Bonn Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum of the University of Bonn presents one of the most significant collection of original objects of the Pharaonic Egypt in North Rhine -Westphalia.
The museum today
The museum is part of the University of Bonn and is located in the eastern wing of the Electoral Palace, the entrance is located next to Koblenz Gate. The central part of the museum is the permanent exhibition dedicated to the Egyptian cultural history. She exhibits both objects of the cult as well as the everyday life of one of the oldest human civilizations. Regular special events complement the permanent exhibition. As the largest object of the overall exhibition shows a 6 × 3 m high wall cast out of the temple of Karnak a battle scene; a model of the mortuary temple of Ramses III. in Medinet Habu is an eye-catcher. At the entrance of the building on the ground floor there is a display case with a model of the Pyramid of Djoser.
Panorama
In the section "Panorama" will be presented in themes showcases aspects of pharaonic culture: pottery, tools, life and luxury, font, Pharaoh, gods, myths, death and grief, art. The objects shown range from the pre-dynastic period to the Greco- Roman period. From Pharaonic times more wall reliefs from an Egyptian grave, but also originals personal burial grave goods and equipment such as mummy masks, shabtis and wooden figures are shown. Also deities, totems and animal mummies are part of this section of the exhibition.
Study Collection
In the study, collection, visitors can go on their own journey of discovery and explore different object classes ( pottery, stone vessels, sculptures, shabtis, amulets, etc.) in historical and thematic grouping. Of particular importance are the archaeological finds shown here from the Qubbet el- Hawa at Aswan. Among them are located in Europe unique objects such as clay pots described with althieratischer writing, two of the most commonly used only at the Qubbet el- Hawa painted shells and relics of an ancient bronze casting workshop.
Museum Collections
In the museum of collections exemplary examples of the different motivations of the private collecting of Aegyptiaca be given. Here collections are exhibited, which were provided as foundations or on loan to the museum. In addition to smaller objects such as amulets and shabtis always find outstanding individual pieces that tell of the aesthetic pleasure that the preoccupation with ancient Egypt prepares. But even simple artifacts and memories are created for the collector, an imaginary landscape, which he integrated into his life world. Even piracy and counterfeiting have such meaning and value. Thus, an important element of European exploration of the Orient is discussed: that dealing with these things a distant and ancient culture even today is of great importance not only for scientists but also for collectors, visitors, travelers and locals.
History
Getting objects for a collection of Egyptian antiquities was 1820/1821 acquired by the Orientalists and Bonner theology professor Johann Martin Augustin Scholz, who accompanied the Prussian officer Heinrich Menu von Minutoli at the Egypt expedition. The pieces first went into the possession of the University Museum of Rhenish antiquities and Academic art museum were finally on the antiquities collection of classical archeology, now passed.
After its founding in 1897, the Egyptological Seminar of the University took over the responsibility for the extension of this collection: the first professor, Alfred Wiedemann attended with his relations in the professional world for numerous donations by archaeologists and institutions (which finds the Naqada tomb submitted by Flinders Petrie ). The de facto subordination of the collection pieces under Egyptology, but was only later, probably in 1928, when the Egyptologists Hans Bonnet received its own premises. Large parts have been destroyed in the Second World War, such as relief fragments from the pyramid temple Sahure and out of the sun temple of Niuserre, the coffin of Nechet and numerous stelae and a large late- time wooden coffin. Excavations on the Qubbet el- Hawa at Aswan by Elmar Edel, director of the seminary from 1955 to 1982, the stock filled up again; Donations and loans supplemented the collection. As of 1991, the Head of Chair Ursula Roessler -Koehler strove to own premises. From 1997 onwards, the former fencing hall, formerly placed in the history of the university hall of St. Michael the Order, as a space of 290 m². After renovation and rebuilding the Egyptian Museum was opened to the public on 16 March 2001.
The opening of the collection to the public has been made possible by the Friends of the Museum, which celebrated its tenth anniversary on 10 November 2007.