The craze for all things Egyptian started well before the discovery of King Tut in 1922. Explore VMFA galleries and answer the following questions as you discover unexpected links to the culture of ancient Egypt.
1
Begin in the Ancient Egyptian Gallery on Level 2. Have fun!
A man in a skirt never looked so good. Find this figure and name the article of clothing he’s wearing.
2
Continue looking in the Ancient Egyptian Gallery . . .Peek-a-boo! This mummy sees you . . . and now you can see him. What’s his name?
3
Leave the Egyptian section of the Ancient Gallery and head for the Greek and Roman section. What two Egyptian gods were combined with the attributes of Zeus to create this new deity?
4
Walk like an Egyptian as you make your way to the red room with columns outside the Ancient Galleries to find this huge wall relief. List three animals on this plaster cast.
5
Travel to the African Galleries via Tapestry Hall. Find this example that is similar to the ancient-Egyptian tradition of memorializing leaders in sculpture. Name two clues that tell us this man was in charge.
6
Get decked out in the Art Deco Galleries on Level 3 with this brooch fit for a pharaoh. Who made the brooch?
7
Make your way to the American Galleries on Level 2 and look for this Egyptian queen. How many scarab beetles can you find?
Statue of Senkamanisken, King of Kush, 643–623 BC
Egyptian, Nubian
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
Coffin, 2195–2040 BC
Egyptian, First Intermediate Period
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
Bust of Serapis, 2nd c. AD
Roman
Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund
Cast of Punt Relief, from Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahri (detail), Egyptian
Lent by the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Head with Torso, 5th c. BC –2nd c. AD
African, Sokoto culture (Nigeria)
Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund
Brooch or Pendant, ca. 1925
French
Gift of Sydney and Frances Lewis
Cleopatra, modeled 1858 and carved 1865
William Wetmore Story, American (1819–1895)
J. Harwood and Louise B. Cochrane Fund for American Art