Geneva Also Boasts a Rich Collection of Ancient Egyptian Artifacts❗

Just revisiting my trip to Geneva last week! The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire (MAH) in Geneva is not only the largest museum in the city but also one of the most important in Switzerland. Located in the eastern part of the Old Town, it was built between 1903 and 1910. Funded by banker Charles Galland and designed by architect Marc Camoletti, the museum building is square-shaped, with each side measuring 60 meters, surrounding a central courtyard. 🏛️ When it was completed in 1910, the museum was conceived as a "Great Museum" or "Central Museum" (its name before completion). It aimed to bring together funds from various regions, as well as donations from collectors, foundations, and citizens. The museum houses a rich collection of major works and unique series. 🎨 Due to limited time, I focused on the museum's Ancient Egyptian collection. Among them, the Ibis coffin featured on the cover's top right and in Figures 4 and 7 was the most eye-catching. This artifact dates back to the Ptolemaic period, around 400-250 BCE. Made of painted wood, gilded, and decorated with bronze carvings, it was unearthed in Hermopolis, Egypt. 🐦 Exhibit description: The long beak of the Ibis may have reminded ancient Egyptian scribes of the quill pens they used to write on papyrus. The bird became the symbol of Thoth (the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom), who could also be depicted as a baboon. In Hermopolis, the main worship site for this deity, kilometers of galleries have been preserved for the burial of mummified monkeys and Ibises. Countless devotees offered them to their chosen gods. Typically, these birds were enclosed in amphorae or more elaborate containers made of wood and bronze, replicating the appearance of the living animal. 🕍 The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire is free to visit. Visitors can pay what they wish, but it's not mandatory. Operating hours are posted in the comments section. All photos were taken by me. For more on Geneva, check out my other posts. Thank you for following! 📸 #Switzerland #Geneva #Musée d'Art et d'Histoire #Art #History #Museum #Egypt #AncientEgypt #Mummy #Ptolemaic #PtolemaicDynasty #Ibis #Thoth #GodOfWisdom #Artifact #ArtCollection #Exhibition #CulturalHeritage #NotebookInspiration #DailyPlog #RomanticLifeRecorder