c. 2700 B.C. - 2200 B.C.

Old Kingdom

Construction begins on the Great Pyramids. Great Sphinx built at Giza.

Middle Kingdom

c. 2000 B.C. - 1800 B.C.

Egypt works on irrigation projects. Egypts wealth increases. Egypt expands into Nubia.

c. 1500 B.C. - 1000 B.C.

New Kingdom

Ramses II builds much and expands territory. Penn Museums statue of Ramses II, c. 1250 B.C. Penn Museums Statue of Scribe, c. 1460 B.C. Scribe Amenemhat was a Egyptianized Nubian who worked in the administration during the reign of female Pharaoh Hatshepsut.

Journey
An Ancient Egyptian

T R A V E L

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Ptolemaic-Roman Rule

c. 500 B.C.

Gilded Mummy Mask c. 300 B.C. The Rosetta Stone produced under King Ptolemy V.

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is among the most celebrated institutions of its kind in the world. Since its founding in 1887, the Museum has been actively involved in archaeological excavation and ethnographic fieldwork. Its internationally famous collections, drawn from an enormous spectrum of world cultures, are an extraordinary resource for students and teachers alike.

Journey
An Ancient Egyptian
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. This activity guide is a fun way for you and your family to travel through the Museums galleries dedicated to Ancient Egypt.

Welcome to the University of

The ancient Egyptians called their writing medou netcher, which means gods words. Egyptians used over 700 different hieroglyphic signs. Many people think of hieroglyphs as picture writing, yet the system is complicated. Hieroglyphs can be written from left to right, right to left, or top to bottom. There are certain clues to help you read the correct direction, such as relying on the way animal signs are facing. If the animals are facing to the left, you should read from left to right. If they are facing to the right, you read from right to left. Usually only the proper names of kings were inscribed inside an oval called a cartouche. The word cartouche means capsule in French. Can you draw your name in the cartouche? Use the hieroglyphic alphabet and start at the top.

The Egyptian Alphabet

During your visit today, please remember to:

Touch the pieces with your eyes, never with your hands. Walk in the museum and use a quiet voice when sharing your ideas. Please use a pencil to complete your sketches and answers. When writing, only lean against the floor. When you are ready to start your journey in Ancient Egypt, find the Lower Egyptian gallery on the map. Throughout your travels today, carefully examine the images and pictures in this guide to help you locate the artifacts in the galleries.

A travel adventure of the _______________________________family Name of scribe_____________________________________________

Todays date________________ Time of departure_______________ Weather conditions_________________________________________

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Use this conversion chart to decipher hieroglyphs!

Which way would the Egyptians read the inscription below? Your Answer__________________________

Hunt

for this inscription on the False Door in the Lower Gallery. This small false door is intended as a way for the spirit to enter and exit. Here the spirit can take in offerings such as food. What kind of food would you leave a spirit? Your Answer ______________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________

ho could read and write in Ancient Egypt? Although the Egyptians developed writing before 3000 B.C., few people could read and write hieroglyphs. The people who acquired this skill held important jobs. They were called scribes. Can you sit like a scribe? Why do you think scribes sat with their kilts stretched tightly across their knees? Your Answer___________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ ________________________ ________________________ *(check answer online) We know this door came from the tomb of a scribe because the text describing the tomb owner contains the word scribe. Here is the hieroglyphic sign carved in the door. It shows writing tools used by a scribe: a reed pen, a pot of water and a palette with red and black ink cakes.

The Ancient Egyptians offered bread and beer, as well as linen, incense, oxen, gazelles, and geese.

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Egyptian gods could be shown in animal form, human form, or as a combination of the two. You may notice many gods depicted this way when you visit the upper gallery. See the cartouche? How many in total can you find? Why would the Pharaoh repeat his name so many times?

Your Answer________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

Lets continue our adventure...

Why do you think the sphinxs face is so rough?

