Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology facts for kids
The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in London is part of University College London Museums & Collections. It holds over 80,000 objects. This makes it one of the world's best collections of items from ancient Egypt and the Sudan.
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History of the Museum
The Petrie Museum began in 1892. It was created to help teach about ancient history and languages of Egypt. The first objects came from a writer named Amelia Edwards.
William Flinders Petrie's Discoveries
A famous archaeologist named William Flinders Petrie led many important digs. He found many amazing objects. In 1913, he sold his large collection to University College.
Petrie found items at important places like Hawara. Here, he discovered burial sites from the Roman time. These sites were famous for beautiful mummy portraits. These paintings were made in the Roman style.
He also found objects at Amarna. This was the city of King Akhenaten. Akhenaten was the first king to believe in only one god. At Meydum, the site of the first true pyramid, Petrie found some of the earliest examples of mummification.
Moving and Protecting the Collection
The museum's collection and library were first in rooms at the university. A book about the collection was printed in 1915. At first, only students could visit the museum. It was not open to the public.
After Petrie retired in 1933, other archaeologists added more objects. These came from other parts of Egypt and the Sudan. During the Second World War (1939–1945), the collection was packed up. It was moved out of London to keep it safe. In the early 1950s, the museum moved into an old stable. This building was next to the science library.
Amazing Collections at the Museum
The Petrie Museum has many unique and very old items.
Ancient Egyptian Objects
The museum has one of the oldest pieces of linen from Egypt. It was made around 5000 BC. There are also two large stone lions from the temple of Min at Koptos. These are some of the first huge sculptures from about 3000 BC.
You can see a small piece from the first king list or calendar. This was written around 2900 BC. The museum also has some iron beads. These are the earliest examples of metal from Egypt. There is also the earliest example of glazing, a type of coating.
Important Writings and Drawings
The collection includes the earliest 'cylinder seal' found in Egypt. It was made around 3500 BC. There is also a collection of writings on papyrus. These include the oldest wills and the oldest medical writing. The museum also has the only animal care writing from ancient Egypt. Plus, it has the largest architectural drawing, which shows a shrine from about 1300 BC.
Clothing and Art from Ancient Times
The museum has many ancient costumes. It has the 'oldest dress' ever found. There is a special beadnet dress of a dancer from the Pyramid Age (around 2400 BC). Also, there are two long-sleeved robes from the same time.
You can see a suit of armour from the palace of Memphis. There are also socks and sandals from the Roman period. The collection includes art from Akhenaten’s city at Amarna. These are colourful tiles, carvings, and frescoes. They come from Egyptian and Nubian settlements and burial sites.
The museum has the world’s largest collection of Roman period mummy portraits. These were made between the first and second centuries AD. The collection also has objects from the Coptic and Islamic periods.
Visiting the Museum
The Petrie Museum has three rooms. The main room holds many small objects. It also has writing tablets, mummy portraits, and display cases. The first room mainly shows pottery.
Some parts of the collection are kept in dim light. This protects the old objects from damage. Visitors use small lights to see inside these cases. The entire collection has been put online. You can view the catalogue on the museum's website.
Images for kids
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Upper part of a statuette of an Egyptian woman and her husband. 18th Dynasty. From the Amelia Edwards Collection now housed in the Petrie Museum
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Fragments and slabs of stelae. Inscriptions Aisle.
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Display case at previous entrance to the Petrie (prior to refurbishment), with figurines and statuettes
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Interior of the museum
See also
In Spanish: Museo Petrie para niños
