Opening of exhibition of ancient Egyptian artefacts at WA Museum

20/2/98

Western Australians will have a unique chance to view a rare collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts at the Western Australian Museum.

Arts Minister Peter Foss today opened the exhibition, Life and Death Under the Pharaohs, which will be on display until April 27.

"The ancient Egyptian civilisation has fascinated the world for centuries," Mr Foss said.

"The mystery of life for this great culture was inextricably bound to complex rituals of death which reveal the true splendour of these ancient peoples.

"This exhibition offers Western Australians a rare opportunity to view an extraordinary range of ancient Egyptian artefacts from one of the world's greatest collections."

The artefacts are on loan from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, which holds one of the world's most important Egyptian collections.

Life and Death Under the Pharoahs features more than 350 artefacts spanning 3500BC to 450AD including mummies, sarcophagus, jewellery, statues and objects used in daily life.

A number of these were excavated from villages, temples and tombs and include letters written on papyrus, bronze statues of gods and nobles, stone and earthen ware, tomb paintings, furniture, baskets and jewellery.

The artefacts are presented under four main themes: the Society and Beliefs of Ancient Egyptians, the Gods and Temples, Kings and their Officials, and daily life and life after death.

It was Napoleon's expedition into Egypt in the late 18th century that first sparked European interest in Egyptian archaeology. The Dutch collection was one of the first great collections formed in the 19th century, along with those of the British Museum, the Louvre in Paris and the Egyptian Museum in Turin.

"The Dutch collection has grown to more than 23,000 items in the past 180 years, making it one of the largest in Europe," Mr Foss said.

"The touring exhibition is a wonderful display of ancient Egypt and will travel to other States and Territories later in the year under the Western Australian Museum's management."

Media contact: Chris Morris 9321 2222