[Life] Egyptian Mummies Arrive in Taiwan, National Museum of History Discusses Eternal Life Across Civilizations
bellala 央廣5h agoEdited
The National Museum of History held the opening ceremony for the international exhibition "Egyptian Mummies - Legend of Eternal Life" on the 17th. The exhibition features over a hundred precious artifacts from the National Archaeological Museum of Florence, Italy. It is presented alongside the museum's self-curated exhibition "The Unfinished Finale - Cultural Reflections on Life and Death," fostering a dialogue between Eastern and Western beliefs and artifacts to guide the audience in re-examining the meanings of life, death, and eternity. #CNA Reporter Chiang Chao-lun reports#
"Egyptian Mummies - Legend of Eternal Life" will be on display from June 18th to September 28th. The National Museum of History held a press conference on the 17th, giving media and VIPs an exclusive preview.
The exhibition artifacts are from the National Archaeological Museum of Florence, Italy. The core collection originates from the renowned "Franco-Tuscan Expedition to Egypt" in the 19th century. This expedition, led by Jean-François Champollion, who deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Ippolito Rosellini, the father of Italian Egyptology, conducted extensive surveys along the Nile Valley and is considered a crucial foundation for modern European Egyptology.
Exhibits coming to Taiwan include genuine mummies, painted coffins, canopic jars, papyri, shabti figurines, and various amulets and other ancient Egyptian artifacts.
Maria Cristina Guidotti, curator at the National Archaeological Museum of Florence, stated that ancient Egyptians believed death was not the end of life but a continuation of another form of existence. To ensure the soul's continued presence in the afterlife, the soul and body had to be reunited, thus requiring the body to be preserved in the most perfect way possible.
She mentioned that the mummification process has always sparked public imagination, with some finding it mysterious and others terrifying. However, ancient Egyptian funerary customs were intended to allow the deceased to continue living in the afterlife. Maria Cristina Guidotti: "(Original sound + translation) In fact, ancient Egyptian customs ensured the continuation of life in the afterlife. The mummification methods, grave goods, and funerary rituals were all intended to allow the deceased to live well in the afterlife. Visitors can also see a wide variety of grave goods."
Among the most eye-catching artifacts in the exhibition are three key items. First is the "Painted Coffin of the Priest Padimout," standing 205 centimeters tall. Its surface is densely covered with paintings and hieroglyphs, depicting scenes of sacrifices to deities and prayers for eternal life.
Another highlight is the genuine infant mummy, exhibited in Taiwan for the first time, alongside a "fake mummy" that appears to be an infant but holds a surprise inside. Modern X-ray and CT scans of the latter revealed that it might contain the remains of a falcon. Experts point out that in the late ancient Egyptian period, due to immense ritualistic demands, some mummies were filled with animals or other materials. In the 18th and 19th centuries, a "Egyptomania" swept across Europe, leading to the creation of "fake mummies" specifically sold to collectors and tourists, marking a peculiar phenomenon in archaeological history.
Furthermore, the funerary papyrus of a woman is equally captivating. This artifact, dating back approximately 3,000 years, contains the text of the "Book of the Dead." It is considered the ancient Egyptians' "guide to eternal life," using spells and guidance to help the deceased pass the judgment of Osiris, the god of the underworld, and journey to the world of eternal life.
The funerary papyrus of a woman, dating back approximately 3,000 years, contains the text of the "Book of the Dead," considered the ancient Egyptians' "guide to eternal life." (Photo by Chiang Chao-lun)
Hong Shih-yu, Director of the National Museum of History, stated that the museum's collection already includes abundant archaeological and religious artifacts. This exhibition specifically allows the Egyptian mummy exhibition to engage in a dialogue with related domestic collections, concurrently curating the exhibition "The Unfinished Finale - Cultural Reflections on Life and Death." He pointed out that ancient Egypt had Osiris, while Taiwan has Buddhist reincarnation, Taoist Ten Kings of Hell, and indigenous ancestral spirit beliefs. Different cultures interpret death in their own ways, embodying profound cultural connotations worth the audience's careful consideration, which is believed to bring further insights. (Editor: Hsu Chia-yuan)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215098
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