“Ad Astra: the deciphering of Mereru’s star table”: a new temporary exhibition from the cycle “In the researcher’s workshop”

From July 2nd to August 29th 2021 the Museo Egizio displays a new temporary exhibition from the cycle "Nel laboratorio dello studioso" ("In the researcher's workshop"), with title "Ad Astra: the deciphering of Mereru's star table".

The exhibition revolves around the observation of the firmament in ancient Egypt and the systems developed by the Nilotic culture for measuring the passage of time and the cyclical succession of the seasons across the celestial shpere. In particular, the star table of Mereru constitutes the center of the exhibition: the artifact, dating back to the Middle Kingdom (2000 BC) and found in 1908 by the M.A.I (the Italian Archaeological Mission) in the necropolis of Assiut, has the appearance of a grid in which there are the names of 36 stars specially selected to mark, with their rising, the twelve hours of the night throughout the year. The captions in the room, located at the first florr, and a dedicated panel also accompany the visitor in reading and understanding the star tables.

The exhibition is curated by Enrico Ferraris, curator at the Egyptian Museum since 2013. Within the Collection and Research Department, Enrico Ferraris is responsible for the archaeometric analysis program of the artifacts belonging to the intact tomb of Kha and Merit, called TT8 Project (2018-2023). He curated the temporary exhibition "Archeologia Invisibile" (still open to the public).

"Nel laboratorio dello studioso" is a cycle of exhibitions to show a series of artefacts from the Turin collection under the magnifying glass and offer visitors an unprecedented insight into the stories they hold and the research carried out by the Egyptian Museum. Find HERE more information and the updated calendar of upcoming exhibitions.