The Art Museum at The University of Memphis will feature an exhibit entitled “Gods of Ancient Memphis” beginning this Saturday through Oct. 4.
The Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology is spearheading the event, which features over 120 ancient works of art from its collection.
IEAA is a component of the Art Department at The U of M and a Tennessee Center of Excellence.
In addition to the institute’s permanent collection, the display will feature long-term museum loans, pieces from private collections and 24 objects from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy and Anthropology.
“We are really fortunate to have one of the largest exhibits of Egyptian art in the South,” said Dr. Stephen Harvey, IEAA assistant director.
According to Harvey, the exhibit will focus primarily on the exploration of religious worship, but the artwork also expresses several other themes, including affection for royalty, burial traditions and sacred animals.
“Religion was as important 5,000 years ago as it is today,” Harvey said. “People followed very complex religious beliefs.”
The objects, from the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis, range in date from 3,500 B.C.E. (Before Common Era) to 700 C.E.
“We have a number of loans from major museums,” said Dr. Melinda Hartwig, curator of IEAA. “Many of these objects have never been viewed.”
Hartwig said about 75 percent of the objects in the exhibit have never been publicly displayed.
“This is the first extensive loan show (for The U of M) since 1983,” Hartwig said.
IEAA started with 44 objects acquired from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1975. Since then, its collection has grown considerably.
“The institute has grown so much,” Harvey said. “There are now 1,200 works of art that The University owns.”
Because of past success with similar exhibits, Harvey said the show should be a successful one.
“There is a public interest of ancient Egypt in modern Memphis,” he said.
IEAA staff, education specialists and graduate students will host several educational programs while the exhibit is on display.
The institute will also provide a children’s workshop Aug. 4. as well as public lectures focusing on Egyptian art and religion.
Two programs featuring Egyptian dance will kick-off the exhibit Friday.
The exhibit will be open to the public from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
