The Instituto de Egiptologia of Rio de Janeiro is a
non-governmental and non-profit
organisation founded in 1990 in order to promote the research, exploration and
diffusion of ancient Egyptian culture. Since 1990, it has promoted a successful
divulgation work on the ancient Egyptian culture and civilisation, as well as
has published the results of its recent scientific researches.
Furthermore, since 1980, the main founder of the
Institution have developed the original idea of making a didactic assemblage of
pieces, including models, miniatures of archaeological objects, pieces in
natural size, iconographic panels (paintings and reliefs) and many other items.
From this selection of pieces the INE has organised many dynamic events at some
of the most important cultural centres and museums in Brazil.
The existence of this Didactic Collection of Egyptology
introduces a new concept of exhibition, since, this kind of Collection
intends to offer a didactic “tour” to the history, aesthetics and material culture
of Ancient Egypt, not showing real antiquities, but didactic items which can teach
and show Ancient Egypt as it was in the days of the pharaohs, in a restored and
new view. More precisely, our intention is to provide a meaningful portrait of
Egyptian material culture, as it was seen by the Egyptians millennia ago,
before time, nature and vandalism damage it, and in fact, showing its fresh
colours and original forms.
One of the reasons that conducted the authors for a
continued work for many years in the Didactic
Collection was the encouragement and recognition by special people as Dr.
Kenneth A. Kitchen (Liverpool), Dr. Geoffrey T. Martin (London) and Dr. Alain
Zivie (Paris), three leading authorities in the Egyptological field.
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The culture of ancient Egypt, more than any other
early civilisation, for many people, is symbolized by mysterious tombs, bizarre
mummies and valuable objects. In the early days of Egyptian Archaeology, tombs
were opened for the sole purpose of acquiring exotic and expensive objects,
which were sold and dispersed among collectors without any kind of record. It
was the golden days of adventures and robbers and all the biggest European
Collections were assembled at that time. Also, almost all Egyptian Collections
now in Brazil, were bought at that time! After establishing the principles of
scientific Archaeology the things changed considerably. Nowadays, more than the
economic value of a specific antiquity, we need to consider what it represented
for its owner at that time it was handed, as a living document and a parcel of
an specific life and of a Society, as part of Human History.
This reflection conduct us to think as the “things
change” with time and leads to another deeper and more important one: the so
actual and questionable role (or Identity) of the Museum in the III Millennium,
explaining that the Museum, as most of them are today organised, belong to a
XIX Century mentality, completely affined to that period, exactly as the “Cabinets de Curiosités” were the ancestors of the Museum and were
typical of the XVIII Century. As a consequence, this incisive reflection tends to see the Museum as a house (or deposit)
for exotic or valuable objects and collections. With this conception in mind,
the part played for the entertainment and parallel activities are taking a more
and more important role (even becoming a concept) and many museums have run to
have modernised and dynamic exhibitions (with models, dioramas and scenographic
elements), when not with interactive activities. The Internet, for its turn,
has done its own revolution in the concept of information and new concepts are
arising in the last days. So, now, it
is possible to conclude that, more than an important or odd piece, what is more
important is the information that it can contain and reveal as a testimony of a
human experience and if its display is clear, objective, attractive and
didactic there is a great chance of being successful .
The original idea of organising the Didactic
Collection of Egyptology started in 1980, when a young student of 16
years old mounted a first exhibition in a High School of Rio de Janeiro.
Considering the general interest of people and the early stage of development
of Egyptology in Brazil, the INE was founded in 1990 and since then it has
promoted many cultural and scientific events related to Egyptology. Thus, due
to the lack of an impressive and comprehensible Collection of Antiquities, the
INE, as an institution, developed the original idea of making its own
collection of ”ancient”
Egyptian objects. Nowadays, this Didactic
Collection comprises nearly 700 items, including models of temples, tombs,
houses of different periods, scenographic pieces (architectural structures) in
natural size (used for settings), miniatures of coffins, vases, funerary masks
and etc. Besides the models and miniatures, we have a special collection of
objects in natural size, including rectangular coffins, metal vases, mummy
masks, human mummies, paintings and
reliefs of many periods, objects related to daily life, funerary and liturgical
items, furniture of many periods and many other item. This Collection, is
normally used for different exhibitions and already was shown in more than 21
different places not only in Rio the Janeiro, but also in many Museums and
Cultural Centres in Brazil.
