The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts presents Mummy. Secrets of the Tomb the exclusive U.S. presentation of a major international touring exhibition of ancient Egyptian antiquities from the British Museum’s world famous collection opens at the museum on November 19, 2011 and continues through March 11, 2012. A 7000-square-foot exhibition of more than 100 ancient artifacts is brought to life and contextualized by a 3-D film exploring the life, mummification and afterlife of an Egyptian priest.
Judgement Scene from the Book of the Dead, late 26th Dynasty, about 550-525 BC, probably from the Memphite necropolis. Ink on papyrus © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Visitors to Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb will be immersed in the life and afterlife of of Nesperennub, a temple priest who lived 3,000 years ago and whose mummy serves as the focus of this exhibition. In addition to the mummy of Nesperennub, the exhibition includes other human and animal mummies, jewelry, canopic jars, monumental stone sarcophagi, statuary, a gilded mask and bronze and stone sculpture.
“Visitors to this exhibition will be taken on an extraordinary adventure back to 800 BC to explore this priest’s world and his tomb,” Director Alex Nyerges said. “Their experience will include a 3-D film that will give them new insights into ancient Egyptian mummies and culture. Ancient Egyptian culture developed more than 5,000 years ago and its pyramids, mummies, and beliefs about the afterlife have fascinated people for centuries.”
Exhibition Highlights
Mummy of Nesperennub
The mummy of Nesperennub is enclosed in a case made of cartonnage (layers of linen and/or papyrus resin covered with plaster). The painted surface includes a figure of the sun god Ra as a winged scarab beetle with a falcon’s head, the funerary god Sokar as a mummified falcon, and the emblem of the god Osiris. These deities ensured the resurrection of the deceased. The hieroglyphic inscriptions on the coffin’s lid and sides contain prayers to various gods to provide Nesperennub with “life, prosperity, and health” and a long lifespan.
Judgment Scene from the Book of the Dead
The deceased, Ankhwahibre, faces Osiris, while his conduct during his life is assessed by the symbolic weighing of his heart in a balance, to determine whether or not he has lived by the principles of Ma’at (truth or justice). A successful outcome was rewarded with admission to eternal life. A badly spent life brought punishment: the heart was swallowed by the monstrous Ammut “the Devourer,” who crouches on a plinth.
Portrait from Coffin
This finely sculpted wooden portrait probably formed part of a coffin lid. Such images were not true likenesses of the dead but were idealized, depicting them as eternally young and free from physical blemishes and ailments. The life-like effect has been enhanced by the use of obsidian and ivory inlays for the eyes, which are set into bronze sockets.
Mummified Cat
The cat, sacred to the goddess Bastet, was one of the most frequently mummified animals in ancient Egypt. Especially in later periods, the cats were usually covered in intricately patterned wrappings, with a representation of the animal’s head (here it is made from folded and painted linen). X-rays have shown that this specimen contains a small kitten that occupies only one-third of the bundle, the rest of which is filled with cloth.
Ticket Information and Schedule
This is a timed exhibition with tickets sold on the half hour. Punctual arrival is essential to enable visitors to enjoy the 3D film before viewing the exhibition. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, students with valid ID and groups of 10 or more and may be purchased at http://www.vmfa.museum/Exhibitions/Mummy.aspx or by calling 804.340.1405.