Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Hosts Ancient Food Exhibition

The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir hosted a temporary exhibition titled 'Ancient Egyptian Food: Between Life, Death, and Worship', highlighting the importance of food to ancient Egyptians, both in worldly and religious life.

The exhibition features a diverse collection of distinctive artifacts from the museum, including miniature models of bread eaten by ancient Egyptians in various shapes and sizes, a model of an ancient Egyptian kitchen, the various stages of food preparation, food offering dishes, models of food offerings, and tools used in food preparation and grinding grains, in addition to paintings depicting scenes from various religious feasts and celebrations.

The statue of the Offering Bearer is one of the most prominent artifacts in the exhibition, embodying the importance of offerings in the religious life of the ancient Egyptians. It is a wonderful example of ancient Egyptian art, demonstrating the Egyptian artist's skill in rendering fine details and providing valuable information about the clothing and jewelry worn by ancient Egyptian women.

Moamen Othman, head of the Museums Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities said in a press statement, Friday, that the exhibition aims to highlight the importance of food in the lives of the ancient Egyptians and how it was an integral part of their daily lives and religious beliefs. It also highlights the ancient Egyptians' skills in agriculture, hunting, and food preparation.

"The ancient Egyptians' table was distinguished by its diversity and richness in nutrients. They relied on agriculture, hunting, and animal husbandry to secure their food. Bread, made from wheat and barley, was essential to their diet and economy," Othman added.

On his part, Ali Abdel Halim, Director General of the Museum said that archaeological sources have revealed various methods of preparing bread, from firm dough shaped by hand to liquid dough poured into clay molds.

He explained that bread was not just a food; it played a pivotal role in religious and funerary rituals, as the Egyptians considered it a means of communicating with the gods and gaining their approval.