In a world premiere, the exhibition “Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives” will open at the Sydney Powerhouse Museum this weekend. Australian audiences will have a chance to see inside mummies from the British Museum collection via the latest non-invasive CT scan and 3D visualisation technology.
The exhibition will showcase six mummies, who lived and died in Egypt between 1800 and 3000 years ago. The mummies have been scanned at Royal Brompton Hospital in London using CT technology. They will be displayed in their historical, geographical and social contexts alongside 200 objects exploring themes such as mummification, gods and goddess, personal adornment, medicine, diet and lifestyle.
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Director, Dolla Merrillees said, “This is a rare opportunity to get a close-up look at the mummies of the British Museum. They are in exceptional condition and now, thanks to modern technology, we are able to uncover their stories and secrets while preserving their dignity and leaving them intact.”
Co-Curator of the exhibition, Project Curator at the British Museum and Egyptologist, Marie Vandenbeusch said that the exhibition provides a unique opportunity to learn more about life and death in Ancient Egypt. “British Museum’s curators, scientists and conservators combined their knowledge to explore CT scan data and study objects from the museum’s vast collection, providing a unique insight into the life of six ancient individuals,” said Vandenbeusch.
The exhibition will also be paired with an extensive public program throughout the summer holidays. Children can try their hand at archaeology with a 20 metre long Giant Archaeological Dig pit, or enjoy Egyptian themed movie nights. For adults there will be a series of talks and events, including a lecture series titled Death and Dying that will take place throughout the duration of the exhibition and school holiday periods.
Exhibition dates: 10 December 2016 – 25 April 2017
Find out more on the MAAS website here
Watch a preview video of a mummy’s CT scan