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AIMS OF THIS DIDACTIC COLLECTION
Usually, as an outcome of time, natural effects and
vandalism, archaeological artefacts are found frequently damaged. The original
colours turned pale and sometimes they are so fragile that can not be submitted
to long travels and leaving the place where they were created and where they
remained for millennia. Commonly, dramatic temperature changes and other
variants can damage fragile pieces, reducing them to powder. Generally, the
options of curators tends to turn to pieces of bronze, stone and other
resistant materials. Also, all the work related with bureaucracies and the high
cost involving the transport and security of pieces contribute to do the task
of organising Exhibitions, something extremely hard, when not completely
impossible. For this reason, big Egyptological exhibitions usually have a
schedule restricted to places in Britain, France, USA and Germany.
It was thinking about all these variants that the
Instituto de Egiptologia Didactic Collection was created. In short, the main purpose of this
Collection is the same of all the other Egyptological Collections around the
world - to show the cultural development of ancient Egyptian civilisation, but,
in this case we have the option of using a new and original approach. As each of its Exhibitions has a special
title and a determined purpose, pieces are arranged in order to “tell” a determined “story”. Not rarely some pieces or models are produced exclusively
to fulfil a special place in an important screenplay
of a project.
Thus, its main value is didactic and scientific and
the authors can define the following objects: 1) show the general development
of the Egyptian civilisation, considering its historical, geographical and
chronological terms; 2) show the many kinds of objects found in Egypt, in a
contextual ambient, trying to explain how it worked at the time when they were
produced and used; 3) show Egyptian material culture in a restored view, since,
most part of them are too rooted as a consequence of time and vandalism; 4)
show the different stages of construction of important monuments and forms in
Architecture (using models); 5) show the development of different technical procedures of making objects,
sometimes, using the procedures of Experimental Archaeology (trying to
reproduce materials and movements as the ancient men did in Antiquity).
The cultural meaning of this Collection is, for this
very reason, at least, considerable: it links and focuses the interest of
different people that look for fresh and scientific information; it unites the
people through the sensibility of Art, Archaeology and History; it opens a
field of interest, research and aesthetic pleasure; lastly, it offers, through
contact with an uncommon and exotic art, a new option to Brazilian mind: to see
a successful example of a continued and patented Human Experience. Above all, a
true testimony of the longest of this kind since the dawn of civilisation.
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THE
INSTITUTO DE EGIPTOLOGIA OF
RIO DE JANEIRO
In Brazil, Egyptology, as a complete scientific
discipline did not have a normal development until our days. In spite of the
existence of a few Museums displaying Egyptian antiquities and the existence of
some private collectors since the XIX Century (when Orientalismo became a fashion) there is not a tradition in studying
Ancient Egypt as has occurred in Europe and other First World Countries. Maybe,
it can mirror the cultural immaturity of an emergent country of the New
World...
In fact, in 1826, when powerful European monarchs were
buying Antiquities for their Museums, the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro I (Pedro
IV of Portugal) also bought a representative Collection for the former Royal
Museum of Rio de Janeiro. Including numerous stelai, coffins, human and animal
mummies, statues and practically all kinds of objects, they belong to a Collection
sold by an Italian called Nicolas Fiengo and were certainly collected in Egypt
by Giovanni Baptista Belzoni. Today,
part of this Collection was subtracted, part damaged and part is displayed at
the National Museum of UFRJ. Also, unfortunately, this precious Collection have
had an unpleasant history of forgetfulness, mainly due to the negligence and
ignorance of the Museum’s staff.
Despite the fact that the Egyptian Collection at the
National Museum of Rio de Janeiro is the oldest and most important in all Latin
America, the state of conservation of some pieces of the Egyptian Collection is
so endangered that in 1992, when the Vice-Director of the Greco-Roman Museum at
Alexandria, Dr. Mervat Mohanmed Abd el-Halim saw the collection, she said: “If the Brazilians are not more interested
in these pieces, they could return them to Egypt. We will take care of this
treasure” (O Globo, 30th April, 1992 p.1, Second Part).
