Decorated with images of gods and protective spells, coffins were an important part of ancient Egyptian culture. This is the coffin of Djed-maat-es-ankh, an Egyptian lady who died of a massive dental cyst that burst.
A touchable reproduction of the Narmer Palette allows visitors to experience one of the earliest examples of hieroglyphs, an Ancient Egyptian writing system.
Learn about mummification and its importance in Egyptian beliefs and customs about death and the afterlife.
The importance of certain animals in Ancient Egyptian culture is represented by many artifacts, such as this ibis mummy.
Step inside a full-scale touchable reconstruction of the inner chapel of the Tomb of Kitines, dating to the 2nd century AD.
This granite bust of Cleopatra was collected by the ROM's first director in the early 20th century… but it wasn't formally identified as depicting Cleopatra until 2001.
An epic civilization with timeless appeal.
The legacy of the Ancient Egyptian culture has left its mark through the centuries. From religion to architecture to fashion, its influence is epic and our fascination with this ancient civilization, so exotic and mysterious, remains strong even today.
Follow the history of Ancient Egypt over nearly 5,000 years with an impressive collection of objects depicting all aspects of spiritual and daily life. Examine the region’s contributions to both eastern and western civilizations through culture and technology. From prehistoric Egypt to the time of Ptolemaic rule, the gallery showcases rare and exceptional objects from ROM's Egyptian collection – the most important Egyptian collection in Canada.
About the Gallery
What?
The Egyptian collection is comprised of approximately 25,000 artifacts, and close to 2,000 of these are on display in the gallery.
Where?
Ancient Egypt was located in the north east corner of the African continent, and during Ptolemaic times, extended west along the north shore of Africa, and northeast along the south east coast of the Mediterranean.
When?
From 4,000 BC to AD 400.