Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/05/01/200905010006.asp

Egyptian mummies on show in Korea

In a rare exhibition of Egyptian relics here, the National Museum of Korea in Ichon-dong is showing over 200 ancient artifacts in collaboration with the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Austria.

"We have organized this exhibition so that Koreans do not have to go all the way to other countries to see Egyptian civilization. There have been some similar shows here, but they mostly exhibited digital data. At this exhibition, viewers can find the original relics," Choe Kwang-sik, director of the museum, said about "Egypt, The Great Civilization."

The relics are from the Austrian museum`s world-class Egyptian Collection.

Among the collection`s 12,000 artifacts from the Neolithic age to the Roman Empire, 231 pieces, including four original mummies, are here for display.

The exhibition is divided into four divisions -- "Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt," "Son of God, Pharaoh," "Life in Ancient Egypt," and "The Way to Eternity."

The first three sections consist of images of deities, busts of Pharaohs, amulets, jewelry, hieroglyphic papyri and various everyday tools that were used in ancient Egypt.

The highlight of the exhibition, the mummies, is showcased in the last division.

The Mummy Neskhonsu from 760-656 B.C., covered in multiple layers of bandages and finally laid in a colorfully decorated cartonnage, is the first visitors will see.

"A tomography result showed that the mummy was identified to be a woman who died around 30 while giving birth. Her twin babies were mummified with her. The twins must have died during or right after their birth," explained curator Yang Hee-jeong.

The final exhibit is another mummy of a woman from the seventh century B.C who is assumed to have died in her early 20s. It lies silently in a glass showcase, without a cartonnage this time. Visitors can take a glimpse of its blackened face and toes through a hole on the bandage layer.


"Grave robbers probably ripped it open in search for gold. But so far, no mummies were discovered with their faces covered with gold, as some rumors said they would be," said Yang.

To help visitors understand Egyptian civilization, holograms and 3D videos are shown along with many of the exhibits.

The exhibition runs through Aug. 30. Tickets range from 3,000 won to 10,000 won. The museum is located at Ichon Subway Station, line 4, exit 2. For more information, call (02) 2077-9199 or visit www.museum.go.kr.

By Park Min-young


([email protected])



2009.05.01

[Ultimo Hombre]

I wonder how many of my students MUMMIES will take them to see this exhibit...























ZING!

[Robot_Teacher]

Wylies99, this is your best post yet. Thanks a million. It's time to go to the museum this weekend. I love museums and I love Egyptology and dreamt as a 6 year old to one day be an Egyptologist with seeing this in a set of encyclopedias I enjoyed, but those before our time beat me to the punch. I still am fascinated. I give thanks to having a full set of those, "New Book of World Knowledge," encyclopedias from the early '70's as they changed my life and thinking from the get go. I'd probably been just a ignorant redneck had it not been for the books, but it was not meant for me to be an ignorant commoner like most I knew best back home.

I enjoyed the King Tutankhamen exhibit that toured the states 3 years ago very much so at the Chicago Field Museum. After 28 years of dreaming on to see and do it, I'm am finally eying to do the great classical pharaohic tour of Egypt this August. This long awaited child hood adventure dream is in my telephotic scope finally in 2009.

I don't guess Dr. Zahi Hawass is very happy about this exhibit in Korea that Austria is lending as he's attempting to bring home all the antiquities of Egypt. Back home in St. Louis, Missouri, him and St. Louis Art Museum got into a big stink 3 or 4 years ago about an object the museum bought from someone in Phoenix for $644,000 who got it from Italy. He wants all this stuff of his ancestors returned to Egypt which I understand. I probably would take his stance if I were him. The obelisk sitting in the middle of Paris's Place Du Concorde is lovely looking, but it belongs back in front of the Temple of Luxor. I looked at photos of the Temple of Luxor and what an eye sore it is to see one of the 2 front obelisks missing. I'll probably feel sad when I go there. Yes, ethical issues arise out of this fascination with Egyptian antiquities, but I still go view them.

[JMO]

I would have missed this if you hadn't have posted it. Thanks man!

[bassexpander]

Someone go to this first and report if many of the "artifacts" are truly real or not.

Every time I've gone to such a traveling show... and I mean EVERY time... regardless of what country I saw it in, it turned out to be 95% fakes or copies of items.

Not saying this show is, but I'm kind of curious how "real" this stuff is.

Probably still interesting, though.

[Robot_Teacher]

[wylies99]

I was FINALLY able to find the time to visit the exhibit. It's a nice way to spend an hour but it's kinda small and nothing is in English except the titles of the exhibits. The gift shop part of the special exhibit has some interesting things, like a pen/pencil case shaped like a mummy and travel mugs with ancient Egyptian art. I don't know about many of you, but I've had a hard time finding travel mugs, with any design, in Korea, and this is a very nice travel mug for 8,000 won.

[sojusucks]

It wasn't that enjoyable. There was a mummy and not much else, especially in English. You might like it if you are into jewelry. I guess Korea isn't trusted enough to get the good stuff to show off.

What was up with the college-aged individuals dressing up like Indiana Jones (whose character is based off of Roy Chapman Andrews by the way).

The gift shop prices for this special event were higher than for the Persian exhibit. The selection was also less satisfying. The gift shop had a combination ash try and coffee mug for sale.

[moosehead]

if any of you are seriously interested in Egypt - do plan a trip and go to Cairo, as well as Alexandria if you have time - it's an incredible city and the people are marvelous. it's also not all that expensive at all. A very good hotel will only run about 12-15 u.s. dollars a night.

the pyramids are still one of the greatest wonders of the world and the Egyptian Museum is breathtaking.

yes, the air in Cairo is horrific, the people are poor and oppressed but there is just so much history there, as well as mystique and intrigue.

it's almost funny how this exhibit would be promoted "so Ks don't have to travel to Egypt" - virtually every famous place I've ever visited has had Jpnse tourists, including the pyramids, but few if any Ks (they are in s.e. Asia).

[Robot_Teacher]

[Mr. Pink]

I'll have to check it out next month. I recently went to the Royal Ontario Museum and looked at their Egypt section, it is pretty sparse compared to some of the bigger museums.

One thing that I did think was cool was this museum in Toronto, Canada had a Korean section and had quite a few artifacts donated or on loan from Korea. The section was pretty big for a country of Korea's size.

So I do think Korea is trying to gain more international recognition for its museums and I am glad to see more notable exhibits visit Korea.

[wylies99]

BTW, I took a friend to the exhibit today (4th of July) and she LOVED it. It helps a great deal if you can read and speak Korean since nothing is in English. There are some big crowds on Saturdays. Try to go during the week, if you can. Oh, and the mouse pads in the gift shop are 30% off- now 3,000 won- and they are very nice.

I have shown some of my souvenirs, (from the gift shop), to students and Korean teachers, and what comes to their minds is "The Mummy' movies- 1 and 2. Funny, I never would have thought of that.

[wylies99]

Here is the link for information about getting to the Korean National Museum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Korea

It's very close to Ichon Station, on the Seoul Subway Line.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichon_Station

[wylies99]

Only 14 days left to see this exhibit!

[wylies99]

I took a couple of newbie teachers to the REGULAR exhibit part of the museum and the line for the Egyptian exhibit was literally out the door.