In 1995, in order to change this unfavourable scenery
the Institute of Egyptology, the Ancient History Laboratory (LHIA/IFCS/UFRJ),
the Imperial Museum (Petropolis), the Monarchic Circle of Rio de Janeiro
(CMRJ), the National Museum of Fine Arts (MNBA) and the Direction of the Nation
Museum together did great effort in order to assemble funds and qualified
personal to conduct a scientific project entitled Inter-Disciplinary Project of
Opening, Restoration and Conservation of the Coffin of Sha-Amen-em-su
(PIARCAS). As an interdisciplinary project, the
PIARCAS would assemble collaborators of very diverse disciplines, as restorers,
Egyptologists, conservators and others. In fact, Sha-Amen-em-su was a
lady - a songstress of the sanctuary of the God Amun - and her coffin belongs
to the XXIII Dynasty (C. 750 BC) and it remains closed for nearly 2757 years.
The piece was a gift of the Khedive of Egypt, Ismail, to the Emperor of Brazil,
D. Pedro II, when he visited Egypt for the second time in 1876-7. In ancient times, the closely sculptured
wooden coffin was plastered and later carefully painted. Then, time, accidents,
biological agents and environmental effects made the coffin very damaged and
fragmentary. Also, as the coffin remain closed, but parts of it were lost, it
is very easy the ingress and permanence of insects as termites, beetles and
cockroaches. In time, with the help of Dr. Kenneth Kitchen, we invited Dr. John
Taylor of the British Museum to take part or at least collaborate in the
Project... However, the Chief of the Anthropology Department (Prof. Luis Fernando Duarte), decided to
refuse the proposal and now the coffin remain with all the troubles as it had
since it arrived in Brazil, nearly 125 years ago.
Unfortunately, to do the scene worst,
in 1995, a terrible storm invaded the
Museum’s Rooms and hundreds of pieces were partially or completely damaged,
including a XXI Dynasty human mummy, papyrus, cartonnages and many other items.
Some arrangements were done in order to save some pieces, but , in vain... They
were dried, only, at that time, with collaboration of a French restorer. The
present situation of the Egyptian Collection is becoming each day more
dangerous and we are anxious to find a right and urgent solution and for this
reason we are now speaking about it widely.
In order to solve, or, at least to try to solve some of
these problem, the Instituto de Egiptologia was founded in 1990. The
Institution is an organisation which unites the efforts of persons, scholars
and supporters, willing to work within its frame for the promotion of
Egyptology. Assembling a selected team of archaeologists, historians and
others, not only in Brazil, but also in Egypt and Britain, the INE is the sole
Institution of this kind in Brazil. The INE shall openly discuss problems
affecting Egyptological studies, and shall incentive and promote the study of
Ancient Egypt in all its aspects on an international basis.
In order to achieve its purposes, the INE has
established the following missions:
1)
To obtain and disseminate information concerning new
discoveries, scientific work on progress and work completed on ancient Egypt
and increase the Egyptological
research programmes, exploring the available material;
2)
To make surveys, explorations, experiments or
investigations for the purpose of obtaining or disseminating any information
with regard to the Egyptian culture;
3)
To promote a wider understanding and appreciation of
Egyptology on the part of the general public by encouraging and supporting
exhibitions and cultural events;
4)
In connection with any such purpose as aforesaid to
prepare drawings, paintings, models, reproductions, books, plans, descriptions,
sections, maps, photographs, engravings, representations, pamphlets and papers,
and to publish, sell, lend, give away, or otherwise distribute the same for the
benefit of the Institute and to disseminate the results of its work;
5)
To incentive the printing of Egyptological titles and
to publish periodical and occasional titles, some specifically to inform the
members;
6)
To hold meetings and to organise conferences, courses
of lectures, seminars, didactic exhibitions and other scientific events related
to;
7)
To have its work associate to other institutions
respecting Egyptology and develop educational programmes in all levels;
8)
To encourage collaboration between scholars and
existing associations and to promote the co-operation among national and
international associations, as well as the creation of Fellowships,
Scholarships, etc. in Egyptology;
9)
To assist any isolated researchers or students (or
other independent institution) in order to secure bigger efficacy to their work
as well as help assist any survey, exploration or investigation related to the
purposes of the Institute;
10)
To take part in
archaeological fieldwork and, in time, promote a Brazilian Archaeological
Mission in Egypt;
11)
To make,
maintain and exhibit illustrative collections and other things relative to, or
connected with any of the objects of the Institute;
12)
To organise
files and documents related to Egyptology and to create and maintain an
institutional Library, Museum and Documentation Centre;
13)
To safeguard
and encourage the preservation of the cultural and historic heritage of the
ancient inhabitants of the Nile Valley and places related.
