New galleries and gallery closures
We have now started work on our new Ancient Worlds galleries, opening Oct 2012, which will replace the current Ancient Egypt and Archaeology galleries. The Daily Life section of Ancient Egypt is now closed and the Death and the Afterlife section of Ancient Egypt and Archaeology will close on 20 Feb 2012.
You can see many of the removed objects in our temporary exhibition Unearthed: Ancient Egypt, until 6 Sep 2012.
The three new Ancient Worlds galleries will be called Discovering Archaeology, Egyptian World and Exploring Objects. Highlighting our collections from Manchester and the region, and from ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome and Egypt, these galleries will reveal the stories behind the objects, through people who lived long ago as well as modern day archaeologists, historians and collectors.
The new Ancient Worlds galleries are supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Monument Trust, The Headley Trust, The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, The Foundation for Sport and the Arts, The Barker Foundation, The Charlotte Bonham-Carter Charitable Trust and by the exhibition TUTANKHAMUN-HIS TOMB AND HIS TREASURES.
Mediterranean Archaeology
There are 80,000 archaeology artefacts (excluding Egyptology) in The Manchester Museum. The objects come from all over the world, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.
One of the most striking features about the Mediterranean Gallery is the wide range of peoples. The Canaanites, Romans, Greeks and many other peoples all had a close relationship to the sea.
Wine was an important feature of everyday life in many parts of the ancient world. Vast quantities of wine were shipped around the Mediterranean in large pottery containers called amphorae.
The ancient Greeks had elaborate sets of drinking vessels, including wine jugs for pouring wine at the table called oenochoe and stylish drinking cups. The eye cup on display is particularly striking. These vessels were also used in the game kottabos, which was played by flicking drops of wine at a target on the wall!
In ancient times, olives were another very important feature of the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil was used in cooking, lighting and cleaning and moisturising the skin. Large containers were needed for storing olive oil. A massive pithos from Minoan Crete is on display.
Many Mediterranean societies carefully managed their farming wealth. Clay documents called cuneiform tablets are displayed in the gallery. These often list farming business deals. Surplus crops meant the people in charge of the farms could buy richly decorated crafts and objects.
Spectacular metalwork from burials at Grave Circle B, at Mycenae, bring to life the Mycenaeans from Homer's Iliad. Replicas of the "mask of Agamemnon" and the gold "cup of Nestor" are displayed alongside pottery and reconstructions of the people.
The technique of facial reconstruction was also used on the skull of Worsley Man. The remains of this man were discovered in 1958. It appears that he died 100 to 200AD of a triple death by being hit over the head, strangled and having his throat cut.
In the Mediterranean there was a long tradition of burying the dead with a range of artefacts for use in the afterlife. The Philistines and the Canaanites display, shows they had a comfortable way of life complete with oils, jewellery and scarabs.
Examples of trade in the Mediterranean include ivory, amber, textiles, wine, oil, wood and stone. There are some particularly fine carved ivory plaques from Nimrud.
A large Geometric Krater or mixing bowl found at Bodrum in Turkey, dating from 750-700 BC shows the spread of culture. The decoration of cross-hatching (criss-cross) and the shape of the bowl, show that the potter was trying to copy an ancient Greek Geometric pot.
