Egyptian Antiquities from the Louvre: With Lisa in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
All civilisations have grappled with that big question.... What comes next, when we die? Well, the ancient Egyptians were in no doubt about an afterlife. But theirs was no featherbedded existence eternally swanning about way above the clouds. For the Egyptians many challenges had to be faced before reaching what they called the "the field of heavenly reeds".
Today, in 21st Century Adelaide you can step back more than five thousand years into the metaphysical mindset of ancient Egypt courtesy of a priceless exhibition from the world's most famous art gallery, the Musee due Louvre in Paris.
It's a spectacular and diverse display featuring five hundred individual objects from sphinxes, gods, goddesses, Pharaohs and even a three thousand-year-old loaf of bread, which was entombed, ready for feasting in the afterlife.
The journey to the "field of heavenly reeds" could be a difficult one in which you might need to call upon any one of the 170 or so spells outlined in the "Book of the Dead".
"Many of the spells were there to guide you through this very perilous journey that you had to go through to reach the 'hall of judgment'," explained Robert Reason of the Art Gallery of SA. "You'd be brought forward by the gods … and they would weigh up the good and bad aspects in your life by weighing your heart. If your heart was pure and the scales balanced you would go to the 'field of heavenly reeds'.
Some of the exhibits are exquisite like an ornate sarcophagus. It would have cost a fortune and is proof that as far as the ancient Egyptians were concerned "ego was not a dirty word."
"It was this cult of drawing your spirit back to life, sucking energy back in from the living world by having your name spoken," said Robert. "So by having these pieces here you are indeed continuing their afterlife many thousands of years later…"
It's all part of an amazing spiritual journey and it's on show at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Egyptian Antiquities from the Louvre: Journey to the Afterlife is on show until July the first. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Egyptian Antiquities from the Louvre: Journey to the Afterlife
Until July 1, 2007
Art Gallery of SA North Tce
Adults $18 Concession $14Published 20th May 2007
