Antiquities and Ancient Art

Web Site Documents John's Hopkins Excavation at Mut Temple Precinct in Luxor

I received a note today that Egyptologist Betsy Bryan and her crew are once again sharing their work with the world through an online diary, a digital window into day-to-day life on an archaeological dig. This is a fascinating look at the unfolding excavation of an Egyptian site.  Visitors to the site will find

photos of Bryan and her students working on Johns Hopkins University's 11th annual excavation at the Mut Temple Precinct in Luxor, where they continue to explore the Egyptian New Kingdom (1567 to 1085 B.C.E.) .

According to Bryan, modern day Luxor is rich in finds from the New Kingdom, known as the "golden age" of Egyptian temple building. This is the sixth year Bryan and her team will be excavating the area behind the temple's sacred lake, where in previous years their finds have included industrial and food processing installations like granaries and bakeries.

The goal of the "Hopkins in Egypt Today" Web site is to educate visitors by showing them the elements of archaeological work in progress. Photographer Jay VanRensselaer will capture images of the team as they carefully sift through trenches, uncovering mud brick walls, pottery sherds, animal bones and other remains. The daily photos and detailed captions emphasize not only discoveries, but the teamwork among Bryan, her students and their "gufti," the local crew members who are trained in archaeology. That teamwork is essential to a successful dig.

Rare Ancient Egyptian Objects Excavated by Flinders Petrie on View at Albancy Institute

For those finding themselves in Albany this winter, there is more to do than shovel snow. A major traveling exhibition at the Albany Insititute tells the story of archaeologist William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853 – 1942) and his exploration of ancient Egyptian civilization. Petrie, named the “Father of Egyptian Archaeology” for his innovations and contributions to the field (and the inspiration for the film hero Indiana Jones”) worked in Egypt for well over half a century. EXCAVATING EGYPT features 221 of his most significant finds--many never before seen by the public.

The Albany Institute is the only Northeast venue for the exhibition, and the second stop on a national tour that began in April 2005 at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University in Atlanta. The exhibition will then travel across the continent, making stops in St. Louis, Indianapolis, Toronto, Chicago and Seattle.

The 221 artifacts in EXCAVATING EGYPT tell the story of the earliest people of Egypt. The objects, hidden away in secret storage facilities throughout London at the beginning of World War II, are part of a remarkable collection of “firsts,” and include:

• a fragment of mankind’s first calendar (2900 BC)
• the earliest examples of metalwork in Egypt
• the earliest examples of glazing
• the oldest wills, written on papyrus
• the first worked iron beads
• the oldest bead-net dress
• the earliest “cylinder seal” in Egypt (3500 BC)
• Ancient Egyptian masons’ models for pyramids         

Early examples of: stone carvings in limestone, granite, and quartzite; glasswork; ceramics; furniture; beauty and grooming instruments; games, including Senet boards and playing pieces; jewelry; weights and measures; tools; and weaponry.

EXCAVATING EGYPT offer a clear view into the lives of ancient Egyptians, both royal and commoner.  The exhibition also focuses on the history of archaeology in Egypt and showcases Petrie’s innovative methods and theories, including ancient manufacturing techniques and ceramic development. In addition, the exhibition will draw upon archival material, including photographs, excavation notes and personal journals that will bring to life the science of archaeology during its infancy, as seen through the eyes of one of its greatest pioneers.

The exhibition runs from January 21 through June 4, 2006.

Kimbell Museum, Texas, Unveils Impressive Egyptian Limestone Sculpture Newly Acquired on Art Market

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, placed on display yesterday the superb Egyptian limestone group that it purchased less than two weeks ago at the Christie’s New York sale.  The important statue was hammered down for over $2.8 million including the buyer’s premium, against an estimate of $1-1.5-million.  The statue joins a collection of ancient art at the Kimbell which has grow impressively over the past several years.

The 14-inch, Old Kingdom sculptural masterpiece from the 5^th Dynasty was one of the most impressive objects offered at any auction this year.  It was also among the highest prices ever paid for an Egyptian antiquity.

The statue of Ka-nefer and his family, dating to 2465-2323 BC, depicts Ka-nefer seated on a high bench with a hieroglyphic inscription by his feet reading “Overseeer of the Craftsmen, Priest of Ptah, Ka-nefer.” As was the convention with family statues of this period, Ka-nefer’s large size signifies his dominance while his wife and son are represented in much smaller scale on either side, their arms affectionately embracing Ka-nefer’s legs. 

For more information, click Kimbell Art Museum.

Egyptian Masterpieces from Harer Family Trust Soar as Collectors Compete in New York Auction

While much of New York City and the Northeast was digging out from up to a foot of snow on Friday, December 10, a hardy contingent of dealers, museums and agents made their way to the Christies auction room in Rockefeller Center where they were digging deep into their pockets for a selection of fabulous ancient Egyptian artifacts from the Harer Family Trust Collection of California.

