by Delaynna Trim, Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art Curator
Since this is October, you see “mummies” all over the place – in people’s yards, in the stores, on TV, etc. Some are scary and others are funny. Did you know the only place to see real mummies in Oklahoma is the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art? And we have TWOMUMMIES! Both of our mummies are female. We know this because we had them CT scanned a few years ago at SSM Health St. Anthony Shawnee Hospital, just down the road from the museum. The scans tell us that Tutu was in her 40s or 50s when she died and that she had given birth. For as much as we know, we are still researching and learning new things.
The ancient Egyptians mummified people as part of their religion. They believed that the soul of the person left the body when they died, but then returned later. In order to preserve the body, they removed the organs and put them into canopic jars – stone jars with god’s heads on the lids – which you can see at the museum. The rest of the body was packed with natron, a type of salt, and herbs. After 40 days, the body would be wrapped in linen, ready for burial.
But, people were not the only ones mummified. Animals were mummified as well. Some were mummified as offerings for the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses. Some were mummified as a way to honor their much-loved pet. Cats were offered to the goddess Bastet. She was the goddess of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as protection against diseases and evil spirits. Not all offerings were actual cat mummies, some (like one on display at the MGMoA) is just linen wrapped to look like a cat mummy.
The ancient Egyptians mummified many types of small animals. You can also see a mummified hawk on display that is probably an offering to Horus the hawk headed god of the sun, sky, and healing. The museum also has mummified fish, including an almost 3-foot-long perch! Even crocodiles were mummified!
If you really like mummies, you should come by the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art on
Saturday, November 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for MUMMY DAY! This is a free, all ages event to celebrate all things ancient Egyptian. There will be games, activities, and so much more! You can take you photo with Tutu or ask an expert all your mummy questions. Come learn about mummies – they are much nicer than in the movies. Tutu loves for people to come visit her!
Check out www.mgmoa.org/art-projects for more activities including how to make a paper mummy, a coloring sheet of Tutu, and more.
Project: Popsicle Mummy
Supplies:
Yarn (preferably white or cream)
2 popsicle sticks (preferably one large, one smaller)
Googly eyes
Glue or glue dots
1. Attach the smaller popsicle stick to the larger one approximately 1/3 of the way down with glue or glue dots in a “t” shape.
2. Wrap the yarn around the popsicle sticks by crisscrossing the center, then wrapping outwards toward the bottom then back up to the arms. Once you are satisfied with the wrapping, cut the yarn and either tuck the yarn into the wrapping or glue it down.
3. Attach the two googly eyes on the top.
