Staatliche Sammlung für Ägyptische Kunst

The obelisk of Titus Sextius Africanus at the museum.

The Staatliche Sammlung für Ägyptische Kunst (State Museum of Egyptian Art) in Munich is the Bavarian State Collection for Ancient Egypt art. It displays exhibits from all periods of Ancient Egypt's history. The associated small Middle East section displays objects from the areas of Assyrian and Babylonian culture. As of 2008 Egyptian museum is located in the Residenz, but it will be moved to the Kunstareal in 2010.

Sphinx of Sesostris III

Pharaoh Thutmosis IV

Building

The new building with its glass and exposed concrete structure constructed by the German architect Peter Böhm opposite to the Alte Pinakothek for the University of Television and Film Munich will subterrestrial also house the rooms for the museum, the project has been inspired by an ancient Egyptian burial chamber. Its lower entrance area will be marked with a portal wall in dyed exposed concrete as a reminiscent of the pylon gateways to Egyptian temples.

History

The Bavarian state's collection was already founded in the 16th century by Duke Albrecht V and extended especially by Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria and King Ludwig I of Bavaria. The museum is dedicated to the periods of the early, middle and late kingdoms, but also to the hellenistic, roman and coptic era of Egypt.

Collection

The museum displays Ancient Egyptian artifacts, such as statues, sculptures, cult articles, papyri, stone tablets with hieroglyphics, glasswares, jewellery, amulets but also mummies, textiles and household goods.

Among the most distinguished exhibits are the famous duplex statue portraiting the pharaoh Nyuserre Ini as young and as elder man, the statues of the pharaohs Amenemhat III, Ramses II, Thutmosis III and Akhenaten, the sphinx of Sesostris III and of Amenhotep II, the sarcophagus lid of queen Sitdjehuti and the kneeling figure of Senenmut. The hellenistic-roman period is represented by master pieces such as the bust of a Seleucid ruler and the grand Egyptian statue of Antinous.

Very precious is the treasure of jewellery of the Nubian Queen Amanishakheto. The museum displays also the Assyrian Orthostat reliefs from the palace of king Ashur-nasir-pal II and a lion from the Ishtar Gate of Babylon which were once displayed in the Glyptothek.

External links

• Staatliche Sammlung Ägyptischer Kunst (German)