Dr. Benson Harer, a true gentleman and a friend of Fragments of Time, parted with more than three dozen masterpieces which were keenly fought over by attendees and phone bidders.

The star, and cover piece to the hardbound auction catalogue, was a truly magnificent Egyptian black granite standard-bearing statue of Queen Nefertari dating to the Reign of Ramesses II, 1290-1224 BC. The 37-inch work of stone art was hammered down at $2.256M.

Impressively, as predicted by Fragments of Time one of the sleepers of the sale was a spectacular Egyptian limestone New Kingdom shabti, 1307-1196 BC which had previously been on the market for considerably less in the late 1970s. The beautifully modeled 10.8-inch shabti carried an estimate of $20,000-$30,000, but was hammered down for a very strong $174,000!

Of the 42 lots, 24 sold (81%) for more than $3.5-million. Proof that quality objects and excellent provenance remain scarce and keenly sought after by today's antiquities collecting community. 

King Tut Exhibition Leaves LA and Travels to Florida with Rock Star Promotion

Last month we reported on our visit to the King Tut Exhibition at the LACMA. Like any good rock concert, the house lights must come on and the band must move on. So it is with Tut. On November 15, the show ended in LA and the roadies moved in to pack up the 130 objects and sent them on to Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art where they will dazzle fans from December 15 to April 23, 2006.

The show is like a rock event in more ways than one. Behind the exhibition galleries darkened to heighten the mysteriousness of these wonderful and solemn ancient artifacts, lurks the cash register. Megastar rock concert producer AEG LIVE is managing the boy king's 2004-2007 USA Tour. Not surprisingly, you won't get an overfill of mysteriousness....the layout of the galleries is expertly designed to ensure the throngs of history-loving visitors shelling out big bucks for their tickets are swiftly conveyored through the exhibit to the bountifully stocked souvenir shop. I wondered as I was dumped into the shop in LA, how many people actually spend more time in the shop than the exhibit.

According to the Art Newspaper, the exhibition has been assailed as profit-motivated popular entertainment. The LA Times critic Christopher Knight called it "an ethically dubious ode to the cash register." 

It should not be a surprise. The Egyptian government set the tone by slapping a $5-million fee per venue for each of the four USA locations, and refusing to send any additional objects. Cairo apparently has learned well from the agents of American sports heroes that talent is finite and it must be milked for every dime. Exposure is great but costly, and over-exposure is to be avoided. Always hold something back and keep them wanting more.

Not that the exhibition is not worthwhile. Floridians will gladly shell out $30 per ticket for their chance to be whisked through Tut on weekends this winter.  Enjoy the exhibit.  The Egyptian government and AEG appreciate your business.  Just don't linger, the next show is about to begin.  And remember, no cameras allowed....that could cut into sales of the exhibition catalogs.

Foundation of Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria Found; Seventh Wonder of the World

French diving archeologists have discovered the foundation of the ancient lighthouse of Pharos in Alexandria, the seventh wonder of the world, according to reports on RIA Novosti.

Sometimes called the "Pharos of Alexandria" in reference to Pharos the island on which it resided (Also Pharos or Φάρος in greek means lighthouse), the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built in the 3rd century BC.

The director of the Alexandria national museum, Ibrahim Darwish, said recently that the lighthouse, which was destroyed by two earthquakes in the 11th and 14th centuries, had occupied an area of 800 sq m north of the city's eastern harbor. Read the full news item.

Italian Researchers Debunk Common Belief By Finding Remains of Pork-based Diet in Mummy Stomach

Italian researchers have found a pig-related disease in a mummy, squashing a common belief that Ancient Egyptians had a dietary ban on pork, reported Groppo ANSA this week.

Until now historians have found evidence suggesting ancient high priests in Egypt prohibited pig meat, in common with many Middle Eastern peoples who still don't eat pork today.

The researchers recently found the oldest recorded case of a rare disease called cystercosis in the belly of a second-century BC mummy. Cystercosis, which can spark dangerous mood swings and epilepsy, is caused by an intestinal parasite contained in raw or poorly cooked pork.  Full story.

I Survived the King Tut Exhibit in Los Angeles: Tips and Tricks

I found myself unexpectedly in LA on Saturday, October 1, and thought "what should I do for the day"? A quick scan through the local paper and it was suddenly obvious....check out the 'Tut Exhibit' at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) which is on a limited 15-month engagement that ends November 15, 2005. The controversial exhibit, which I have written on before, features a number of spectacular objects that rarely leave Egypt and were last in the USA in the 1970s.

Perhaps the Roman goddess Fortuna (good fortune) was smiling on me that day, because unlike many of the good citizens of LA who I saw in line, I received 'royal treatment' which made the exhibit far more enjoyable.

