MUMMIFIED cats, jackals and crocodiles are to go on show in a major new exhibition probing ancient Egyptian life and religion.
More than 60 animal artefacts will go on display this weekend in a myth-busting exhibition using rarely-seen items from Glasgow City Council’s archaeological collection.
Launching the Kelvingrove Museum show yesterday, Archie Graham, chair of local authority culture offshoot Glasgow Life, said: “Our experience shows that Egyptian exhibitions are very popular. This promises to be as captivating, exploring how images of animals could be used to communicate with the gods.
“The experts liken the symbolic offerings to paying for and lighting a candle in church today, something many of us can relate to. The treasures on display at this new show will shine a fascinating new light on an ancient and enduringly popular period of history.”
Cats, birds and other animals will also feature in the Gifts for the Gods show, which includes items from Manchester Museum and is based on research by Manchester University and uses CT scans and X-ray images to look underneath the bandages.
Children from Anderston Primary yesterday took a first look at the assembled sculptures and statuettes before dressing up in Ancient Egyptian outfits to explore the exhibition’s interactive discovery zone, designed specifically for little explorers.
Ancient Egyptians left behind millions of animal offerings to their pantheon of deities, which include cat-headed motherhood goddess Bast, Ibis-beaked Thoth, god of wisdom, and Sobek, who had the head of a Nile crocodile and was associated with protection and the military.
Entering an “atmospheric” animal catacomb, visitors will be invited to reflect on the importance of animals to ancient Egyptian religion and ritual.
Dr Campbell Price of Manchester Museum said: “The vast majority of mummified animals were not pets but sacred gifts given by the ancient Egyptians to their many gods. Science has helped Egyptologists understand the scale and complexity of animal mummification – and why the mummies were as popular with pilgrims in ancient times as they are with museum visitors today.”
While experts once believed the items were fake, the popularity of animal votives is now thought to have been so strong that it created a trade in mass-breeding.
Opening tomorrow, the ticketed show will run until September.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here