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A scene taken from
one the temples glorifying Ramesses II, recounting his defeat of the Ethiopians.
It's interesting to note his history of taking credit from others (replacing their names
on temples with his), and Josephus' account about Moses actually being the prince who
defeated the Ethiopians. |
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Michael demonstrates
the correct position of a mummy prepared for encasement into a painted wooden
coffin. The paintings included food offerings and, sometimes, eyes on the exterior,
allowing the occupant to see the world outside. |
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Sara stands in front
of a hieroglyphic Book of the Dead, written on papyrus in 1250 BC. These were
collections of magic spells and instructions intended to guide and protect the deceased in
the afterlife. |
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Michael won our
family contest for finding this item. From the palace of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh,
this famous inscribed cuneiform writing contains the Babylonian Flood story (similar to
the biblical "Noah" version), as related in the eleventh tablet of the Gilgamesh
epic. |
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The Portland Vase,
famous for its superb cameo glass craftsmanship, but even more for the 200+ pieces it
broke into when smashed by a museum visitor years ago. Made during the reign of
Augustus Caesar (27 BC - AD 14), reassembled (to replace deteriorating 1940's glue) in
1988/1989. |