Five reasons kids will love Discovering Ancient Egypt

Posted on 15 April, 2024

Featuring incredible light displays, detailed sculptures and over 200 rare objects spanning over 3,000 years, it’s one of the most anticipated exhibitions to hit Canberra in years.

The best (and maybe most surprising) part? The Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition at the National Museum of Australia is actually kid-friendly.

Offering a free family guide with easy-to-follow facts and a special self-guided kids tour featuring objects specially chosen by curators, families can journey to the land of the Pyramids and immerse themselves in the rich traditions of the Ancient Egyptians with remarkable objects from the collection of the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden).

We narrowed down five highlights not to be missed!

Marvel at the light display

Upon entering the exhibition, kids will be amazed by the life-sized recreated facade of the Temple of Taffeh, illuminated by a striking, large-scale graphic presentation. This 2,000-year-old temple was shipped to the Dutch National Museum from the Nile as a gift from Egypt to The Netherlands.

Discover insights into life in Ancient Egypt

Ever wondered what games people played over 4,000 years ago? One of the rare objects on display is a Senet game and flute. Look closely, and you can even see some writing carved into the wood.

Other everyday artefacts offering a glimpse into life in Ancient Egypt include a rare oil lamp, used to create a small fire for light at night-time, and household pottery.

Glimpse rare jewellery

The exhibition features a range of ornate jewellery dating back thousands of years, from gold masks to intricate necklaces. Senior curator at the National Museum of Australia Craig Middleton says kids will be especially intrigued by a rare necklace with a ram’s head.

“The centrepiece of this necklace depicts a ram, a symbol for Amun, the king of Gods,” explains Craig. “The two moon-shaped beads represent Amun’s son, the lunar God Khonsu. Together with the Goddess Mut, this family triad was worshipped at the large temple of Karnak in Thebes.”

Uncover stunning art

Whether in the form of painting, sculpture, carving or script, the intricate and colourful art in this exhibition is an exploration into Ancient Egyptian society, creativity and belief in an eternal afterlife. One of the highlights, Craig says, is Stela of Pamaaf.

“This painted image shows the priest Pamaaf making an offering to Re-Horakhty, the God of the rising sun, who is the bird-like figure on the left. Re-Horakhty was a combination of Re, the sun God, and Horus, the sky God.”

Learn about the animal Gods

As animals were worshipped in Ancient Egypt, the exhibition features a number of statues of animal Gods and mummified animals, including a falcon.

“The maker of this mummified bird went to great lengths to ensure its wrapped exterior looked like a falcon by moulding a pair of bulbous eyes and a beak,” says Craig.

“Although X-rays show that the remains lacked a head, this would not have diminished the mummified creature’s powers as an offering.”