Exhibition: Out of the Vaults

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) launches Egypt Month at the ROM on February 28, 2009 by inviting visitors to journey into the afterlife with its newest exhibit Out of the Vaults: Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. The recently conserved Book of the Dead of Amen-em-hat, seen in its full beauty for the first time in over 2,300 years, contains a collection of hymns, spells and instructions for the after-life. Part of the ongoing Out of the Vaults series that brings notable objects on view for a limited time, the iconic Book of the Dead, and rarely seen Egyptian artifacts from the ROM’s collection, will be displayed on the Third Floor, Centre Block until Sunday, May 10, 2009. For the entire month of March, families will also enjoy a special line-up of Egypt-related hands-on activities every weekend and during March Break (March 14 to 22, 2009).

“This is the very first time this captivating document will be on public view since its pieces were brought together during a lengthy conservation process at the Museum,” said Krzys Grzymski, Curator, Egypt and Nubia, at the ROM. “The ROM’s Book of the Dead is probably the finest of its kind in the world for its date and will be a true highlight of Egypt Month.”

The ROM’s seven metre-long scroll is an ancient Egyptian funerary text dating back to 320 B.C., the early Ptolemaic period. Written on papyrus and containing four coloured vignettes and many elegant line drawings, the lavish and beautifully executed book was acquired by Charles Trick Currelly, the ROM's first Director, in Egypt in the early 20th century.