Egypt’s ancient culture is fascinating to learn about. There are two great exhibitions in Chicago that can enlighten you about life in Egypt 5,000 years ago. The Field Museum has an ancient tomb, mummies, and artifacts, along with fascinating ancient mythology. The Alder Planetarium projects a simulation of the starry skies as they would have looked 5,000 years ago. Make a study of ancient Egypt by visiting these two Chicago landmarks.
The Field Museum
1400 South Lake shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605
312-922-9410
Admission: Adult $12, Children $7
Inside Ancient Egypt
Inside Ancient Egypt studies the ancient culture of the Egyptians. In Paranoiac Egypt, there was a preoccupations with the Afterlife, which was revealed by their strong desire for a continuation of vitality. The exhibits takes visitors thought a study of the twin themes of death and life through architecture, art, technology, religion and daily existence. The Egyptian society was filled with contradictions. It was a society with elites, bureaucrats and slaves. Women and men were legally equal. Diverse religions and ethnic groups were welcomed and assimilated. The exhibit studies the evolution of burial customs as they reflect the transformation of Egyptian culture.
Explore an Ancient Tomb: The Tomb of Unis-Ankh.
Unis-Ankh was the royal son of King Unis, who was the last pharaoh of the Fifth dynasty ((ruling family) of Egypt. This royal son died in around 2,400 BC, more than 1,000 years before the famous King Tutankhamen was born. As a member of the royal family, Unis-Ankh was mummified and buried in a limestone Tomb. This type of tomb is called a mastaba. Mastaba means “bench” in Arabic. Mastabas have a unique bench shaped form, with a rectangular base, sloping sides, and flat roof. This tomb was originally located in the shadow of the pyramid of his father, who was the Pharaoh. This was customary at the time. The pyramid was located in the western desert, near what is now Cairo.
The ancient tomb was purchased in 1908 by the Field Museum’s first president, on an expedition to Egypt. He purchased two chambers of Unis-Ankh’s tomb and brought them back to the United Staes. These two rooms were reassembled. The missing chambers were reconstructed. Visitors can experience a complete tome.
Visitors can view this mysterious tomb at the Field Museum. The entrance to the tomb in on the Museum’s main floor. visitor’s can climb to the roof and then descend into the lower chambers. The mummy would have originally been buried in the lower chambers. As you tour the tombs, you view 5000 year old carvings with prayers and descriptions or provisions for his afterlife. There are also many objects from other tombs, including: gold, shell, alabaster and lapis.
Mummies at the Field Museum
In the Inside Ancient Egypt exhibition, there are 23 human mummies, which is one of the largest mummy collections in any American museum. The collections also includes mummified remains of animals including: cat, crocodile, ibis, falcon, and scarab beetle.
A miniature diorama explains the complex rituals required to embalm the body. Egyptians mummified their dead to ensure they would live forever in the after world. They believed that as long as the body was well preserved, the person would enjoy long life after death. The process took at least 70 days.
Investigating Ancient Myths
Explore Egyptian mythology and learn about the religious beliefs through amulets, writing on papyrus and more.
Bastet the Beloved Cat Goddess: Visit a temple, which is centered on a bronze statue of the goddess Bastet (in incarnation as a cat). This fascinating exhibition invites you to visit a shrine of the cat goddess, Bastet. Bastet was a popular and beloved deity. She was the goddess of joy, music, and dancing. Worshipers participated in wild celebrations.
The Legend of Skhmet: This was Bastet’s manifestation as a savage lioness, the goddess of war.
The Legend of the First Mummy
A Vision of the Afterlife
The Book of the Dead: Collection of protective spells to aid the deceased in their journey through the underwrold.
Try on roles in Egyptian society in the Old Kingdom (2450 BC). Experience a Memphis marketplace.
Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
312-922-STAR
Admission: Galaxy Packages includes exhibits plus one show: Adult $16, Children $14.
Egyptian Nights: Secrets of the Sky Gods
Travel back more than 5000 years. View the sky as the ancient Egyptians saw them from the banks of the Nile River. Learn about how the Egyptian culture incorporated the sky into their daily lives, civic culture and spiritual belief system. The night skies as they would have been seen 5000 years ago are projected on the domed ceiling of the Zeiss planetarium theater. Lean back in the chair and enjoy the simulation of the starry night view and listen to the narrations. Learn how the skies influenced the daily lives and the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. Three shows daily.
You can enjoy a day or more in Chicago being educated and entertained at the same time.
Please verify times and admission prices before making a trip.
