Czére Andrea szerk.: A Szépművészeti Múzeum közleményei 105. (Budapest, 2006)
ANNUAL REPORT - A 2006. ÉV - ISTVÁN NAGY: Life after Death: Objects írom the Egyptian Cult of the Dead
Ill LIFE AFTER DEATH: OBJECTS FROM THE EGYPTIAN CULT OF THE DEAD Hódmezővásárhely, Tornyai János Museum, March 8, 2006 - April 9, 2006 Keszthely, Balaton Museum, April 30, 2006 - July 2, 2006 Pécs, House of Arts, August 1, 2006 - September 30, 2006 Curator: István Nagy NAGY ISTVÁN. ÉLET A HALÁL UTÁN. AZ EGYIPTOMI HALOTTI KULTUSZ EMLÉKEI. KIÁLLÍTÁS A 100 ÉVES SZÉPMŰVÉSZETI MÚZEUM GYŰJTEMÉNYÉBŐL [LIFE AFTER DEATH. OBJECTS FKOM THE EGYPTIAN CULT OF THE DEAD]. EXHIBITION GUIDE, HUNGARIAN TEXT. 80 PP.. 34 COL. ILLS. ISBN 963 7063 2 b 9 The works of art on display were selected from the rich material of the Museum's Collection of Egyptian Art. The key concept w r as to try and represent as many aspects of the Egyptians' complex faith in the afterlife as possible. The implementation of this task was facilitated by the fact that part of the exhibited objects came from excavations that Hungarian teams conducted in Egyptian cemeteries, which produced rich finds that were then transferred to Hungary. The characteristics and technical development of mummification, burial practices and rituals were attested to by the objects deposited in the graves. Included among these objects w r as a richly decorated coffin, the so-called canopus vases that were used to preserve embalmed limbs, as well as amulets, decorative objects and tools placed on or next to the dead body. The texts written on papyri, the burial shrouds and the magical characters inscribed on the objects themselves document the beliefs held about the good fortune of the dead in the afterlife, just as the sculptures of slaves from different periods and of various styles did. A separate exhibition case was dedicated to Osiris, the Egyptian god of the netherworld, whom the dead wished to join in the afterlife. The way leading to him was long and full of dangers, to walk through successfully the dead needed the help of both gods and demons. The objects on display illustrated this journey but also the tasks that the living were expected to perform. The "sacrificial formula" had to be sung out loud and must have had an important role in the burial. Similarly, the ritual performed in front of the "sacrificial board" decorated with symbolic offerings must also have been of significance even in the cult of the dead. The chief aim of the exhibition was to introduce those objects that took on their real importance when the body of the dead person had already been moved into the "house of eternity".
