Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life. Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
I
usually run with a theme.This week we had an outing and headed off to our National Museum to see Journey to Ancient Egypt brought to us from the Egyptian and Nubian Collection of the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities.
Himself has been to Egypt several times and loved it. I find the culture and the incredible workmanship of the items on display fascinating.
The exhibition included intricately decorated coffins, statues, jewellery, amulets and a few mummified people and animals. The mummies were in a secluded area of the exhibition and viewing them was at your discretion. We did and I was blown away by the intricate wrapping and how well the linen was preserved. Photos of the mummies was prohibited, but there was more than enough other things to give my shutter finger a work out. There were constantly changing photographs projected onto the walls too.
Less talk, more photos.
Of course you could only exit through the gift shop. And of course I succumbed. I picked up some bookmarks, including some made of papyrus, some cards and some fridge magnets. They are pictured above. If you would like one, let me know in the comments or send me an email. Please also specify which one you would like if you know. I am happy to send them anywhere.
I was fascinated by the Egyptian civilization the moment we started studying it in school.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the Tutankhamun exhibition twice and would see it a third time given the opportunity.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Cararina: It is fascinating isn't it? And how lucky you are to have had the opportunity to go to the Tutankhamun exhibition not once but twice.
DeleteSuch beauty! What a fascinating exhibit. It must have been such a great experience to see it.
ReplyDeleteMarie Smith: It was a wonderful outing.
DeleteWonderful photographs. Ancient Egypt is fascinating. I'm never quite sure how I feel about mummies - they were buried with high ceremony and it seems wrong somehow to disinter them. On the other hand, we wouldn't know as much as we do if people had not investigated them.
ReplyDeletejabblog: Some of the photos are not good - a combination of dimmed lighting and my shaky hands. I feel as you do about the mummies.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteI have a fascination with Egypt and was lucky enough to go there on holiday in 1993. We stayed in Cairo and then had a Nile cruise down to Aswan. We also went to Abu Simbel and saw inside the temple as well as inside the mountain where the temple had been moved to in the 1960s. It was an incredible place and a wonderful experience - truly a trip of a lifetime! Since then, I too have mixed feelings about displaying mummies - it does seem wrong somehow, after all these were people. Bog bodies too and skeletons. As already mentioned, we have learnt a lot about previous humans from investigating these bodies but...
What 'wonderful things' to see in the exhibition - thank you for sharing your visit.
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: How lucky you were to go to Egypt. Himself loved it, and I am not certain he won't go back. I feel as you and jabblog do about mummies/skeletons/bog bodies. Studying them for science is a very different kettle of fish to exhibiting them - though hypocrite that I am I did view those in the exhibition.
DeleteIt is a fascinating culture. Enjoyed your photos very much, thank you for sharing them. I would like to see an exhibit such as this one.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: If you ever get the chance, go!
DeleteI too loved seeing all your photos. Year ago, I saw a mummy in Urumqi, China. It had not been altered in any way, but was found in the incredible dry climate, 4000 years old with intact clothing and skin. Although long dead, she was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDJan: I gave himself a book about the mummies of Urumqi - and he was fascinated. I don't think he went there when he was in China though.
DeleteEgypt is fascinating. Culture and country have been around a long time. Cool your husband has actually been there.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: It fascinates a lot of us doesn't it? Himself has been there several times now, and I am pretty sure he would happily go again.
DeleteGreat pictures from a fascinating exhibition! The mummies remind me of having seen Lenin's embalmed body at the Red Square, Moscow. They work hard to preserve that body, and I'm sorry for him. I wish they'll let him sleep his eternal sleep.
ReplyDeleteDUTA: It was a wonderful exhibition. I am so glad we had the opportunity to go. I think himself has seen Lenin's body too. I am not sure I would want to see it, and wonder how his family feels.
DeleteI don't know about family, but I do know there are many voices in Russia demanding that they stop working on him, burry the corpse and let him sleep his final sleep.
DeleteDUTA: You would get no argument from me.
DeleteThanks for sharing the exhibit photos. My husband is fascinated with this type of early civilization historical artifacts. He constantly watches Youtube videos about all this stuff and can't get enough of it. It's all fascinating.
ReplyDeleteTake care, hugs.
Julia
Julia: I think a lot of people share your husband and my partner's fascination. Archaelogy must be an amazing profession.
DeleteYou take care too.
Egyptian artifice are lovely, beautiful EC.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: Some of them were indeed beautiful. Others were a little creepy like the tools used for mummifying bodies.
