Temples, Tells & Tombs
Temples, Tells and Tombs was closed on January 1, 2008, to make room for major traveling exhibitions such as Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS: The Original Exhibition of Real Human Bodies and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. Most of our ancient Mediterranean exhibit will be in storage until we can redesign and update it for re-installation elsewhere in the museum.
Several popular elements of TTT, however, have been relocated to other public areas. A selection of ancient Egyptian artifacts (including the mummy of Djed Hor) can be seen in the Tuareg (People of the Veil) area, located in our African wing on the third floor. Our educational programs on Mummies and The Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt will be presented in this area. Additionally, the ancient Greek hoplite (foot soldier) and painted Greek ceramics will be found on the first floor, near the Sense of Wonder display.
Spanning thousands of years and several continents, the ancient past was as dynamic and diverse as our present world. From the ancient sites of Mari and Ugarit and the empires of Assyria and Persia to the island cultures of Cyprus and Crete, a complex base was being formed for society as we know it today. The dynamics of early governments and military systems, the beginnings of writing, democracy and law, the spending habits of a day laborer in Imperial Rome and the religious and burial practices of the various civilizations are just some of the topics highlighted.
Close to 600 ancient artifacts are innovatively integrated into natural habitat settings, creating a sense of being there. Visitors can peer through a temple window and experience the exciting work of an archaeologist or witness a 19th century grave robber stealing a mummy from a pharaoh's tomb. A life-size replica of a Greek Hoplite warrior, or foot soldier, in full armor is the only such reconstruction in the world. A model of the Temple of Ramesses III, the last of the great pharaohs of Egypt, is vivid representation of an actual temple complex. Pyramids, mummies, full scale date palm trees, engraved portraits of the 12 Caesars, a partial reconstruction of an ancient Tell Hadidi house and tomb all lend to the excitement of lifestyles long ago.
Other displays contrast modern misconceptions and illusions about the past with historical interpretation. For instance, a full-scale, Hollywood style re-enactment of the death of Cleopatra is compared with her real story to reveal the truth about one of Egypt's most misunderstood rulers. 'Cinema of the Sands' theater, done in an impressive Islamic motif, adds to the action with clips from famous movies like 'Ben Hur', 'Quo Vadis', 'Caesar and Cleopatra' and 'The Egyptian'.
Reconstructions of archaeological sites coupled with video displays focus on processes involved in how we learn about the past. Actual film footage of MPM excavations at the Bronze Age site of Tell Hadidi, Syria in the 1970's tell one story. Another has archaeologists in the deepest oceans to explore and uncover ancient treasures. Still another looks at mummification and the non-destructive techniques for studying mummies like CT-scans and endoscopy.
Temples, Tells and Tombs encourages visitors to participate in discovering the answers to many puzzles, ancient and modern. Throughout the exhibit, history is portrayed not as a list of facts, but as a living, changing process of discovery and interpretation.