____________________________ ____________________________ *(check answer online) This sphinx was found during excavations of the ancient city of Memphis. Can you find Memphis on the Map? Its along the Nile River. Most Egyptians lived along The Nile. By some estimates, 30,000 people lived and worked in the ancient city of Memphis. Ancient Egyptians worshipped many different gods and goddesses. Many people in Memphis worshiped a god called Ptah, who they believed created the world. He became especially important to artists and craftsmen for his creative abilities. Take a look at the map. You may be surprised to see that Upper Egypt is in the South below Lower Egypt. The Nile River flows from Upper Egypt to Lower Egypt in the North, where it empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

Undoubtedly, you have noticed the massive Sphinx that greets you. The human-headed sphinx with a lion body was a symbol of royal power. This sphinx is the largest in the United States, and weighs 13 tons.

Your Answer_____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ If you guessed erosion, you are right! The sands blowing in the desert of Egypt eroded the Sphinxs face. The rest of the body was buried in the sand and protected from the elements. Pharaoh Ramses II altered the facial features of the Sphinx to reflect his own. Why do you think Ramses II created a Sphinx with his face and a lions body? How would our Presidents head look on a lions body? Your Answer_____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

through the group of columns, the remains of an Egyptian palace. This palace was originally located near a temple dedicated to the god Ptah. The Pharaoh Merenptah, one of the sons of the famous King Ramses II, built the palace. Shortly after Merenptah's death, the palace burned and the stone columns, lintels, windows, and doorjambs were left where they fell. Wind blew sand over the debris and preserved the site. Archaeologists were able to reconstruct the palace with these artifacts.

Proceed

Thats the same amount of weight as 13 cars stacked on top of each other!

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*(check answer online)

Is there a difference between a king and a pharaoh? The word pharaoh literally means great house, as in a royal palace. Eventually, the term came to refer to the ruler directly. Therefore, we use the words pharaoh and king interchangeably.

your journey upstairs in the Upper Egyptian Gallery. People didnt have elevators in ancient times; they had to use the steps just like you! Once you emerge in the large and spacious gallery, turn right. Proceed to the far right corner of the room. The next stop on our itinerary is the Daily Life Gallery. You will have time to explore and examine the sculpture and artifacts later.

Continue

Decode

this message 1=A, 2=B, 3=C and so on... ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 1 13 21 12 5 20

Some amulets were worn like jewelry. The ancient Egyptians made beautiful jewelry. Jewelers created necklaces, collars, bracelets, and rings for wealthy individuals using gold, silver, electrum and semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli, carnelian, and turquoise. Cheaper versions were also produced out of beads of bone, clay, or faience, a man-made glazed material.

Do you own a good luck charm? What does it look like? The Egyptians created small objects imbued with magical powers to bring good luck or protection to the owner. We call these amulets. Choose one of the amulets in the gallery: What was used to make this object? Who would have worn this amulet? Why do you think this symbol had magical power?

a carved image of King Merenptah on the palace door jambs. The king is in a pose that shows his control over Egypt's enemies. How do we know he is the king? Look for these clues: His large size, his crown, the special clothing and jewelry, and perhaps most characteristic, a false beard and a Bulls tail. What is a false beard? The Pharaoh may not have grown a real beard, but in sculpture and in relief, he is depicted with a beard on his chin. The beard was a symbol of the Kings authority. Even female Pharaohs like Queen Hatshepsut, are depicted with a beard. Can you see a Bulls tail? Why does the Pharaoh have a tail? Answer online. The palace model is interesting. The model is an artists idea of what the palace may have looked like in Merenptahs lifetime. Did you imagine the palace differently? What can you see in the model that you may not have noticed in this Gallery?

ocate

Examine

the replica of the Rosetta Stone. The original Rosetta Stone is in the British Museum. For over 1,000 years, the meaning of hieroglyphs was a mystery. However, after the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, the secret was unlocked. The Rosetta Stone is a decree written in hieroglyphic script, Demotic and Greek. (Demotic was a cursive Egyptian script that was used during the Ptolemaic period when the Rosetta Stone was carved. How did this discovery help scholars decipher hieroglyphs? Many scholars could read ancient Greek and even Demotic. Since the decree was written in all three languages, it was just like figuring out a puzzle.

