Escape to Egypt

A unique exhibition will open today, bringing a bit of Egyptian history and mystique to Mumbai. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya will host Mummy — The Inside Story in collaboration with the British Museum, London. The perfectly preserved mummy of Nesperennub, a priest who died 3,000 years ago in Egypt, along with 110 tomb artefacts will be on display, says Marcel Maree, Curator — Ancient Egypt and Sudan Department, British Museum.

“There will be an introduction to temple practices, and then details of the mummification preparation,” he says. Viewers will learn how temple priests embalmed bodies and placed amulets and magical objects in between the wrappings and even in the cavities in the body, he adds.

The highlight of the exhibition is the 20-minute 3D film that will virtually unwrap the mummy and reveal the body, without destroying the coffin or the remains. “Nesperennub’s mummy has never been seen with the naked eye. The new art scanning and projection technology, lets you see through the outer case to view the insides of the mummy as they were preserved in 800 BC,” Marcel says.

A students programme is also available to educate people about Egypt as a culture. “Egypt as a subject is attractive for everyone — children, students and adults too,” says Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Director General, CSMVS, who hopes that individuals will be attracted to the concept of the after-life that was so important in the Egyptian civilization. Bringing the exhibition to Mumbai, gives access to many who cannot travel to London to see it, especially students.

When & Where
November 20, 2012 - March 24, 2013,
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
(formerly the Prince of Wales Museum)