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Tag: Archaeology

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Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra

Cartonnage of Nehemsu, 22 Dynasty, 943-746 BCE

Discover Ancient Egypt At The National Museum of Australia in Canberra

On display until 8 September 2024 at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Discover Ancient Egypt displays fascinating artifacts from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden).

What’s on Display

Entering the museum, you are greeting by a statue of Anubis, the Egyptian god of funerary rites, protector of graves, and guide to the underworld. From here, the displays take you through the lives of ancient Egyptians, with an emphasis on the funerary process.

Statue of Anubis at the Entrance to the Australian Museum Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
Statue of Anubis at the Entrance to the Australian Museum

Stelae

Used for a variety of purposes, stelae are stone or wooden slabs containing information. Uses included burial markers placed outside tombs, monuments that commemorated special events, the marking of boundaries or made offerings to gods. As such they provide a great inside to the thinking of the Egyptians.

Funerary stela of Hor, Late period 26th Dynasty c.664-525 BCE
Funerary stela of Hor, Late period 26th Dynasty c.664-525 BCE
Limestone offering stela of Khu and his family, Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1878-1843 BCE
Limestone offering stela of Khu and his family, Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1878-1843 BCE
Stela of Pamaaf, showing Pamaaf making an offering to Re-Horakhty and a figure of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
Stela of Pamaaf, showing Pamaaf making an offering to Re-Horakhty and a figure of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris
Limestone offering stela, 12th Dynasty, c.2080-1940 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
Limestone offering stela, 12th Dynasty, c.2080-1940 BCE

Sarcophagi and Coffins

This was one of the largest parts of the display, with 10 coffins on display. The detail of the decorations used on them really has to be seen to be appreciated. Not only are the outsides covered, but the interior as well.

Also in this section, were several mummies. To demonstrate the latest scientific techniques used an interactive display allowed us to see what a 3D scan revealed. This meant that the interior and composition of the mummy could be determined without unwrapping and damaging the body inside.

Cartonnage of Nehemsu, 22 Dynasty, 943-746 BCE
Cartonnage of Nehemsu, 22 Dynasty, 943-746 BCE
Inner coffin of Amenhotep - High Priest of Amun, 21st Dynasty 1076-944 BCE
Inner coffin of Amenhotep – High Priest of Amun, 21st Dynasty 1076-944 BCE
Detail of the Inner coffin of Amenhotep 1076-944 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
Detail of the Inner coffin of Amenhotep 1076-944 BCE
Coffin of Haytemhat, Late Period 722-332 BCE
Mummy cover of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
Mummy cover of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
Inner coffin of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
Inner coffin of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
Coffin of Haytemhat, Late Period, c.722-332 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
Coffin of Haytemhat, Late Period, c.722-332 BCE

Canopic Jars

During the mummification process, the internal organs and brain were removed. As these would be needed in the afterlife, they were stored in canopic jars. On display, were a series of jars, showing how the designed changed from square boxes, to stone jars.

Canopic chest, Late Period, 722-322 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
Canopic chest, Late Period, 722-322 BCE
Three canopic jars
Three canopic jars

Burial Goods

To ensure the dead enjoyed the afterlife, the tombs contained objects they would need. This could be as simple as a model of a boat, or a complex diorama showing the making of bread and the brewing of beer, to ensure that these were is plentiful supply.

Winged scarab, representing the rising sun
Winged scarab, representing the rising sun
Tomb statue of Hormin 19th Dynasty, 1290-1213 BCE
Tomb statue of Hormin 19th Dynasty, 1290-1213 BCE
Pyramidion of Pauty, New Kingdom 1539-1077 BCE
Pyramidion of Pauty, New Kingdom 1539-1077 BCE
Ship model 722-322 BCE
Ship model 722-322 BCE
Model Granary, Middle Kingdom 1980-1760 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
Model Granary, Middle Kingdom 1980-1760 BCE

What Did We Think?

This was a fantastic exhibition and highly recommended to anyone who likes archaeology or ancient history. Laid out with plenty of detailed descriptions, the displays are amazing. If you’re in Canberra while it’s on, it’s a great way to see Egyptian artifacts without leaving the country.

Replica of the Rosetta Stone
Replica of the Rosetta Stone

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Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum

Sennedjem's outer coffin. An artist, he worked on the tombs of Ramses and his father Seti Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum

Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum

Running until May 19, 2024, The Australian Museum is currently hosting an exhibition centred on the Egyptian Pharoah Ramses II. This was a great opportunity to see some of the most important artifacts from ancient Egypt, without having to leave Australia.

