Paul de Vries 
"Coffin and Inner Cartonnage of the Lady of the House" 1292 BC–1190 BC, Collection of Brooklyn Museum. (Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum)
An exhibition titled "Unraveling the Mysteries of Ancient EGYPT" is presently being held at the Mori Arts Center Gallery, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo. The artwork is exclusively from the Brooklyn Museum collection. The exhibition will be shown at the Mori Art Center Gallery before touring multiple venues within Japan.
While Japan and Egypt are both ancient cultures, the timeline of Egypt’s cultural renaissance precedes that of Japan by many centuries. Hieroglyphic script dates to around 3200 BCE. The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed around 2500 BCE. The Japan of that time was inhabited by hunter-gatherers from whom there is little archeological evidence other than pottery.
Similarities between Japanese and Egyptian culture and traditions, however, do exist. The concept of ritual offerings was central within ancient Egypt. Tombs included false doors that had tables placed in front of them. As long as proper rituals and offerings were performed, it was believed, the deceased could live comfortably in the afterworld.
Similar traditions are carried on in present-day Japan through the Kamidana and Butsudan shrines within shops and homes, before which daily offerings of food, beverages, and flowers are placed.
The characteristic Egyptian tradition of mummification also has a Japanese link. Northeast Japan is famous for sokushinbutsu, or self mummification. Between 1081 and 1903 at least 17 monks succeeded in mummifying themselves through a lengthy process of suicide.
A somewhat famous pictorial link between ancient Egypt and pre-modern Japan is a photograph of a group of samurai staged before the sphinx, taken in 1864. The photographic image was created during the Second Japanese Embassy to Europe, the Ikeda Mission.
The samurai are a representation of a feudal society on the verge of declaring itself outdated, standing before the remnants of a culture that passed into history millennia ago. The image is, both literally and metaphorically, a fascinating historical snapshot.
An Abundance of Artifacts
Egypt is well known as the dream working location for archeologists. The dry climate preserves objects. The ancient Egyptians filled their tombs with contemporary possessions for the deceased to use in the afterlife. "Unraveling the Mysteries of Ancient EGYPT" aims to provide a window into the life of the ancient Egyptian people by showcasing the full range of entombed artifacts.
In addition to the mummies, sarcophagi, statues, reliefs, and hieroglyphs, it includes many objects that were used in daily life. They include furniture, a mirror, reed pens, a writing tablet, sandals, jewelry, a game board and pieces, a comb, and perhaps most unexpectedly, a hair curler.
A highlight of the exhibition is a high-quality relief titled Relief of a Noble Man. The wig is intricately carved. The headband is decorated with a pattern of lotus flowers. On the left side of the relief, a hand holds a sistrum — a rattle that was employed to please the gods. As the nobleman is devoid of an actual name, visiting Brooklyn Museum curator, Morgan Moroney, has joked that this moniker may stick.
Another impressive relief is the brightly colored Tomb Painting of a Woman with Offerings. While the dry climate of Egypt makes it possible for colored reliefs to be preserved, they are nonetheless unusual. The hues on Tomb Painting of Woman with Offerings are subtle. The image is quite striking.
Safety and Utility
The artifacts with which the Egyptians filled their tombs could include statues of animals or mummified animals themselves. A particularly interesting artwork on display is a statue of a Hippopotamus whose legs are broken off. The legs are not missing due to an accident or the ravages of time, explains Moroney. They were purposely broken so that the animal could not run amok in the afterlife.
The mummification tradition of ancient Egypt was based on the belief that for the deceased to be reborn, the preservation of their body was essential. The body, it was held, was the dwelling place of one’s life force. If it decayed, the life force would lose its anchor, making rebirth impossible.
The exhibition includes several sarcophagi. In Coffin and Inner Cartonnage of the Lady of the House, the utility of sarcophagi becomes evident. The inscription that runs down its center before ending between the feet has been clearly changed, indicating that this sarcophagi has had multiple users.
"Coffin and Inner Cartonnage of the Lady of the House" 1292 BC–1190 BC, Collection of Brooklyn Museum. (Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum)
"Unraveling the Mysteries of Ancient EGYPT" will continue at the Mori Art Center until April 6. It will be shown at Toyota City Museum from June 28 until September 7. An unconfirmed showing is listed for Shizuoka from April to June.
Confirmation of planned showings at multiple locations throughout Japan will be made known on the exhibition website. But a word of caution — as English language explanation boards are not in abundance, downloading an app for translation prior to arrival is well advised.
RELATED:
- EXHIBITION | Discovering Daikakuji, Kyoto's Hidden Cultural Gem
- evala: Emerging Site, Disappearing Sight
- Decoding Hokusai and Others in the Edo Era Calendars Challenge!
Author: Paul de Vries
