of gods and goddesses, and scenes of the afterlife the deceased hoped to enjoy. The incredible artistry of the ancient Egyptians is evident. As well as their passion for ensuring that life continued beyond death.

Funeral Trousseau / Grave Goods

Egyptians believed it necessary to provide the deceased with all they used in daily life to continue living comfortably in the afterlife. Even the simplest of graves contained food, drink, and personal belongings. The third exhibit room displays various objects, including jewellery, combs, mirrors, cosmetic bowls, and furniture. Miraculously, There is also  an impressively preserved bread and a headrest (used like pillows today).

You’ll be captivated by the 3000-year old sandals, made of woven plant fibres, and a beautifully preserved linen shirt. It almost seems like their owners just stepped away momentarily, and could return any second to use them again. That’s the beauty of these grave goods. They show us how ancient Egyptians lived, and what was important to them. We begin to see that even though they lived millennia ago, they were living, breathing human beings, just like us.

A Love Affair with Life

Ancient Egyptians weren’t obsessed with death, as is commonly believed. They were obsessed with life! They designed these elaborate funeral practices of ancient Egypt to ensure that life would continue after death. By preserving their bodies and belongings, loved ones could enjoy the rewards of the afterlife. Which was a mirror image of the life they’d just left.

The Museum of Natural History’s Egyptian Mummies and Eternal Life exhibit is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the fascinating culture of ancient Egypt. All without leaving the city. Make sure you drop by the museum while you can, before the exhibit leaves this fall!

If you are in Nova Scotia, why not check out other great things to do in Halifax, including the Pier 21 Museum of Immigration. 

*The Museum of Natural History made this article possible. It is just one of the many amazing Nova Scotia Museums you can visit when you are in Nova Scotia.

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