Special Exhibition: Early Egypt in the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Oxford, houses the most important collection of Predynastic and Early Dynastic objects outside Egypt, with significant holdings from all of the major Egyptian sites excavated during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The expansion of the early Egypt collections during that period owed much to the energetic interest of Arthur Evans, Keeper of the Ashmolean from 1884 to 1908, and the University’s cordial relationship with Flinders Petrie.
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During the optional excursion to Oxford on Wednesday 30th July 2008, participants will have the opportunity to view the Museum’s Egyptian galleries after public opening hours. Amongst the permanent displays, the Petrie Room is devoted to objects from Predynastic Egypt; Dynastic Egypt is featured in the recently refurbished Sackler Gallery and the adjacent Griffith Gallery, which also contains the Museum’s Nubian collection and a temporary display of some of the best-known objects from Hierakonpolis. |
| In addition, there will be a special exhibition of Early Dynastic objects, created specifically for this day in the Origins 3 Colloquium calendar. Key pieces from the Hierakonpolis ‘Main Deposit’ (including a wide range of carved ivories), material from the ‘M’ Chambers of the early temple at Abydos, and selected objects from the First and Second Dynasty Royal Tombs at Abydos will be on display, many for the first time since their discovery.
The exhibits may be visited throughout the day (until 5:00pm) and/or enjoyed in the evening (5:30–7:30pm) during the special welcome reception for Colloquium participants, generously hosted by the Ashmolean Museum’s Department of Antiquities, whom we wish to thank for their hospitality. |
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The organisers of this special exhibition, Liam McNamara and Xavier Droux, would like to thank the curator of the Ashmolean Museum’s Egyptian Collections, Helen Whitehouse, for facilitating access to this material, as well as her continued support, encouragement, and shared enthusiasm for their study of Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt. |