The Ancient Egyptians also wore make up. Can you find make up applicators in the case? Why do you think black eyeliner was so popular?

Your Answer________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Draw an amulet from Ancient Egypt or from your own imagination.

Your Answer__________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________

Perhaps Ancient Egyptians wore black eyeliner for the same reason as football players put black lines under their eyes. (To protect their eyes from the suns glare).

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What other daily life objects in this case do you recognize? Which do we use today? This mirror is different from the mirrors we use today. What is missing? The bronze would have been highly polished to allow its owner to see his or her image reflected in the surface. Answer_____________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Usually the meaning in symbols and art changes over time. In the space provided, can you draw a symbol of strength, peace, eternity, etc. that still holds the same meaning as it did for people thousands of years ago.

Ramses II built more monuments to himself than any other pharaoh. He also had more than 100 children during his 67 year reign. Do you notice that his head is smaller than his body? Just like the sphinx downstairs, Ramses II had sculptors recarve the head to create a better likeness of his face.

Somewhere in this Daily Life Gallery, can you find a pharaoh depicted in the same pose as King Merenptah is shown on the doorjamb downstairs? On this palette, the Pharaoh is holding an enemy by his hair. This carving survives from around 3000 BC, about 1,800 years before King Merenptahs image was carved on the doorjamb. After all these years, artists are still using the same images to communicate the idea of the king as the enforcer.

the sculptures of Ramses II in the central gallery. Ramses II appears in the guise of the god Osiris, who was king of the dead. In this sculpture, the Pharaoh is shown wearing the white crown and a false beard. He grasps the crook and the flail in his hands. These are traditional symbols of royalty. Some of this statues original paint remains visible.

Compare

Notice

the worn portion of the base near the pharaohs feet. Ordinary people, who were not allowed in the temple, left offerings here to the gods. On the throne of this sculpture, can you find a mistake in the hieroglyphs? Do you think a person who made a mistake while carving would get in trouble? A sculptor made an error on the left side of the throne. The duck and sun disc were facing the wrong direction and had to be recarved.

Make a list of how many different animals you can find in this gallery. Are these animals kept as pets today? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

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lioness. Her name means the Mighty One and she was a goddess of war. She would accompany the Pharaoh in battle. Ancient Egyptians believed Sekhmet created the hot desert wind with her fiery breath. Despite her fearsome nature, Sekhmet was also worshipped as a protective goddess who could cure illnesses and keep away plagues. Find this sculpture of Sekmet. There is an ankh in her hand. The ankh is the Egyptian sign for life. Gods or Goddesses are sometimes shown holding an ankh before the Kings nose, giving him the "breath of life". Typically, only Kings, Queens and Gods were allowed to be shown holding an ankh.

lthough ordinary people could not afford to be buried in tombs like the Great Pyramids, they did practice mummification. As you walk through the Mummy Exhibit, look out for all sorts of mummies, Canopic Jars, and Ushabtis. The Ancient Egyptians believed that preservation of the body after death was very important. Mummification was a long process that may have taken up to 70 days after death. The internal organs (except the heart) were removed and the body was placed in a salt-like substance called natron. Salt is a desiccant, a drying agent, which helps to remove water from living organisms. The heart wasnt removed because it was very important. The Egyptians left the heart in the body for the weighing of the heart which they believed would take place in a divine courtroom after death. The body was then removed from the natron and cleaned, anointed with oils and spices, and wrapped in strips of linen bandages. Scarabs and other amulets were placed in the wrappings to help the deceaseds journey. Then the body was placed in a coffin and buried in a tomb along with possessions he or she would need in the afterlife.

