Golden Shrine
and Tutelary Goddesses
On the east wall of the Treasury stood a spectacular, gilded wooden shrine mounted on a sled beneath a canopy and crowned with a frieze of solar cobras, of which Howard Carter was to write: Facing the doorway – stood the most beautiful monument that I have ever seen – so lovely that it made one gasp with wonder and admiration.
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Ritually decorated in sunken relief, the golden shrine housed an alabaster Canopic chest containing the embalmed viscera of the young pharaoh. Guarding the Canopic shrine on all sides (although carelessly placed with regard to their proper orientation) were the 4 gilt tutelary goddesses of the dead, each distinguished by the hieroglyphic emblem worn on her head. |
The liver was protected by Isis (crowned with a throne emblem), the lungs by Nephthys (crowned with a temple emblem), the stomach by Neith (crowned with an emblem of crossed bows), and the intestines by Selket (crowned with the scorpion emblem). |
Selket
Of the 4 stunning tutelary goddesses, Howard Carter was to write: Gracious figures with outstretched protective arms, so natural and lifelike in their pose, so pitiful and compassionate the expressions on their faces, that one felt it almost sacrilege to look at them. Second only to Isis in her connection with divine magic and escorted by scorpions (whose emblem adorns her head), the enchanting goddess Selket (or Selkis) is associated with childbirth and nursing as well as with the magical treatment of scorpion stings. She was guardian of the genie (or angel) Qebhsenuef, who was identified with the pharaoh’s intestines. Made of giltwood and gesso, she is portrayed with her hair gathered into a linen kerchief. Over her pleated shawl and gown, she wears an ornamental broad collar. The soft curves of her hips and stomach are distinctive of the Amarna style, but the sideways turn of her head, which faces a different direction than those of her 3 companion goddesses, defies the fundamental tradition of frontality in ancient Egyptian art. Her painted eyes, with their lifelike gaze, convey an eternal warning to anyone who dares to approach.
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Emporer Scorpion, Africa
MoAW's mission is to educate a diverse audience about the history of ancient civilizations and prehistoric life using fossils and artifacts from a variety of cultures and time periods; to enhance universal curriculum development for local and surrounding school districts, colleges, and universities while providing tourist incentive for the Coachella Valley's hospitality industry.
MoAW is a 501(c)(3)
Tax-Exempt Organization
Members of the California Association of Museums (CAM)
and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
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Next Week:
Do you have a favorite piece at MoAW you would like to see highlighted in our weekly email? You can visit www.moaw.org, see the collections tab, visit the catalogs and state your choice on the link below.
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Help MoAW reopen during the pandemic.
After shuttering MoAW on 3 separate occasions for 2020. being closed more often than open, and with rising rates of infection, Riverside County moved back to Stay At Home Orders. Help MoAW and other Riverside County businesses reopen. The more people adhere to protocols, get tested, and stay at home, the better for state-wide statistics.
Riverside County offers free testing at several sites, call Riverside County Health to schedule your test,
1-888-634-1123
Thank You
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Members Perks
So many reasons to join MoAW, you help keep the museum open, allow us to acquire new artifacts, plan and present programs including the Second Friday Fantasy, and help local students learn about ancient civilizations and human origins.
For all that you do to help us we thank you in many ways:
- Unlimited free admission for one year
- Free Guest Passes (see Membership levels for details)
- Invitations to Members-Only exhibition receptions and programs
- Priority registration and discounts on programs and special events
- Special rental rates for hosting events (see membership levels for details)
- Copies of exhibition catalogs (see Membership levels for details)
- Unique travel opportunities through the Museum Travel Alliance
During the initial phase of "The Pause" we offered new members two extra months with membership. While we are back in "The Pause" we are offering this again. Current memberships will be extended by the amount of time we are closed and new members, 14 months of membership will start when we reopen. Click below for more information and to join.
Thank you.
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FACES OF AFRICA:
A Mystical View of
Tribal Heritage
(38 Replica Masks and Sculptures)
On View at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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TUTANKHAMUN:
"Wonderful Things"
Treasures From The Pharaoh's Tomb
(124 Egyptian replicas)
On view at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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MESOZOICA:
The Age of Dinosaurs
(Approximately 100 fossil cast dinosaur elements and fully-mounted skeletons from around the world.)
On view at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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LUCY:
The Story of Human Origins
(Courtesy of the Institute of Human Origins and the National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa)
On view exclusively at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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