“Cats, falcons and eels. Votive bronzes for animal mummies”: a new temporary exhibition from the cycle “In the researcher’s workshop”

The five objects in focus, in the exhibition on view until 9th January 2022, are five votive bronzes for animal mummies.

A cat, a falcon, a shrew, a gecko and an eel-snake.



They probably come from the vast animal cemeteries at Saqqara south of modern Cairo. Animal cults and the mummification of sacred creatures became increasingly popular during the Late and the Ptolemaic Periods (664–332 & 332–30 BC). The five objects in focus all represent bronze votive coffins typical for the second half of the Late Period and the early Ptolemaic Period. 

Te research led by the curator of the exhibition Johannes Auenmüller let the public know better this kind of objects, especially about their use, their role in funerary rituals and about their fine manifacture.



On 23rd november 2021 and 5th January 2022 the curator lead the visitors in two special guided tour in english.

Buy your ticket here.