Portraits of the deceased attached to mummies from Roman Egypt have long been shrouded in mystery, but thanks to new technology, these mysteries are now starting to be unraveled. A brand-new exhibition in the Arts Hall, “Funerary portraits from Roman Egypt”, examines what studying these portraits scientifically can tell us about life and death in Egypt 2000 years ago.
Many of these panels, plaster masks, and burial shrouds, known as “the mummy portraits”, entered museums through the antiques market. Few details are known about their place of burial or excavation, but with the help of special cameras, researchers are now discovering new clues.
The exhibition runs until November 15, 2012.