Gallery Hunt: Egyptomania
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
Ancient Art Galleries, Level 2
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
Ancient Art Galleries, Level 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
Ancient Art Galleries, Level 2
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
Ancient Art Galleries, Level 2
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
African Art Galleries, Level 2
Travel to the African Galleries through the Great 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
Decorative Arts Galleries, Level 3
Get decked out in the Art Deco Galleries on Level 3 with this brooch fit for a pharaoh. Who made the brooch?
7
American Art Galleries, Level 2
Make your way to the American Galleries on Level 2 and look for this Egyptian queen. How many scarab beetles can you find?
Images (as details)
1 Statue of Senkamanisken, King of Kush, 643–623 BC, Egyptian, Nubian, gray-black granite. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, 53.30.2
2 Coffin and Mummy of Tjeby, ca. 2051-2030 BC, Egyptian, First Intermediate Period, painted wood with linen-wrapped mummy. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, 53.30.1
3 Bust of Serapis, 2nd century AD, Roman, bronze (copper alloy with silver inlay). Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund, 98.23
4 Cast of Punt Relief, from Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahri (detail), Egyptian, plaster cast. Lent by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, L.5.52.48
5 Male Figure, 500 BC-AD 200, African, Sokoto culture (Nigeria), terracotta. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund, 99.33
6 Brooch or Pendant, ca. 1925, French, tiger’s eye, diamonds, enamel. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Sydney and Frances Lewis, 85.229
7 Cleopatra, modeled 1858 and carved 1865, William Wetmore Story, American (1819–1895), marble. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, J. Harwood and Louise B. Cochrane Fund for American Art, 2005.73
Answers
1. Tripartite skirt 2. Tjeby 3. Apis & Osiris 4. Too many animals to name! 5. Fly whisk and necklaces 6. Unknown 7. One