DeleteOjalá sea ésta una exposición itinerante, y llegue algún día a cualquier ciudad de España, para poderla visitar, ya que soy un apasionado de la cultura y de la arquitectura funeraria egipcia.
ReplyDeleteGracias por compartir tan lindas imágenes de la misma.
Un cordial saludo, amiga.
Manuel: Thank you. I really, really hope that you get the chance to see this or a similar exhibition.
DeleteOh that would be so cool to see. Thanks so much for the pictures. I love the jewelry and seeing the sarcophagus is really something.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: It was amazing and the beauty of so many of the objects they made blew me away. I would happily wear some of that jewellery too.
DeleteWonderful examples of showing respect to the past...to history. Thanks for sharing, EC.
ReplyDeleteTake good care...I hope the week ahead treats you most kindly. Cuddles to Batty and Odie. :)
Lee: Thank you. The exhibition was developed with the utmost respect - which is lovely. A busy week ahead. I hope you now have a television again and are sleeping better.
DeleteWhat an interesting exhibit! Was there any information about the purpose or meaning of the disembodied foot sculptures? Were they part of a statue? Or did some ancient Egyptian just decide to sculpt feet for no apparent reason?
ReplyDeleteDiane Henders: An ancient foot fetishist? There was no explanation for the disembodied feet, though the earlier foot photo I shared was at the foot of a sarcophagas.
DeleteAt one stage, I was an amateur Egyptologist.
ReplyDeleteroentare: I hope you got to do some of your studies in Egypt.
DeleteRiver Fairchild - Fascinating! Thank you for sharing with us. Egypt is such a unique culture and history, spanning an envious timeline. At one point it was high on my bucket list, though I think that time has passed me by.
ReplyDeleteRiver Fairchild: I think travelling to Egypt is off my bucket list too - though I will happily go to exhibitions from and about their culture.
DeleteI like the leaning tower of cup. It fits right into my "close enough" philosophy.
ReplyDeleteMike: I don't do perfection either.
DeleteThat is an incredible exhibit. I got so engrossed with the photos I forgot what blog I was reading and had to scroll back up. The ancient Egyptians left an incredible legacy. My students back in the day were so eager to study ancient Egypt.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have always felt a bit of apprehension about the mummies. In a previous life, I must have had to work in mummifying bodies. One little boy suggested we mummify a dead chicken in class. I told him no.
Ann Bennett: It really was a wonderful exhibition - and not dear either. They did leave an incredible legacy and we still don't know how they achieved some things. Mummify a chicken? No. I wonder what that boy became.
DeleteOh my! What an incredible and utterly wonderful exhibition.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing your photographs.
May the week ahead be a good one for you.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. It really was amazing. We should go to the National Museum more often than we do.
DeleteEgypt seems exotic in my mind to think about. Its history is soooo fascinating. I think bodies should be left where they were buried. Just a respect thing, even this long after they're gone. Seems like. I don't know.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: Ancient Egypt seems exotic to me too. Sadly between the tomb robbers and the archaelogists (some of whom could also be described as tomb robbers) many bodies were definitely NOT left in peace.
DeleteWhat a wonderful exhibit. We were able to see an Egyptian exhibit several years ago while visiting Chicago, but it was not as jam packed as the one you saw. Also several years ago we were at the British Museum. We spent most of the day there and never got out of antiquities.
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: Himself told me that the exhibition we saw would fit into a tiny corner of the Cairo museum. He spent days there and says he didn't see all of it by any means.
DeleteWhat a great exhibition. Good marketing having to go through the gift shop to get outside.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: Blogger seems to have taken a dislike to you. I had to rescue you from spam jail again. Most exhibitions I have been to in recent years the exit is through the gift shop, and it is indeed excellent marketing.
DeleteSorry I'm late, I spent the day at the beach with the twins and their parents and bucket loads of sunscreeen.
ReplyDeleteEgyptian exhibitions are always so amazing. I would love a fridge magnet thank you.
River: Not late at all - and I am glad that you had a day at the beach with the twins and their parents. I will send you a fridge magnet next week some time.
DeleteWhat a fabulous exhibit! I envy you! Margaret is occasionally in my spam filter--- I check it every single day.
ReplyDeleteBill: It was great. Margaret's comments often wind up in the spam filter. More often I think than any other commentator.
DeleteI have seen similar exhibits and have always been mightily impressed by them. A friend was in Egypt a few years ago and was not at all happy with the experience. He said that he was pressed in by people everywhere, and it was impossible to escape the stench and the chaos of humanity, and visits to the ancient monuments were impaired by the sheer stupidity of some visitors. Harsh judgement? Maybe. But I know this man and he is reasonable to a fault.
