Discover the secrets of life and death in Ancient Egypt

Discover the secrets of life and death in Ancient Egypt

Gatineau, Quebec, October 9, 2008 — A journey that began thousands of years ago will soon come to a halt in Gatineau when the Canadian Museum of Civilization presents Tombs of Eternity: The Afterlife in Ancient Egypt. This major exhibition opens on December 19 and offers visitors a symbolic journey through a burial tomb to discover the secrets of life, death and beyond in ancient Egypt.

The exhibition captures one essence of the culture of ancient Egyptians through their funerary rites and practices. It also invites us to contemplate our contemporary attitudes and beliefs. Ancient Egyptians saw death not as the end of life but as the start of a new existence involving body and soul. They mummified mortal remains, inscribed messages on burial tombs, and filled the chambers with life-sustaining goods. In the process, they left a rich and detailed record of their beliefs, values and material culture.

Tombs of Eternity: The Afterlife in Ancient Egypt is a dramatic showcase for one of the world’s premiere collections of Egyptian antiquities held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The artifacts provide a detailed look at daily life and religious faith in the storied Valley of the Kings.

“This is a fascinating and unique exhibition,” said Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. “The objects on display are extraordinary, and so too were the people who created them. The ancient Egyptians created an exceptional period of human civilization, and this exhibition helps us understand who they were, how they lived and what they believed.”

Tombs of Eternity: The Afterlife in Ancient Egypt presents more than 200 artifacts ranging from dazzling jewellery to human and animal mummies. Rare and fragile objects include sarcophagi, amulets, sculptures, beads, weapons and furniture. Each object provides a perspective into the afterlife, while illuminating the beliefs of this ancient civilization. The exhibition re-created a burial tomb using authentic artifacts from the Boston museum. The tomb takes visitors on a symbolic journey that reveals the secrets of life and death in Ancient Egypt.

Tombs of Eternity: The Afterlife in Ancient Egypt will be presented at the Canadian Museum of Civilization from December 19, 2008 to August 16, 2009.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is the centre for research and public information on the social and human history of the country. Located on the shores of the Ottawa river in Gatineau, Quebec, the Museum is Canada’s largest and most popular cultural institution,