The belief in life after death was central to
Egyptian civilization over thousands of years, with death seen as an
enemy that could be defeated through ritual and proper preparation.
TULSA, OK.- On June 6, the Nile comes to Tulsa with the debut
of To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum. This
blockbuster show, on view through September 12, 2010, promises to be one
of the most extraordinary exhibitions that the Philbrook Museum
ever has hosted.
As its title suggests, To Live Forever explores the age-old
questions of immortality and life after death. For ancient Egyptians,
death was an enemy that could be overcome through a bit of ingenuity and
careful preparation. If their efforts were successful and the gods were
appeased, the end of life on earth was merely a portal to a new
beginning.
For its special exhibition of Egyptian antiquities, the Philbrook
has drawn from the extensive holdings of the Brooklyn Museum, renowned
as one of the richest collections of such art in the world. More than
120 rare objects—including mummies, coffins, sarcophagi, statuary,
jewelry, and funerary shrouds—trace the Egyptians’ all-consuming efforts
to outfit their tombs to please the gods, subdue death, and allow them
to "live forever” in the afterlife.
Everybody Loves Re Osirus, Horus, Seth, Re, Isis—all these gods play a part in the
exhibition’s introduction on the religious beliefs of ancient Egypt.
Their legendary stories unfold amid a rich display of golden coffins,
funerary statues, papyri, stone reliefs, amulets, and shabby servant
figurines employed to help mere mortals prepare for immortality.
As To Live Forever moves through the practical process of preparing
for death, the focus shifts to mummification, funerals, and tombs. The
exhibition features the actual silk-shrouded mummy of a man named
Demetrios, as well as the wide variety of everyday and extra-special
items the timeless traveler would need to survive in eternity. The
exhibition shows the realities faced by rich and poor alike in creating
or appropriating such expensive materials to outfit their temples or
tombs as eternal resting places.
An exhibition of extraordinary rarity and quality, To Live Forever
offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to experience the full range
and wonder of the best of ancient Egyptian art, right here in Tulsa.
Tomado de: http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=38494