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: I am sorry for your friend. Stupidity of visitors? Sadly that is often a given. And, would you (or Miriam) like a bookmark? I bought them with you in particular in mind. And today blogger decided you were spam.
DeleteAs book aficionados to the core, Sue, book marks never fail to delight, so yes please! And thank you very much. David xo
DeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Good. I will post them later this week. I hope.
DeleteWonderful capture of all the marvelous exhibits EC, I was fortunate to see a large travelling collection at the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) at one time and more recently a smaller one at the Museum d'Orsay in Paris. But yours was spellbinding. Himself was pleased!
ReplyDeleteA card or bookmark please, one featuring a woman if possible.
XO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: It was indeed spellbinding - and we were both happy we went. I will happily send you a card/bookmark. One featuring a woman may be more difficult. The Ancient Egyptians perfected the androgynous look long before it became fashionable here.
DeleteAncient Egypt is proof, to me, people then were as complex and sophisticated as we are, not "primitive" except in their technology.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I have some selections over here.
messymimi: No arguments from me - and they achieved a great deal with their supposedly primitive technology. I have seen and thoroughly enjoyed your selections.
DeleteAwesome photos. Some seem kind of spooky with memories of Hollywood mummy films. If I could I sure would have loved seeing the pyramids in Egypt. I hope you have a good start to the new week.
ReplyDeleteRasmaSandra: I never saw (that I remember) any Hollywood mummy films. Himself LOVED the pyramids. I hope you and your furry family have a great week.
Deletelooks like a great day out!
ReplyDeleteI like the copper? chalice thingy the very best but I also like the intricate decorations on pretty much everything.
kylie: Those intricate decorations delighted me. It was a really lovely outing.
DeleteHopefully an excellent catalog was offered in the "inevitable" gift shop.
ReplyDeleteI still look at mine every now and then, which I bought in the Roemer and Pelizäus Museum in Hildesheim despite its hefty price.
A fascinating culture.
But I can assure you: tombs and pyramids were not created by the pharaohs. ;-)
Sean Jeating: There was indeed a catalogue. And it was a very hefty price. I passed this time and am regretting it a bit.
DeleteIt is a fascinating culture and I'm glad that you were able to see this exhibition. I visited Egypt in 1996 and seeing all of this in context with the temples and the archeological excavations was a unique experience. In the late 70s/early 80s I tried to get into the Tutankhamun exhibit and never succeeded because it was too crowded, and I promised to myself then that some day I would see it in the museum in Cairo. I did - and so much more. Beside all the ancient temples etc. I was fascinated by modern Egypt - and thankfully we never had the experience that David described of his friend. I'm sure the country has changed a lot.
ReplyDeleteCarola Bartz: My partner would agree with you. He has loved his trips to Egypt and was met with nothing but kindness. If ever the Tutankhamun exhibition comes here we will certainly try and see it - despite him spending days in the Cairo museum.
Deletewow.fascinatong!
ReplyDeletee: It was.
DeleteBeautiful. I have been to Egypt twice, hope to make another trip in the near future.
ReplyDeleteHena Tayeb: Your families travels constantly amaze and delight me.
DeleteWhat a wonderful compilation of Egyptian artifacts!
ReplyDeleteBea: It was very skilfully put together and I found it fascinating.
DeleteI used to love stories about Queen Nefertiti and Cleopatra when I was in grade school. This exhibit of ancient Egypt is so fascinating. I have never seen one like this in my life. I did see a small exhibit of King Tut in New York back in the 1970s, but it was indeed very limited in scale.
ReplyDeletegigi-hawaii: This exhibition wasn't huge but it was beautifully done. I would love to see a Tutenkhamun exhibition though.
DeleteI enjoyed this post so much, Sue! I've been to a number of Egyptian exhibitions, and I never tire of seeing the artifacts. I thought the glass was lovely. It's wonderful that your husband visited Egypt. I still hope to go there. About ten years ago, Denver had an exhibition and to advertise it, a large statue of Anubis was erected at the entrance to the east and west terminals of Denver International Airport. Anyone driving in couldn't miss it. I always wondered why they chose the Lord of the Underworld to put there. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteFundy Blue: Thank you. Over the years like you I have seen a lot of Egyptian exhibitions and I always learn something new - and marvel at what they created. Perhaps the person responsible for choosing Anubis had a sense of humour and wasn't fond of Denver? Abandon hope all those who enter here?
Delete