New Light on Ancient Egypt
Helen Strudwick, Curator of the Egyptian galleries at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, explains the new refurbishment at the museum and the opportunities it has afforded.
'When will the Egyptian galleries be open again?’ has been a recurring question at the Fitzwilliam for the last eighteen months, emphasizing both the importance of the collection and the abiding appeal of ancient Egypt. During this period a major project of redisplay has been in progress, completed at the end of May, when the galleries reopen.
Egypt is often seen as an unchanging culture, with beautiful statues all looking rather similar. The new displays will encourage visitors to recognize that things did change over time; and, rather than just being thrilled to see a mummy, they will have the chance to learn why the Egyptians went to such great lengths to preserve their dead and provide for them so lavishly.
For many people, it is the Egyptians’ belief in death and the afterlife that fascinates them; one of the first questions many visitors ask is ‘where is the mummy?’. People often believe the Egyptians were obsessed with death; in fact it would be more true to say they were preoccupied with life and how to perpetuate it.
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