The exhibition features the life and history of Ti Ameny net, including her mummy and coffin, other ancient Egyptian objects including funerary artifacts, a timeline of Ti Ameny Net’s modern history, and other information gleaned from the iconography and hieroglyphs found on her coffin. It highlights new scientific information about the mummy through x-rays, CT scans, and reconstructions.
The exhibition includes the remains of a human body. Recent ethical debates about the rights of the ancient dead have questioned the treatment of their remains in museum exhibitions, and the museum has chosen to display this ancient Egyptian mummified body along with her coffin and other artifacts and scientific material for educational purposes. Her remains are not just another artifact; she was a human being. In some cultures, the display of dead humans is taboo. However, Ti Ameny Net lived in a time and place where it was believed that the Afterlife depended not only on proper burial and special accompaniments, but also active remembrance of the deceased. To speak aloud the name of the deceased person had a magical power that allowed the spirit to continue on its journey in the Afterlife. Therefore, out of respect for Ti Ameny Net, the exhibition is meant to encourage thoughtful discussion and reflection of this person.
Organized by the University of Richmond Museums, the exhibition was curated by Ms. Caroline Cobert, ’12, classical civilization and biology double major, University of Richmond, with Dr. Elizabeth Baughan, Assistant Professor of Classics and Archaeology, University of Richmond, and Ms. N. Elizabeth Schlatter, Deputy Director and Curator of Exhibitions, University Museums.
Special thanks are extended to Dr. Ann Fulcher, ’83, University of Richmond, and Professor and Chair, Department of Radiology; Dr. Kevin Hoover, Assistant Professor of Radiology, and Dr. Ghislaine Mayer, Assistant Professor of Biology, all of Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. Assistance was also provided by Dr. April Hill, Associate Professor of Biology, and Clarence E. Doonan Professor of Science, University of Richmond; Dr. Bob Brier, Senior Research Fellow, Long Island University; Mr. David Howell, translator; and Mr. Josh Harker, facial reconstruction artist. For the special loans, thanks to Mr. Tom Camden and Ms. Audrey Johnson, Special Collections, Library of Virginia, Richmond; and Mr. and Mrs. Ken Sheppard of Medina Arts, Inc., Seattle, Washington.