British Museum Egyptian hieroglyphs exhibition - in pictures
An exhibition by the British Museum, scheduled to open to the public on October 13, will mark 200 years since the decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
The Rosetta Stone provided the key to decoding hieroglyphs and expanding modern knowledge of Egypt’s history. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
The temple lintel of Amenemhat III, a pharoah from ancient Egypt and the sixth king of the 12th Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
The exhibition will feature 'The Enchanted Basin', a large black granite sarcophagus covered with hieroglyphs from about 600 BC. The hieroglyphs were believed to have magical powers, and bathing in the basin was expected to offer relief from the torments of love. Photo: Trustees of the British Museum
The outer coffin containing the mummified remains of a woman called Baktenhor, who lived between 1070 and 713 BC in Thebes, now called Luxor. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
An image of Dr Thomas Young (1773-1829) on a copper medal. Young was instrumental in the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs, specifically the Rosetta Stone. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
Senior conservator Stephanie Vasiliou cleans ‘The Enchanted Basin’ in preparation for the exhibition. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
The mummy bandage of Aberuait from the Ptolemaic period, which has never been displayed in the UK, will also be on show. Photo: Musee du Louvre
A 19th century portrait of Jean-François Champollion (1790–1832). Champollion was able to decipher the hieroglyphs through the oval shapes found in the hieroglyphic text, which are known as Kharratis and include the names of kings and queens. Photo: Musee Champollion
Ms Vasiliou and conservation student Shoun Obana clean ‘The Enchanted Basin’. The reused ritual bath was discovered near a mosque in Cairo. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
Mr Obana cleans ‘The Enchanted Basin’, which was later identified as the sarcophagus of Hapmen, a nobleman of the 26th Dynasty. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
The limestone statue of a scribe dating back to ancient Egypt's Sixth Dynasty will also be on display. Photo: Musee du Louvre
Queen Nedjmet's 3,000-year-old 'Book of the Dead' will feature alongside a set of canopic vessels that preserved the organs of the deceased. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
A royal cubit rod belonging to Amenemope, a scribe from ancient Egypt. The exhibition explores the inscriptions and objects that helped academics unlock an 'ancient civilisation' two centuries ago.
Visitors looking at the Rosetta Stone. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
Installation of an amulet in front of The Book of the Dead. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
A visitor views Egyptian sculptures of cats. Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum
