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Recap 2023:

We remind you that the museum education project "THE 12 PAPYRUS. From life to immortality in Ancient Egypt" proposed as its main objective the stimulation of children's interest in the history of ancient Egypt, through the "stories" of some exceptional pieces from the "Gods and Mortals in Ancient Egypt" Exhibition. The project, carried out in partnership with the Association HaiHui among words (led by prof. elem. Level, Luminița Bratu), was structured on 12 activities/"12 papyri" corresponding to each month of the year 2023. The activities consisted of the presentation of Egyptian exhibits by a museographer of the MNIT, followed by a "story" told by the association's coordinator professor, both of which were inspired by the ZMEA exhibition. Each papyrus presented came with a surprise, which the participants discovered towards the end of the activity. The project proved a success, taking into account that no less than 173 little participants, aged between 5 and 12 years, took part in this journey into the world of ancient Egyptian stories.

The activities took place at the headquarters of the National History Museum of Transylvania in the spaces allocated to the "Gods and Mortals in Ancient Egypt" Exhibition (ZMEA).

Calendar of activities:

1. "Ornaments of Ancient Egypt": Bracelets

Ornaments served not only for beautification, but were believed to give the wearers magical power. From the simplest necklace, a string holding a small shell, to the gold breastplate encrusted with precious stones, these ancient jewels demonstrate the talent and imagination of Egypt's goldsmiths

2. "The ornaments of ancient Egypt": Beads

Beads are decorative objects of various shapes, made so that they can be strung. They were worn not only for aesthetic purposes, but also for protection.

 

3. "The Mystery of the Pyramid"

Although the construction of the pyramids represented only one episode in the long history of Ancient Egypt, it produced some of the most impressive monuments that have ever existed.

4. "Scarab" - from insect to God.

The ancient Egyptians observed the behavior of this insect and came to associate it with a god. The insect manages to turn a piece of mud/dung into a perfect sphere by rolling repeatedly. This sphere, rolled from east to west, recalled the movement of the sun, the shape of the ball being another symbolization of the solar star, much revered by the Egyptians.

5. The amulets” – cult and magic.

Fashionable since ancient times, ancient Egyptian amulets and talismans have fascinated with their shape, color and symbol. Placed around the neck of the deceased, it has the role of protecting them on their journey through the underworld. We used as a model a stone amulet representing a Tilapia fish.

6. Gods – Above all

Egyptian mythology is, along with Sumerian and Babylonian, among the oldest in the world. Beliefs and rituals are based on the interaction of the ancient Egyptians with a large number of deities (over 60), gods who had certain characteristics and attributes. The children found out which were the most important of them.

7. "Hidden treasures" - the wonderful world of archaeology.

Egypt holds one of the richest sources of archaeological treasures in the world.

8. Writing - the language of the gods

Along with pharaohs, pyramids, the Sphinx and mummies, one of the most interesting discoveries related to the civilization of Ancient Egypt was writing. Hieroglyphic writing, whose name comes from the Greek word "hieroglyphikos", means "sacred sculpture". The Egyptians decorated their temples, monuments and tombs with hieroglyphic writing.

9. Cartouche – hieroglyphic symbol

A cartouche (known as "shenou" in ancient Egypt) is a hieroglyphic symbol, it has an elongated shape and is closed with a knot. It symbolizes "everything that surrounds the sun" and has the function of protecting the name of the pharaoh.

10. The Pharaoh – incarnate God

A particularly important place in the Egyptian pantheon was occupied by the pharaoh. According to mythology, Egypt was first ruled by the gods, with Ra himself being the first pharaoh. The pharaohs of the historical dynasties, the successors of the ancient divine dynasties, were themselves gods, in their double capacity as sons and heirs of the gods..

 

11. "The mummy" - the embalming ritual

The artefact exhibited at MNIT comes from Gamhud, in Middle Egypt, having been discovered in the Hungarian archaeological mission in 1907. The mummy dates from the Ptolemaic Era, century. II-I BC. Mummification was the way the Egyptians tried to preserve the human body intact for eternity. Not only human bodies were mummified, but also the bodies of animals. We also tried to wrap ourselves like mummies…

12. "Stories on Papyrus"

Papyrus is a paper-like material produced from the Cyperus papyrus plant, which it was written during Antiquity, especially in Egypt. It remained an essential support of the book in Egypt, from where it spread to the Greek world and the Roman Empire. We learned many "secrets" of Ancient Egypt by deciphering the 12 papyri, one by one...

 

 

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