March 20, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 virus,
to keep our visitors, staff, and volunteers safe,
the Museum of Ancient Wonders
is closed until further notice.
We will still be producing our weekly newsletter, if you know someone who is not on the email list who would like to be please contact us at
[email protected].
We wish you all good health in this time for our Nation. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Spotlight on: Tut's Ivory Headrest.
Not as comfortable as Mr. Pillow but much less annoying than the man on the Mr. Pillow television commercial.
Vote for MoAW in Palm Springs Life Best of the Best...See Below... Vote Before Time Runs Out...Thank you
Find out how to visit MoAW while we are closed.
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Tutankhamun's Ivory Headrest
Last week, at March's
Second Friday Fantasy
event, the musical reading of
DRAGONS,
the audience was asked to walk around the museum and pick this weeks spotlight artifact. Skot Jonz, a member of MoAW's advisory council picked
Tut's Ivory Headrest
and, after much discussion, it was voted on and won unanimously.
This elegant amulet, found in a box in the Annex, had a magical function. In the form of a headrest of unique design, it represents Shu, the god of the atmosphere, kneeling between the mountains of the eastern and western horizons and raising up the heavens. In Egyptian legend, this was the end of chaos and the beginning of the universe. Carved from 2 pieces of ivory coupled by a dowel secured with gold nails, this headrest was designed to support the pharaoh’s head between the 2 horizons (in the status of the sun). Symbolizing the 2 mountains, the recumbent lions on the base are decorated with a rosette on each shoulder, a puzzling feature observed as far away from Egypt as Mesopotamia. A hieroglyphic inscription on the column behind the figure heralds:
The benevolent god, son of Amun, pharaoh of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of the Two Lands, Nebkheprure
(Tutankhamun’s prenomen),
given eternal life like Re
. Wound with strips of linen until comfortably padded, such headrests were used by the pharaoh when sleeping and were associated with resurrection.
Below is a link to a fascinating video,
Why Did Ancient Egyptians Use Pillows Made of Stone?
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March 13 was the second in MoAW's Second Friday Fantasy series. The program was a musical reading of
DRAGONS.
presented by Composer, Alberto Acosta. A fanciful folk opera based on the story of the Bone Wars between Professors Cope and Marsh, another presentation will be scheduled in the near future to invite local musical theatre and opera companies to consider for production. As far as we know, it is the only folk opera written for all ages featuring full scale dinosaur scenes.
The
Second Friday Fantasy series will feature music, speakers, art exhibitions and other performances designed to compliment MoAW's collections.
An entertaining portal into the mystifying world of ancient civilizations and prehistoric life, the Museum of Ancient Wonders is the place to make learning fun for all ages.
MoAW looks forward to resuming Second Friday Fantasy in the near future
.
Going forward, put the Second Friday of every month on your calendar to be at
MoAW,
see you there.
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Each Friday we highlight a different artifact or fossil from MoAW's collection. With over 250 currently on display, with rotating exhibits and future acquisitions, we won't run out of pieces to spotlight anytime soon.
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Black Figure Drater, c. 410 B.C.
Herakles' battle with Geryon
Next Week; A Preview of our Fall exhibition installation.
To share more of MoAW's collections this Fall, our rotating exhibitions will include Vessels of the Gods: Treasures of the Ancient Greeks, 1650 - 410 B.C.
Do you have a favorite piece at MoAW you would like to see highlighted in our weekly email? Click below to write to us at info@moaw and let us know.
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The Latest MoAW
In the News: Keep us in the news.
If your sitting at home, nothing to do, can't leave the house and getting bored, if you have not voted for
MoAW
yet as Best Attraction and Best Museum in Cathedral City,
do it now, please!
You have until
March 31.
It is easy to do: vote
MoAW
for the Best of the Best Attraction and Museum in Cathedral City. This is an annual poll Palm Springs Life Magazine takes and
MoAW
deserves the recognition.
Click on the blue link below
,
go to Cathedral City, Things To Do - Attraction and Things To Do - Museum. Your vote is appreciated.
Thank you!
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Visit MoAW while we are closed.
MoAW.org
offers links to the exhibit catalogs for all the collections. With captivating photos and well written narrative, it is almost like visiting the museum when you can't leave your home. Go to the"collections" tab and drag the cursor to the catalog of your choice. Nothing is like seeing the real thing, so once life returns to what we are used to, come see those artifacts and fossils in person.
www.moaw.org
At this time, with cancellation of school field trips, visits from senior living communities for our creative aging programs and events that were scheduled to make
MoAW
their venue for a fabulous evening, revenues are down. While revenues are down, expenses remain. To help us at this time, we are asking our friends and supporters to consider making a tax deductible donation to
MoAW.
Everything helps, is appreciated, and supports our mission to bring a unique, educational venue to the Coachella Valley. A Museum that promises to enhance curriculum development for local and surrounding school districts, colleges, and universities, while providing a tourist destination to support the hospitality industry.
Other ways you can help are to become a member. More information on memberships is below. Tell your friends and family, neighbors, co-workers, everyone you know to visit
moaw.org
and visit the museum once we reopen.
Thank you
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Memberships to MoAW last a full 12 months. With the museum closed due to the COVID -19 virus, all memberships will be extended for the amount of time we are closed.
For those who sign up during the closure you will receive an additional 2 months of membership with all its benefits on top of the extension for the time we are closed, that is 14 + months. Sign up today and get your full 12 months plus 2 of special member benefits when we reopen. Current memberships will be extended also.
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