Featuring over 180 artifacts, this is a large exhibition that we found fascinating from beginning to end. Starting with a short video presentation covering Ramses II’s life, it then proceeds through a series of display rooms containing the exhibits. Each section also has videos playing describing the artefacts in more detail.

Additional displays covered other aspects of Ancient Egypt, with one of the most striking being Sennedjem’s outer coffin. An artist, he worked on the tombs of Ramses and his father Seti while working on his own coffin on his days off.

Amazing jewelry, mummies of cats and crocodiles, masks and weapons gave diversity to what was displayed. As usual, the last room was a gift shop, where books and souvenirs could be purchased.

Head of a Colossal Statue of Ramses II Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum
Head of a Colossal Statue of Ramses II
Upper part of an obelisk
Upper part of an obelisk
Statue of Ramses II as a sphynx Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum
Statue of Ramses II as a sphynx
Ramses II Massacring his enemies.
Ramses II  showing him capturing enemies: a Nubian, a Libyan and a Syrian.
Queen Tuya Ramses mother
Queen Tuya, Ramses mother
Sennedjem's outer coffin. An artist, he worked on the tombs of Ramses and his father Seti Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum
Sennedjem’s outer coffin. An artist, he worked on the tombs of Ramses and his father Seti
Gilded wooden mask from the tomb of Amenemope
Gilded wooden mask from the tomb of Amenemope a scribe and sage
Girdle of Princess Merit (bottom) and collar of Princess Neferuptah (top)
Girdle of Princess Merit (bottom) and collar of Princess Neferuptah (top)
Mummified cat Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum
Mummified cat
Coffin of a cat mummy
Coffin of a cat mummy
Coffin and coffinettes of Sheshonq II
Coffin and coffinettes of Sheshonq II
Gold funerary mask of General Wendjebauendjed Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum
Gold funerary mask of General Wendjebauendjed
Bust of Merenptah, Ramses successor
Bust of Merenptah, Ramses successor
Outer coffin lid of Pinudjem II's wife Princess Nesikhonsu (left) and inner coffin lid of Pinudjem I
Outer coffin lid of Pinudjem II’s wife Princess Nesikhonsu (left) and inner coffin lid of Pinudjem I
Coffin of Ramses II Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum
Coffin of Ramses II
Ramses II Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum
Ramses II
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Museum of Sydney

HMS Sirius Flagship of the First Fleet

Museum of Sydney

Located on Bridge St, not far from Circular Quay, the Museum of Sydney focuses on the history of the city with an emphasis on the impact white settlement had and still has on Aboriginal People.

Bust of Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet and the First Governor of Australia The Museum of Sydney
Bust of Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet and the First Governor of Australia

Getting There

As with many attractions in Sydney, public transport is the easiest and cheapest way to travel. We caught the Light Rail from Central Station, getting off the Bridge Street stop. From here, it was an easy 5-minute walk to the museum.

Entry

Entry was free with staff only requesting a post code to see where visitors were from.

Exhibits

Edge of Trees

Located in the museum’s forecourt, these 29 pillars represent 29 clans from the Sydney area.

Edge of Trees The Museum of Sydney
Edge of Trees

The First Fleet

The first display we saw was a series of scale models of the first fleet. This impressive display had each ship represented along with a short description and history. Many of the names of these ships are commemorated in Royal Australian Navy ships and Sydney Harbour ferries.

Model ships of the First Fleet
Model ships of the First Fleet
HMS Sirius Flagship of the First Fleet
HMS Sirius Flagship of the First Fleet

Government House

A model of the original Government House shows how the site appeared in the 1780s. This building was the centre of colonial administration for 57 years until replaced by the new Government House.

Located in the museum’s forecourt on Bridge Street, a glass-fronted display provides a view of subterranean remains of the first Government House. Inside the museum, near the gift shop, additional glass panels in the floor provide glimpses of archaeological remains, including foundations and drains.

Model of the First Government House The Museum of Sydney
Model of the First Government House
Model of the First Government House
Model of the First Government House

Special Exhibition: The Sydney Opera House

The top floor of the Museum houses rotating displays, often with an aboriginal theme. During our visit, the Sydney Opera House’ 50th anniversary was being celebrated. As a result, there was a large exhibition detailing its history.

This exhibit only runs until 12 November 2023, when it will be replaced by a new series of displays.

Lego Model of the Opera House
Lego Model of the Opera House
Woven Model of the Opera House
Woven Model of the Opera House
Posters of shows held at the Sydney Opera House The Museum of Sydney
Posters of shows held at the Sydney Opera House
Costume worn by Dame Joan Sutherland in Lucrezia Borgia
Costume worn by Dame Joan Sutherland in Lucrezia Borgia

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.