The removed organs were preserved in Canopic jars. There were four jars and each was decorated with the head of a different deity. Can you find an example of a Canopic jar? Which organ would be placed in this Canopic Jar? Your Answer________________ Which gods protected which organs? The human-headed, Imsety, guarded the liver. The jackalheaded god, Duamutef, watched over the stomach. Qebehsenuef is the falconheaded god who protected the intestines. Finally, the

baboon-headed god Hapy guarded the lungs. Small humanshaped figurines called ushabtis were placed in Egyptian tombs. The ushabti would magically come to life and perform any work that the deceased might be required to do in the afterlife. For this reason, ushabtis are often shown with tools like picks and hoes, and may have small baskets on their backs. The ushabti figurines are often inscribed with a spell from the Book of the Dead that described their job and their willingness to complete the task on behalf of the deceased. Wouldnt it be nice to have someone else do your work for all eternity? What kind of chores would you like an ushabti to do for you? Would you want to take your pet with you in your afterlife too? Your Answer_______________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ Inside the exhibit case with the mummy of a man named Hapi-Men is a small mummy of a dog, which was found alongside him in his tomb.

Find the child mummy. What toys were buried with the child? Your Answer_______________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

Walk

around the gallery. You may notice lots of cats. There are two particularly important feline deities: Bastet and Sekhmet. Peaceful and friendly, the goddess Bastet was often shown in the form of a domesticated cat. Bastet was worshipped as a goddess of fertility and joy. Many statues of Bastet show her surrounded by kittens or holding a musical instrument. At certain sites in Egypt, there are enormous cat cemeteries where worshippers of Bastet could present cat mummies as offerings in her temple. Bastets alter ego, or counterpart, is called Sekhmet. The goddess Sekhmet was a very powerful deity. She is shown with the head of a

Before refrigerators, people preserved food by pickling, drying, salting, or smoking it. Try preserving (or mummifying) an apple at home: Take two slices of apple. Set one slice aside on a paper plate. Place the other one in salty water for an hour. Then remove that piece from the salty water. Completely immerse the same slice in a mixture of table salt and baking soda. Pull the slice out after an hour, but do not dust off the grains of salt. Set the salty slice of apple on a paper plate next to the unsalted piece. Compare the two slices after one week.

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Choose any where to wander in the Egyptian gallery and draw like an ancient Egyptian!
The ancient Egyptians planned their drawings using a grid system. When the ancient Egyptians artisans drew people, they combined frontal views with profile views. The eyes, ears and shoulders are shown from the front. The rest of the body is shown in profile.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O

You could also attempt to copy one of the portraits in our gallery, or create a self-portrait.

So ends our voyage

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throughout the Ancient Egyptian world. We hope you enjoyed investigating this amazing civilization and plan a return trip soon. If you had fun drawing in the galleries, and imaging the lives of the ancient people, you should consider joining one of our fun family workshops and the museums summer camp. Call (215) 898-4015 for more information.
* For answers to questions in this booklet, visit our website at www.museum.upenn.edu or you can email education@museum.upenn.edu

PHARAOH ______________________.

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Old Kingdom
2625 - 2130 B.C.E.
Construction begins on the Great Pyramids. Great Sphinx built at Giza.

Middle Kingdom
1980 - 1630 B.C.E.
Egypt prospers and wealth increases. Egypt expands into Nubia.

New Kingdom

1539 - 1075 B.C.E.

Egypt engages in warfare with neighboring civilizations. The Egyptian Empire reaches its greatest size, extending from Nubia to the Euphrates. Colossal buildings and monuments erected.

Ptolemaic Period
332 - 30 B.C.E.

Royal tombs built in the Valley of the Kings.

Greek line of kings and queens reign in Egypt accepting native Egyptian religions and cultural traditions. The last dynasty ends when Egypt becomes a province of the Roman Empire.

Africa

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is among the most celebrated institutions of its kind in the world. Since its founding in 1887, the Museum has been actively involved in archaeological excavation and ethnographic fieldwork. Its internationally famous collections, drawn from an enormous spectrum of world cultures, are an extraordinary resource for students and teachers alike.