ㅇExhibition date : 04.28.2009 ~ 08.30.2009
ㅇExhibition venue : Special Exhibition Gallery,National Museum of Korea


The purpose of this exhibition is to introduce cultural heritages from Egypt which has long been collected by the House of Habsburg, and to share the recent research outcomes that illuminate on them. As the Greek historian Herodotos said, Egypt is truly the gift of the Nile. The natural environment, historical condition and religious disposition also exerted upon forming unique character of Egyptian Civilization.

The visual culture embodies features that distinguish it from neighboring cultures. 231 pieces are selected for this special exhibition. Egyptian art does not limit itself to pyramids or mummies. It involves metal crafts, wooden crafts, calligraphy, ceramic as well as sculpture of gods and goddesses. From a 1cm amulet to 197cm statue of goddess Sekhmet, from a mirror to a coffin, artifacts were chosen to present worldviews and wishes of ancient Egyptian in various levels and forms. Some of them are 6000 year-old, but in any way they leave traces on Egyptian history and modern Egyptian is not at all irrelevant to that.

The exhibition comprises four main parts, The first part (“Gods and Goddess of Egypt”) introduces gods and goddesses and the afterlife view that appear in the ancient Egyptian myths. The second part presents objects that are related to the living god, pharaoh, an important keyword for understanding the Egyptian cultural heritage. Whereas the first half of the exhibition is about two different kinds of absolute beings, the latter half offers stories about the common people. The third part exhibits artifacts that reveal life scenes of the ancient Egyptians, and the last part displays mummies and burial goods that show the ancient Egyptian view on the afterlife.


[Selected list of objects]


"Forepart of a sphinx Amenhotep III"
New Kingdom, 18th Dyn., time of Amenhotep III., 1410-1372 BC
Fine white limestone; H 78 cm, L 68 cm, W 42 cm

So far, more than 150 pharaohs are recognized by inscriptions and archaeological finds. This piece is forepart of a sphinx Amenhotep III. He is one of the most significant pharaohs in the 18th dynasty, as major constructions were projected and art reached its zenith in his reign.
Amenhotep III is depicted here as half human and half lion. He is wearing a headcloth called Nemes topped with Uraeus cobra, the symbol of sovereignty. In his chest, the prenomen and nomen (two of his five titularies) are written inside a oblong enclosure called cartouche.



"Statue of Horus and Haremhab"
New Kingdom, 18th dyn., time of Haremhab
Limestone, H 152 cm, W 73,1 cm, D (compleated) 77 cm

The sky god Horus and the last pharaoh from the New Kingdom Haremhab are sharing the same throne. Horus is reaching his right arm on the back of Haremhab, which implies Haremhab is crowned by Horus, and thus, secured his legitimacy. Pharaohs were regarded as a living Horus.



"Statue of goddess Sekhmet"
New Kingdom, 18th dyn., reign of Amenophis III., 1410-1372 BC
Thebes, Karnak, Mut-temple (probably)
Granodiorite; H 197 cm,   W 45,9 cm,  D 101,7 cm reconstructed

This is a Sekhmet statue, believed to be excavated from the Mut temple of the Karnak temple complex in Thebes. Sekhmet was the goddess of war. She accompanies the pharaoh during battles to help defeat the enemy. The name Sekhmet originated from the ancient Egyptian word ‚sachem’, which means ‚who has strong power’. The cobra on her head is called the ‚uraeus’, symbolizing protection from evil. It is usually shown on the crown, the hood, or the headband. There is a sun disk on her head and she holds an ankh, a symbol of ‚life’, in her left hand. A dedication to Amenhotep III, who was the pharaoh at the time, is engraved in Egyptian hieroglyphs at the front and the right and left legs of the pedestal.



"Statuette of god Thot depicted as Ibis"
Late period, 6th century BC
Wood, silver, stucco, glass; H (with base) 32,2 cm, W 6,9 cm, L 22,2 cm

Thot is the god of wisdom. He protects the scribes and oversees knowledge. Ibis is a sacred animal that represents Thot. The ibis was actively worshipped in Hermopolis Magna of the Middle Egypt, which was the centre of the Thot cult, as well as Saqqara, Abydos, and the Kom Ombo region. The ibises that were bred from these regions were mummified and buried. Ibis statuettes made with various materials were used in worshiping Thot. The body of this ibis was made with wood with white stucco plastered on top. The Atef crown is rested on the head, and the neck, the tail, and the legs are made of silver. The eyes look lively because they are made of black glass.