The Instituto
de Egiptologia has organised conferences and scientific meetings and other
scientific events as didactic exhibitions in Projects or Joint-Projects
developed with the most remarkable Brazilian institutions as: Universidade
Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Museu Nacional da Quinta da Boa Vista e Instituto de
Filosofia e Ciências Sociais e Laboratório de História Antiga ), Universidade
Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Clube
de Engenharia - RJ, Colégio Pedro II, Centro Cultural Eva Nil (Cataguases-MG),
Centro Cultural Antonio Klinger Filho (DMAE-Porto Alegre), Universidade Gama
Filho, Universidade Estácio de Sá, Clube Naval, Circulo Monárquico do Rio de
Janeiro, Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, among many others.
One of most important projects developed by the INE
was that one called Voyage to the Upper Nile: The Egypt by D. Pedro II . A
successful research project was transformed in a didactic exhibition organised
by the INE at Pedro II High School and later at the National Museum of UFRJ.
Widely publicised, it was attended by nearly 190.000 people and showed the travels
conducted in 1871 and 1876 by the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II, presenting,
for the first time part of his Collection of photographs and other documents,
now hold at the National Library, Imperial Museum Documentation Centre and
other places.
Nowadays, the library of the Institute comprises
nearly 11.000 titles, varying considerably, including rare books of XIX Century
date, from Perrot & Chipiez and Lenormant to some of the most recent titles
in the Egyptological field. One important contribution was made by Dr. Geoffrey
T. Martin in 1993, when he sent more than 30 publications by him. Also, Dr.
Kenneth Kitchen has done important contributions with his offspring. Also,
different collections of objects are kept, including fragments, bronzes and many
others. Obviously, these include the Didactic Collection of Egyptology.
The INE, also, is involved in publishing new titles
and the results of its researches. Among the recent publications made by the
INE, we can mention the following books and monographs: 1) O Caminho da Morte no Egito : Uma Introdução à Arqueologia Funerária,
under partial orientation by Dr. Kenneth A. Kitchen. Biblioteca Xerográfica do
INE, Rio de Janeiro, 1990, 192 pages, illustrated ; 2) The Way of Death in Ancient Egypt. Biblioteca Xerográfica do INE,
RJ, 1990, illustrated; 3) Egito Antigo:
Engenharia de Uma Civilização. Imprensa Naval, Rio de Janeiro, 1992. 24 pages, illustrated; 4) Sistema Mortuário Privado na XVIII Dinastia
Egípcia (MA Dissertation of August 1994), UFF, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. Partially published in Phoînix 1998, pages 89-119.
Illustrated.;
5) Viagem ao Alto Nilo: O Egito de D.
Pedro II , Guide of the Exhibition organised by the Instituto de
Egiptologia at Pedro II High School and Museu Nacional da UFRJ, Instituto de
Egiptologia, Rio de Janeiro, 1996, 45 pages, illustrated.; 6) Conexão Misr-Kemet: Em Busca de um Egito
Esquecido, Guide of the Exhibition organised by the INE at Universidade
Gama Filho, 1997, 34 pages, illustrated.; 7) O Paço Imperial de São Cristóvão: História e Ressurreição de um Palácio
Esquecido. Instituto de Pesquisa Histórica D. Pedro II e Instituto de
Egiptologia, 1998, 37 pages, illustrated. The Institute also promote exchange of titles and any other organisation
of the same kind is entitled to ask for it.
The Institute was founded in 1990, thus, since 1982,
we are organising an useful Documentation Centre and today we have nearly 5.000
original photographs comprising different collections, separated according to
the theme. There, someone can find details of temples, tombs and other sites of
historical and archaeological interest. So, we have keep and increase an odd
file of pictures of monuments in Saqqarah, Cairo, Gizeh, Dashur, Abusir,
Dendera, Abidos, Western Thebes, Luxor, El-Kab, Edfu and Cairo (Old, Muslim and
the Egyptian Museum). One special chapter
is the collection of pictures of the so called Nobles Tombs, at Western Thebes.
Also, the Collection include pictures from different sites not only in
Egypt, but also in the Near East as Petra,
Aman, Palmira, Damascus, Crac des Chevaliers, Hama, Homs, Aleppo and others of
interest.
The Documentation Centre also include nearly 7.000
files. By gathering plans, drawings, pictures, illustrations, maps and other
documents in different files, we have an useful tool of work and information
for the members and other consultants. Continuous work is required to maintain
the files properly organised. Also, other belongings as furniture, files,
showcases, panels and many other are keep in a provisory headquarter in the
suburbs of Rio de Janeiro.
