Thursday, July 10, 2008

Egypt: Gift of the Nile at Surrey Museum

surreyleader.com

The mysteries of the pharaohs, pyramids and mummies have inspired and amazed people for centuries. But what about the common Egyptian citizens who lived during the reign of pharaohs like Tutankhamen, the boy king, or Hetshepsut, the famous “female” pharaoh?

Surrey Museum’s newest exhibit, Egypt: Gift of the Nile, explores Egyptian civilization through the lives of everyday people, including their personal adornment, make-up and perfume, food, buildings, family life, education, religion, funerary practices and beliefs in the afterlife.

At the exhibit, tiny “tuts” and their parents can see a sarcophagus, complete with decorative artwork and pictographs depicting the life of the deceased. Visitors can try their hand at writing their name in hieroglyphics or practise the skills of an archaeologist who pieces together the past to create a story about ancient times.

Images of modern Egypt take you on a journey from the pyramids, up the Nile River to temples such as Philae, Karnak, Sobek and into the Valley of the Kings. The beauty and the backdrop of the desert showcase a special land and people who have shared their secrets and culture for centuries.

Children can colour papyrus-like pictures in the Kids Corner and explore maps of the land and treasures of ancient Egypt.

Egypt: Gift of the Nile, on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum, is on display until Sept. 6.

See the above link for location, hours and ticket information.

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