Manchester Museum visit 26/4/12

Unearthed, Ancient Egypt

We were shown around the first part of our exhibito harvest food and prepare soiion visit by Merika Monroe who, after Ann Hornsbey's description of the items we were looking at, the curater told us about the communities of workwers who lived on the banks of the Nile and who built the pyramids. The exhibition cases held interesting household items such as a huge container for water set on a rough pedestal what could have been a small wooden roughly hewn stool with slightly wobbly legs and tools used to harvest food and a rake to prepare soil. There were small pots which had contained the minerals used to colour household items and also the khol which was used by both men and women on the upper and lower parts of their eyes. The main use of this application was as a disinfectant to keep nits away and various other bugs which prevailed at that time due to the climate. The Egyptians produced very sharp blades with whci to shave their bodily hair which was the only way they could keep bug free and the majority of ose seldom seen such as people wore wigs. This possibly explains why most Egyptians shown in pictures had straight dark hair. After looking around the exhibition we adjourned to the education suite for a handling session which was conducted by Andrea, Campbell and Irit. The items selected were those seldom seen such as a tiny pot which would have contained Kohl and a pestle base in the shape of a turtle and also a fish. These were made from slate and were very fragile. They had tiny holes in them which suggested that they were perhaps strung with string and carried by the owners. There was also a panel taken from a larger tablet containing hyroglyphics which these days can now be translated due to the huge progress made in deciphering ancient writings. All of the curators had infectious enthusiasm for their subject and all of the members of our group said how much they had enjoyed their visit and how much more they had learned about the everyday life in ancient Egypt. The items we had the privilege of handling were between 5 and 2000 years old and all very fragile. We were treated to cups of tea and coffee and home baked biscuits from the cafeteria which were most welcome. Our thanks to all of the museum staff and to Ann for her very detailed descriptions and also to Mary and her army home. of volunteers who collect us from home, look after us and guide us around the exhibitions and deliver us safely

Posted by Elaine