TheStaatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst (German:[ˈʃtaːtlɪçəsmuˈzeːʊmʔɛˈɡʏptɪʃɐˈkʊnst],State Museum of Egyptian Art) is an archaeological museum inMunich. It contains theBavarian state collection ofancient Egyptian art and displays exhibits from both the predynastic and dynastic periods. The associated small Middle East section displays objects from the areas ofAssyrian andBabylonian culture. For decades, the Egyptian museum was located in theMunich Residenz, but it was moved to theKunstareal in June 2013.
A new, subterranean museum, opposite theAlte Pinakothek and reaching underneath the new structure for theUniversity of Television and Film Munich was conceived by the architect Peter Böhm. The project was inspired by an ancient Egyptian burial chamber. Its entrance area is marked with a portal wall reminiscent of thepylon gateways toEgyptian temples.It offers some 1800 m² of exhibition space, with an additional 400 m² for special exhibitions. It is open since June 2013.The light-filled entrance hall leads to three large halls, and subsequently into smaller, darker and lower catacombs with several theme rooms such as "The Pharaoh", "Religion", "Realm of the Dead", "Beyond belief," "Egypt in Rome" or "After the Pharaohs". An atrium brings natural light into some parts of the exhibition.
The Bavarian state's collection was already founded in the 16th century by DukeAlbrecht V and extended especially byCharles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria and KingLudwig I of Bavaria. Also private donators and theAcademy of Sciences contributed to the collection. The museum is dedicated to the periods of theearly,middle andlate kingdoms, but also to theHellenistic,Roman andCoptic era of Egypt.
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The museum displaysancient Egyptian artefacts, such as statues, sculptures, cult articles,papyri, stone tablets withhieroglyphics, glasswares, jewellery, amulets but alsomummies, textiles and household goods. About 2000 of more than 8000 objects are displayed permanently. There are also temporary exhibitions.
Among the most distinguished exhibits are the famous duplex statue portraying the pharaohNyuserre Ini as a youth and as an elder man, thefalse door of the grave chamber ofMenes, the statues of the pharaohsAmenemhat III,Ramses II,Thutmose III andAkhenaten, the sphinx ofSesostris III and ofAmenhotep II, the sarcophagus lid of queenSitdjehuti and the kneeling figure ofSenenmut. One of the most famous exhibits is the glass cup with the inscription of Thutmose III, the oldest glass vessel in the world (1450 BC).
The upper part of a priest statue dates from thePersian period (ca. 500 BC). The Hellenistic-Roman period is represented by master pieces such as the bust of aSeleucid ruler and the grand Egyptian statue ofAntinous. The obelisk ofTitus Sextius Africanus in the atrium is 5.80 meters high, the central part dates from the 50 AD, the rest was added later and restored several times.
Very precious is the treasure of jewellery of theNubian QueenAmanishakheto. The museum owns also theAssyrianOrthostatesreliefs from the palace of kingAshur-nasir-pal II and a lion tile from theIshtar Gate ofBabylon which were once displayed in theGlyptothek.
Since 1912 the museum has held the mummy of a child aged between 4 and 6 years old found byFlinders Petrie near theHawara Pyramid.[1] The mummy includes aFayum mummy portrait which CT scans suggest are a reasonably accurate representation of the child in question.[1]
Since 1984, the State Museum of Egyptian Art has offered a children's education program during the summer holidays. It combines a short guided tour with handicraft work that the children can take home. Since 2007 similar programs are also offered during the other school holidays.During the summer holidays and special project days (International Museum Day, Long Night of the Museums), children can complete a Treasure Hunt, answering questions about objects throughout the museum, and receive a prize for correct answers.Outside of the holidays, the museum offers an "Archaeological Backpack" based on a similar principle and that can be taken out at the front desk.Both the Treasure Hunt and the Archaeological Backpack are usually also available in English.
The Museum also offers guided tours for schools on the following subjects:
The guided tours cost €33 and are available in English and French as well.
Since the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, schools can book a project hour in addition to guided tours.[2]
The exhibition "ISISBLUT UND STEINBOCKHORN - Amulett und Talisman in Altägypten und im Alpenraum", an exhibition showing amulets and talismans from Ancient Egypt and the Alps, was on view from 22 July 2010 to 9 January 2011.
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