TAKE A WALK THROUGH ETERNITY
THE QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY: TREASURES OF ANCIENT EGYPT EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE SEPTEMBER 10, 2004
DENVER—Explore the eternal questions of life and the profound mysteries of death when the Denver Museum of Nature & Science presents The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt, from September 10, 2004 through January 23, 2005. Museum visitors will experience the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts ever displayed in North America, including massive stone carvings, intricately painted sarcophagi and coffins, gold death masks, exquisite jewelry, stunning reliefs, and artwork from Egypt’s golden age, many of which have never been displayed outside of Egypt.
Presented in Denver by Qwest Communications, the exhibition is organized by the United Exhibits™ Group, Copenhagen, and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, in association with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Cairo. It is made possible in part by generous funding from the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).
The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt features more than 100 magnificent objects from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Luxor Museum, and the sites of Tanis and Deir el-Bahari. It provides a fascinating glimpse into ancient beliefs about the afterlife among Egyptians some 3,000 years ago, in the period of the New Kingdom (1550-1069 B.C.) through the Late Period (664-332 B.C.).
Exhibition highlights include
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A life-size reconstruction of the burial chamber of the New Kingdom pharaoh Thutmose III, ruler of Egypt (Eighteenth Dynasty)
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The boat from the tomb of Amenhotep II (Eighteenth Dynasty)
An eight-foot-long wooden model of a pharaoh’s river ship that used to sail on the Nile, painted with scenes of the Egyptian god Montu
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The sandstone head of Thutmose I (Eighteenth Dynasty), derived from one of the standing colossal statues of the king
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Gold and jeweled items from the royal tombs at Tanis (Twenty-first and Twenty-second Dynasties), acclaimed as the most significant royal burial site since the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922
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The canopic chest of Queen Nedjmet (late 20th Dynasty), made to hold her internal organs
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The sculpture of the god Osiris (26th Dynasty), wrapped as a mummy, depicted in the process of resurrection
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An exhibition film produced by the National Gallery of Art and made possible by the HRH Foundation, containing new footage of the temple of Karnak, tombs in the Valley of the Kings and other sites on the West Bank of the Nile, as well as interviews with eminent Egyptologists
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Trained volunteer facilitators and hands-on artifacts on special carts
Museum guests may also enhance their Egypt experience by viewing the IMAX film Mysteries of Egypt; enjoying hands-on Egypt-related family activities in the Discovery Zone; and unraveling the secrets buried with the mummies in the Museum’s own award-winning exhibition Egyptian Mummies (Level 3).
“The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt addresses the continuity of life through ancient Egyptian material culture,” said Dr. Ella Maria Ray, chair of the Anthropology Department at the Museum. “These compelling artifacts encourage viewers to reflect on humanity’s constant yearning for rebirth. This is the most important Egyptian exhibition to tour the United States since Ramses II. It is a portal through which our community and region will create enduring memories and gain important information about life in this remarkable civilization.”
Tickets
Exhibition surcharge applies. Purchase a Museum membership and save more than 50 percent on Egypt exhibition tickets. Admission for members is $5 for adults and $3.50 for juniors (3-18) and seniors (65+). Admission for nonmembers includes Museum admission and is $20 for adults and $14 for juniors and seniors. Special rates for school groups are $6 per student and $3 per adult chaperone of 10 students. Audio tours, narrated by Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons and created by Antenna X-Plorer Audio Tour, may be purchased for an additional $5 per person and $4 for members of school groups. On the personalized audio tour, visitors will hear commentaries from leading archaeologists and curators. Museum/IMAX and Museum/Planetarium combination tickets and upgrades are available. For complete information, visit www.dmns.org or call (303) 322-7009.
Location and Hours
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80205
www.dmns.org
The Museum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., except for Christmas Day.
Museum Shop
A wide selection of items specifically chosen to complement The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt will be available at a special exhibition shop. Items include the stunning 256-page exhibition catalog, books, cards, jewelry, items for children, and much more.
Cultural Venues Hosting the Exhibition
The exhibition will travel the United States for five years. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the sixth venue for the exhibition, following presentations at the National Gallery of Art, Washington; the Museum of Science in Boston; The Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth; The New Orleans Museum of Art; and the Milwaukee Public Museum.
Teacher’s Guide
A guide for field trips can be found at www.dmns.org in fall 2004.
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Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by generous funding from the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).