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THE AUTHOR OF THIS
DIDACTIC COLLECTION
The main author of this Didactic Collection is Claudio
Prado de Mello. Born in Rio de Janeiro on December, 1964; he was educated at
Universidade Estácio de Sá where he took his BA in Archaeology in 1986. In
spite of being admitted to pursue the MA Course in Egyptology at Swansea
University (Wales) in 1988, he decided to pursue it in Brazil and in 1994 he
received the MA degree in Ancient History (mainly Egyptology) at the
Universidade Federal Fluminense. His MA Dissertation - Private Mortuary System in the
XVIII Egyptian Dynasty is a comprehensible study of the funerary
practices and beliefs, and received indications for publication (part of it was
published in 1998 in Phoînix).
Since 1993, he has been appointed as a
Visiting Professor and Researcher of the
Ancient History Laboratory (LHIA) of the Institute of Philosophy and Social
Studies of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
In 1990, he assembled a selected team of
archaeologists, historians etc. and together they founded the Institute of
Egyptology in Rio de Janeiro (INE). From its foundation, the INE has conducted
a serious and successful divulgation work on the ancient Egyptian culture and
civilisation in Brazilian Universities and Cultural Centres. The INE has organised conferences,
scientific meetings and other events as exhibitions of a Didactic collection of
Egyptian artworks and models made by the Institute.
In 1987-8 he started the Livro-Tombo (research, classification and organisation of the
Egyptian material) of the Collection of
Egyptian Antiquities held in the National Museum of UFRJ.
During his career he has participated in many
excavations in Brazil and Egypt, working as archaeologist, artist and/or
epigrapher. In 1996-7, he became a
Collaborator-Member of the Mission
Archéologique Française du Bubasteion - CNRS, co-ordinated by Dr.
Alain-Pierre Zivie and has done epigraphic work in the tomb of the
High-Official and Ambassador Netjeruymes, of XIX Dynasty.
Since 1996 he travelled extensively through the Near
East and Eastern Europe and since 1982 he has organised many cultural and
scientific projects.
He has published many books, booklets and articles in
Brazil and he is a member of the executive commission of Phoînix - the Ancient
History Laboratory’s Magazine, of IFCS/UFRJ.
At present he is constructing two different buildings
designed in historical style in order to organise a Cultural Pole, in Rio de
Janeiro. Also, is writing a comprehensible study about Funerary Practices.
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According to one of the Missions of the Institution,
the Project related to the Didactic Collection is designed to make an useful
and original collection of reproductions, renderings, iconography panels and
other items, both in natural size as miniatures, which can be used in the
exhibitions, when opportune. The programme of construction of models and
miniatures is normally studied and established in advance, nevertheless, as
each exhibition has a specific theme, sometimes, one or more pieces can be made
exclusively for a special exhibition.
In order to exemplify what the INE already produced
and shown, we can list the following categories of items. However, as our aim is
not to write a catalogue
of pieces, we will mention only the categories of objects. In order to
illustrate our text, we are including some scattered pictures. They are divided
in different categories, as models, miniatures, paintings, objects and
furniture and scenographic settings for exhibitions.
1) Models:
The Models constitute a precise and didactic way of
showing details of architectural structures that not always are clear in the
monuments today. Some monuments were completely destroyed as consequence of
time, natural agents and sometimes, human vandalism. Our collection comprises
some interesting pieces of medium size, as temples and tombs ranging from the
Pre-Dynastic Period to the Later Dynasties. Thus, there is an emphasis in
monuments from the New Kingdom. The size of the pieces vary considerably, due
to the great variety of monuments, in size and our capacity of storing such
pieces. The general idea is to give a
view of the monument at the time it was built. Thus, in some cases, we opt to
show the piece in a view near of that at the time of discovery.