Tip #1 - The Right Building. Tut is not in the main LACMA museum building, but in the annex known as LACMA West at the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax. See map. If you are only going for Tut, don't bother going to the main museum...they do not even sell tickets to Tut there (and are likely to give you inaccurate information about next available ticket times if you go there and ask). The reason is because the Tut exhibit is basically a business venture for the Egyptian Antiquities Authority and is being run as a self-contained event, with a big slice of all the proceeds (from tickets to concessions to souvenirs and corporate sponsorships) heading to Cairo. I made the mistake of going to the main building and walking back down to LACMA West.  Not a long walk if you are fit and enjoy walking, but it is a good brisk 10 minute walk ... you may want to conserve energy because the rest of the day involves a lot of standing!

Tip #2 - Parking. Again, I parked closer to the main building. See the map above. The most convenient parking is on Ogden. Parking is reasonable....I parked for $6 in the next lot over.

Tip #3 - Membership Has its Benefits. The museum doles out tickets based on hourly entry to the Exhibit. When I arrived at 1pm, I was originally told the nice lady at the ticket window that 8pm was the first available ticket. Wanting to see the exhibit, I was disappointed but figured I would take it. Tickets are $30 on Sat/Sun ($5 cheaper during the week and Senior discounts are available). Members pay only $20.50 on Sat/Sun. While I am not a member of LACMA, I am a member of the Boston Museum of Fine Art, which has reciprocal privileges with LACMA. When I asked if they would accept my MFA reciprocal card, the ticket lady said "no", but said I could double-check at the Members Window. 

When I did, the nicer lady there without hesitation accepted my MFA card, and not only gave me the discounted ticket price, but also gave me a temporary card for the day for discounts throughout the shops and free admission into LACMA East. Further, I had special access through the members line which bypassed what appeared to be at least a 1-1/2 to 2-hour queue in a large warm tent basking in the afternoon LA sun.  Even though it moved steadily, it still required at least 30 minutes to maneuver through the member's line and into the Exhibit hall. If you live in LA and are not a member of LACMA, do it before you visit Tut!  If you are from outside and a member of a major museum, check on reciprocal privileges.

Tip #4 - Spring for the Audio Tour. The objects are spectacular and the descriptions are easy to read. But the audio has several advantages. It reinforces some key points you may miss in the display tags; it provides far more color and background on each object; the headphones block out a lot of ambient noise allowing you to concentrate on the experience; and the narration is well done and entertaining (it is Hollywood, after all!). $6 for the audio tour; of course as a member it was only $4!

Tip #5 - Mind the Gap.  Before going into the exhibit you watch a short documentary. At the end of the documentary everyone plows into the first room which is just being vacated by the previous group. Because of the flow of the rooms, it is marginally less crowded and you will be able to be get closer to the objects if you stay toward the back of your group (and slightly ahead of the next incoming group). This advantage only lasts for the first few rooms before the crowds homogenize. But it made the first few rooms a little more enjoyable.

Tip #6 - Enjoy and Don't Miss.  The are a number of spectacular objects - large and small. The objects span roughly a 300 year period from 1539-1292 AD. Don't miss the wonderful painted wood and gesso bust of Tut; the colossal statue of Amenhotep IV (hard to miss this one!); the scarab pectoral with the throne name of the King, the spectacular white calcite canopic jar lid of Tut; and the gold fan and falcon pectoral from the Valley of the Kings.

Have you attended the exhibit? Post your tips!   

 

   

Ancient Egyptian Monument snd Sculptures Threatened by Modern Society

Egyptian reliefs dating back thousands of years could disappear within 10 years because the demands of the living are undermine the pharaohs' quest for immortality, according to a report filed by Reuters.

As Egypt's population grows, agricultural plots encroach ever closer to land reserved for ancient temples and funeral monuments, archaeologists say. Water for irrigation is weakening temple foundations and eroding the carvings.

"We've seen it. We have photographic evidence of something we took a picture of 10 years ago and we go and take a picture of the reliefs now and they are simply not there," said Nigel Hetherington, an archaeological conservation manager.

"What's happened is that farming land, as the population increases dramatically, now stretches out into the desert and into [the Nile's west bank at] Luxor, which was once considered the realm of the dead in the pharaonic period."  Click for the full article from Reuters.

Egyptian Museum Discovers Several Items 'Missing' from Museum Basement

From Cairo comes word of the disappearance of three items from the Egyptian Museum.  Investigations may be taken over by the General Prosecutor, according to press reports on Monday.

The three artefacts dating back to 2649-2150 BC were found missing September 7 - five months after being lent to the museum for an exhibition, the state-owned daily al-Ahram reported. The items were never put on display, but kept under guard the museum's basement along with thousands of others.

The three missing artefacts are a limestone statuette of a seated figure that is 23,5cm tall, a statue of a couple that is 35cm tall and a wooden box without a cover that contains a statuette of Osiris, according to the al-Ahram report.  More details.