Music has always played an important part in the lives of ancient Egyptians. Temple and tomb wall reliefs and paintings often depict performing singers and musicians with the songs they sang or accompanied. Along with musical instruments, a diverse set of objects adorned with representations of music scenes survived to this day. Statues and statuettes…
One of the most famous representations of birds from ancient Egypt comes from the wall of Dynasty XII tomb of Khnumhotep II (no. 3) at Beni Hasan. While the tomb owner is trapping waterfowl on a pool with a clap-net, these charming birds are shown perching on branches of two flowering acacia trees flanking the…
“History is the witness of times, the torch of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.” Expansion of archaeological findings testifies to Cicero’s words and it also inspires contemporary imagination, bringing to life new objects inspired by arts and crafts from the past. It is maybe the contrast to…
One of the most beloved pets in ancient Egypt was a monkey, a jovial companion in the daily life of ancient Egyptians. These highly intelligent animals seem to had been viewed with considerable affection, to the extent that the tomb-owners wished to continue to enjoy their presence throughout eternity. By portraying them close to their…
The beauty of flowers fascinated ancient Egyptians, which was all the more emphasized by the sacred and symbolic qualities they believed flowers possessed. Sṯj-šʒ (literally ‘garden scent’), as they called them, were used for floral decorations and their fragrant blooms for crafting perfumed ointments. Exotic plants and trees were also appreciated and Ramses III, as…