Egyptian animals
23 March 2002 - December 1, 2002
In the exhibition Egyptian animals you will meet exciting animals from ancient Egypt, you will learn why the Egyptians thought they were holy and what it really meant.
Today most people consider themselves superior to the animals while the ancient Egyptians had a more humble attitude. They believed that all animals and plants (including humans) were created together and that all shared equally in the earth's resources . The animals were a vital part of creation, therefore, the gods themselves often adopted different animal forms eg hippo that could symbolize the mother goddess and the good, the baboon, which was associated with the Moon god Thoth who was the god of wisdom and the lion was the symbol of royal power.
The Egyptians special relationship to animals meant that they were worshiped as sacred in many temples and was embalmed and mummified with complex methods, after his death . The animals were also important symbols of the holy scripture, hieroglyphics . Most are depicted various mammals and birds . Mosquitoes , ants or spiders , for example, were not at all even though they were everywhere in Egypt .
- This is the first exhibition that Medelhavsmuseet makes targeted specifically to children and families with children, but of course also to all those interested by Egypt and its rich history ", said Head of the museum, Sanne Houby-Nielsen. All children and young people under 20 have free admission to the museum so we hope that many will find here. (www.medelhavsmuseet.se, 2010-09-08, Google translate)