Here, we can specify the following pieces: 1) Model of
a Pre-Dynastic house like a hut; 2) Model of a Pre-Dynastic house typical of
gerzean period; 3) Model of a Pre-Dynastic grave; 4) Model of a Pre-Dynastic boat,
made of papyrus fibres; 5) Model of a Early-Dynastic tomb like a royal mastaba
from Abydos; 6) Model of a New Kingdom country house; 7) Model of a New Kingdom
urban house, typical from Thebes during the XVIII Dynasty; 8) Model of a New
Kingdom mortuary temple, Amenhotep son of Hapu; 9) Model of a New Kingdom
mortuary temple as seen in Deir el-Medinah comprising two kinds of chapels; 10)
Model of a New Kingdom Mortuary temple as seen in Deir el-Medinah comprising
one chapel like a pyramid. Also, we are producing some detailed models as : 11)
Alexandrine tomb; 12) Saite chapel as seen in Deir el-Bahari; 13) The
Pre-Dynastic temple of Neith, in Sais; 14) Model of the Bubasteion facade as
seen from south, showing the entrance of the tombs.
2) Collection of miniatures
The purpose of this specific collection is to have a
practical and easily transportable assemblage of didactic objects. Due to the
trouble of storage, some objects need to be made in a reduced scale. In this
case, the adopted scale is 1/5 of the original size, for its convenience. This
size reduces a piece like a human anthropoid coffin of nearly 2,00 m length to
something near of 0,40 m.
The option of making miniatures was initiated in 1981,
when we need to show an entire collection of objects, including not only three
rectangular coffins, but tens of pottery jars. So, at that time the only way of
making it, was in the form of miniatures. This is the case of the so called The Tomb of Architect Uadjmes and his family,
a fictitious Scribe and Architect of XVIII Dynasty. It includes nearly 200
pieces in the same scale of 1/5 of the original size. The mummies of the
architect, as well as of his wife and young sister are displayed with
furniture, stone and pottery vases, amulets, food and all the other items that
usually are found in the tombs of that period. This collection was based in
that one, of Kha, found by Ernesto Schiparelli in 1906, at Deir el-Medinah and
now in the Museo Egizio di Torino, Italy.
This kind of work is a clever and practical option,
since we can reproduce in a minor scale all
kinds of objects like anthropoid and rectangular coffins, sets of canopic
jars and chests, ceremonial wigs, shabtis and their chests, alabaster jars,
pottery jars, stone jars, faience Jars, different amulets and
pieces of jewellery, furniture, human and animal mummies covered with textiles,
skeletons, work tools, costumes or any other piece, when opportune or
necessary.
3) Objects in Natural Size
These Collection vary considerably in number and size
according to our convenience and capacity of storage. It consist of royal and
private statues and statuettes of many periods, busts, block statues,
rectangular coffins, liturgical objects, Graeco-Roman Period mummy masks,
Ancient Kingdom vases and jars, a great
collection of Pre-Dynastic items, painted shrines, chests typical of a XVIII
Theban palace and a varied collection of furniture, most of XVIII Dynasty.
4) Iconographic Panels and Stelai
These category of
object is wide and consist of many different panels. First, we have a
collection of nearly 70 panels (of same size - 50X60 cm), used to show
pictures, drawings and technical plans of different monuments. These documents
can be shown on black wooden chassis protected by glass.
Also, we maintain a collection reproducing reliefs
made on thin slabs of plaster e/or resin, generally made in natural size and a
collection reproducing paintings made on thin slabs of plaster e/or plastered
wood, generally made in natural size. They are divided in two categories: big
panels and paintings of medium size. As they are numerous, we will mention some
of the most important: a big panel showing the famous scene of the Window of
Appearances (as seen in a tomb of Tell
el-Amarna); a big panel showing a typical Theban ritual banquet of XVIII
Dynasty; part of the mural decoration
of the so called Green Room at North Palace of Amarna; a mural painting showing
a false door with offering scene and boys, a big panel showing king Akhenaten
and his family consecrating offerings in front of the temple pylons; a panel
showing scene of harvesting, another showing agricultural scene, a big panel
showing a funerary procession and many others paintings of a minor size.
Also we produced a collection reproducing stele made
of plaster e/or plastered wood. These stele are mainly from the Old Kingdom,
XII Dynasty and XVIII Dynasty, including a False-Door, typical of V Dynasty, in
natural size.
5) Scenographic Pieces and Settings
Nowadays, a simple exhibition of archaeological artefacts
(rare or exotic) can become a success in terms of media - or not. According to
the latest tendencies, followed by Museum designers around the world,
scenographic settings are not only welcomed but, sometimes, practically
indispensable. So, passages, rooms, stairways, porticoes and other elements are
built in other to recreate an specific and/or exotic atmosphere for a
determined exhibition.
