The Egyptian civilisation has long been admired and imitated, since the Ancient times, but it seems that there is much more to be known, as the show hosted at the Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland proves. This time, curators have focused on several pieces, most of them real treasures, found underwater by the French archaeologist Franck Goddio. Over the years, Goddio explored the seabed near the coast of modern day Alexandria and the Bay of Abukir. In ten years the passionate researcher managed to recover an impressive number of artefacts, from 700 - 800 AD, important testimonies of Egyptian culture. Some of these pieces have been carefully prepared and exhibited in the show at the museum in Bonn.
Most of this artworks and objects have sank into the sea due to several natural disasters, and range from monumental statues to coins, jewellery, cult items. Despite being in the water for centuries, some of these have miraculously survived very well. The explorations of Franck Goddio also led to the rediscovery and reevaluation of important historical places, such as the ancient port of Alexandria with it's quarters, the city of Herakleion or the city of Kanopus. In whole, around 500 artefacts have been chosen for the Bonn exhibition, a huge number for such rare and beautiful pieces, covering over 1500 years of Egyptian history, from the last of the Pharaohs to the times of Alexander the Great and the Greek and Roman eras. The quality of the craftmanship, the uniqueness of the works are representative for the level achieved in the past by the three cities, which were major cultural, trade and religious centers, influential throughout the region. Also, the ancient Egyptian culture and art were deeply influenced by the Greeks and the Romans, so the result was a new and interesting way of living and creating, that in it's turn will change the history and evollution of the region.
The show hosted by the museum in Bonn is a chance of discovering an important and rather mysterious chapter in the history of Egypt, and so far the number of visitors has proven it to be a succes.
2007-09-20