In case of this Collection we built some architectural
elements as obelisks, porticoes, colonnades, facades of tombs, funerary chamber
decorated with paintings, a corridor or other architectural element to compose
a monumental and exotic view to the exhibition. In the latest exhibitions, we
also included pieces of Egyptian-Arabic taste, as doors, porticoes and many
other pieces. These elements were generaly built in plywood and for this reason
are easily transportable and more or less easy to keep in a deposit. The
architectural elements are: 1) a pair of obelisks with 6,60 m height, plus
square base; 2) one obelisk with 2,50 m height, plus square base; 3) a pair of
pillars, with 3,00 m height, without base; 4) four Hathoric pillars in red
quartzite with 2,20 m height, plus the base; 5) a tomb entrance, with 2,50 m
height, plus facade of variable width;
6) tomb corridor, with c. 4,00 m length
and 2,00 m width and 2,2m height; 7) a typical XII Dynasty funerary chamber, of
variable measure, but usually of 3,00 x 4,00 m; 8) an Arabian Portico, measuring 3,50 X 2,50 1,00 (thickness);
9) an Arabian Portico, measuring 3,50
(w), 2,50 (h), 1,00 (t); 10) two magnificent roofs in Arabian style, painted
and gold plated; 11) two small chapels, of XII Dynasty typical design; 12) a
funerary chapel typical of Deir-el-Medinah, with 7,00 m height; 13) a portico
with Columns and a big painting showing an Arabian landscape; 14) a Mucharabieh in natural size; 15) Others
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The Instituto de Egiptologia has
had great success
with its Didactic Collection. Exhibitions has brought great promotion to the
image of the Institution, both for the academic as well as to the general
public.
This Project, for all parts, can bring benefits,
because it shows its preoccupation in divulging Egyptology widely to the
general public, not restricted for the scholarly assistance and rare publications.
Also, there is the opportunity of being known wherever the Exhibition could be
organised. Each exhibition is a good opportunity of conciliating its
traditional work to a modern and update view of Egyptian Archaeology and also,
a singular opportunity of divulging our work widely. Easily transportable and
free of bureaucracies - the INE has started a new period in promoting
exhibition on Egyptology.
For Egypt, it is a favourable combination of
circumstances to have part of his history revealed in many different places,
acting as “ambassadors” that can fascinate and persuade thousands of people to
visit the legendary land of kings.
Practically, in all the places around the world, the
ancient Egyptian civilisation fascinate lots of people, both academic and
general people. Archaeology, as a whole, provoke the same feeling, of interest
and fascination. An original exhibition with models, miniatures, etc., is always of great interest for all kinds of
media and give opportunity for interviews for TV, radio, news (journals) and
other kind of Media. Also, it gives opportunity to attract people to lectures
and courses of lectures as parallel programme for the exhibitions.
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1) This booklet intends to introduce the original work promoted by the
Instituto de Egiptologia of Rio de Janeiro since 1990. It works with a new
concept of exhibition, using models, miniatures, renderings and other items,
not involving necessarily Antiquities. Nowadays this approach is widely used by countries like Greece, Egypt
and others. In Egypt, the Supreme Council of Antiquities and The Egyptian
Museum-Cairo maintain a Parallel Museum of “Antiquities” in Zamalek where they
keep reproductions both for sale and exhibitions abroad. What is more important
to this approach is the information which, such exhibitions can provide.
2)
Due to the eminent crises related to the Museum’s Identity, temporary
exhibitions have played a special part in the Museum’s activities.... The
increasing number of temporary and travelling exhibitions are really surprising
today and sometimes precious pieces are under a non necessary risk. For this
reason, we suggest that reproductions can be sometimes used in Itinerant
Exhibitions in order to keep the integrity of the most valuable and/or fragile
items.
3)
As an interdisciplinary project, today, the Didactic Collection of Egyptology welcome collaborators of very
diverse disciplines, as Egyptologists, Historians, Geographers and others. The
two key words for this work are goodwill and efficacy. The technical means
placed at the disposal of researchers and artists certainly are as high a level
as their qualifications and experience. For this reason, this Project has
passed over Brazilians boundaries, exactly as techniques progress and scientific
methods do. We invite you to make suggestions and criticise our Project ! You
will be welcome!
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PLATE I
Models
1.1)
Model of a New
Kingdom country house, L. 40 cm; (photo
temporarily not available)
1.2)
Model of a
Pre-Dynastic grave showing artifacts of the Naqada I-II phase, L. 30 cm; Click
Here
