Ancient Egypt: From Discovery To Display Behind-the-Scenes With The Penn Museum’s Renowned Egyptian Collection, Opening Saturday February 23

PHILADELPHIA – Opening February 23, Ancient Egypt: From Discovery to Display provides visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk in the shoes of an archaeologist. Explore the journey artifacts take on their way to museum display, from excavation to conservation to storage and research. More than 200 fascinating objects, many of which have never been on view before, are included throughout the three-part, 6,000-square-foot exhibition. Eventually, these objects will become a part of the re-envisioned Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries, a much-anticipated cornerstone of the Museum’s Building Transformation.

“Unlike most exhibitions about ancient Egypt, Ancient Egypt: From Discovery to Display provides an insider’s look into how objects are excavated, conserved, and stored—treating visitors to a unique experience of the Museum’s world-renowned Egyptian collection as we prepare for the renewal of the full Ancient Egypt and Nubia galleries,” says Dr. Jennifer Houser Wegner, exhibition curator.

In the exhibition’s first stop, visitors are introduced to what life was like in ancient Egypt through objects representing gods, royalty, and everyday individuals. Highlights include a wooden stela (memorial sculpture) from 662–525 BCE that honors two versions of a sun god and a life-sized memorial statue depicting the overseer of priests. But, then, visitors begin to “peel back the layers,” as they follow artifacts through their journeys—in reverse.

In the second gallery, Museum-goers will get a closer look at breathtaking artifacts from the Old Kingdom, also known as the “Age of the Pyramids,” starting in 2613 BCE, through the time of Cleopatra’s death in 30 BCE. Objects in this “visible storage” section include two magical model boats (a sailboat and a rowboat) featured in the critically-acclaimed Smithsonian book History of the World in 1,000 Objects, a stunning turquoise-colored glazed ceramic ware necklace, the 2,000-year-old mummy of a young woman, and a child mummy that was recently CT scanned in partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

The final gallery, also known as the highly-popular Artifact Lab, will provide visitors with an opportunity to learn more about excavation and to observe conservators in action as they work to preserve Egyptian artifacts, including the mummy of a 40-year-old named Hapi-Men and his dog, exquisite gold jewelry worn by the ancient Egyptians, and an intricate model of the throne room of the Palace of Merenptah (the 13th son of Ramesses II), the columns and portals of which will be erected at full height in the Ancient Egypt and Nubia galleries. They’ll also be able to ask questions of the conservators during “Open Window” timeframes: Tuesdays through Fridays from 11–11:30 a.m. and 1:30–2 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 12–12:30 p.m. and 3–3:30 p.m.

Ancient Egypt: From Discovery to Display invites visitors to see more than 200 Egyptian objects spanning a period of nearly 2,600 years in an unprecedented context, providing a sneak preview into what will be a crowning jewel in the Museum’s extensive Building Transformation project, the Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries.

About the Penn Museum

Since 1887, the Museum has transformed understanding of the human experience. Dedicated to ongoing cross-cultural discovery, the Museum’s exhibitions and events welcome everyone to uncover the mystery of the ancient past and find one’s own place in the arc of human history. For more information, visit penn.museum or call 215.898.4000.

Travelore News: Macedonia Will Change Its Name To The Republic Of North Macedonia. Here's Why It Matters

Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras celebrates after the Prespa Agreement is ratified in the Greek Parliament on Friday.

By Elinda Labropoulou, for CNN

(CNN)In what may be the most significant diplomatic step in the Balkans since the end of the Bosnian war, a bitter, decades-long bilateral dispute has been put to rest in Europe Friday. After 27 years of mutual mistrust, a name deal has been sealed between Athens and Skopje.

Under the agreement, Greece's neighbor will stop using the name "Republic of Macedonia," a name it chose for itself when it declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. It will instead call itself "Republic of North Macedonia." Following months of street protests and heated debate in both countries, the name deal has overcome the last of a number of hurdles in Athens Friday, with 153 votes in support in the 300-seat parliament.

The change is significant because Greece, a member of both NATO and the European Union, has been blocking Skopje's membership to NATO and the beginning of accession talks with the EU until the name dispute is resolved. Under the deal, Greece will lift its objections paving the way for its neighbor's integration.

How we got here

Both countries have been under pressure to resolve the dispute, as Western nations see the further integration of Balkan countries into the EU and NATO as a way of improving the region's stability. The move will perhaps even serve as a compromise that can ease other regional disputes. But Moscow openly opposes Macedonia's aspirations, having long been a major player in the region.

The agreement, first ratified in Skopje, follows the defeat of Macedonia's nationalist conservatives by the social democrats. It has significantly improved the climate between the two neighboring countries after decades of strong nationalist rhetoric on both sides.

Since the early 1990s, maps have widely circulated in Greece with the landlocked state's borders extending to the port city of Thessaloniki, Greek Macedonia's capital, funneling territorial fears. A giant statue of the ancient Macedonian King Alexander the Great erected in Skopje's central square fueled further claims of cultural plunder.

In summer 2018, the easing of relations led to a joint declaration by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev that the name dispute was finally over. In a ceremony high in symbolism, held by Lake Prespa where the borders of Greece, Albania and Macedonia meet, the two men signed the landmark agreement, known as the Prespa accord.

Deal seen as PM's legacy project

The deal has been faced with widespread criticism in both countries in the steps leading to its ratification. A referendum in Skopje saw low turnout and the Greek government has survived two no confidence votes in seven months and the loss of its junior coalition partner over the deal.

Macedonia sees low turnout in name change referendum amid disinformation campaign

Concerns revolve around identity and how it may affect future security. Opponents say the addition of the word "North" may help to define geographical terms but it does nothing to separate nationality and language, which could create a basis for minority issues and territorial claims.

With latest polls showing that more than six in 10 Greeks oppose the deal, demonstrations have been held across the country in the buildup to Friday's vote. A protest rally in Athens Sunday attended by tens of thousands was marred by violence.

The Greek Prime Minister has expended political capital to push the deal describing it as a "patriotic duty." He has also acknowledged that the deal would come "with a political cost." His party is trailing 10% behind the main opposition, a strong opponent of the deal. Main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, of the New Democracy party, speaking in parliament ahead of Friday's vote, described a ratification of the agreement as "a national mistake that is an affront to truth and history."

Shortly after the deal was ratified, Tspiras said in a tweet: "Today we are writing a new page in the Balkans. Nationalist hatreds, disputes and conflicts give their place to friendship, peace and co-operation."

His Macedonian counterpart shared the same positive outlook in a congratulatory tweet to the Greek PM.

View image on Twitter

Зоран Заев

✔@Zoran_Zaev

Congratulations my friend @tsipras_eu, together with our peoples we reached a historical victory. Long live the Prespa Agreement! For eternal peace and progress of the Balkans and in Europe!

1,247

8:38 AM - Jan 25, 2019

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European leaders also took to social media to celebrate the agreement. European Council President Donald Tusk praised Tspiras and Zaev for their courage in finding a middle ground while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the confirmation of the Prespa accord as "an important contribution to the stability and prosperity of the whole region."

"They had imagination, they took the risk, they were ready to sacrifice their own interests for the greater good," Tusk wrote on his official Twitter account.

Donald Tusk

✔@eucopresident

They had imagination, they took the risk, they were ready to sacrifice their own interests for the greater good. Zoran, Alexis – well done! Mission impossible accomplished. #PrespaAgreement@Zoran_Zaev @tsipras_eu

1,190

8:33 AM - Jan 25, 2019

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Jens Stoltenberg

✔@jensstoltenberg

I welcome today’s ratification in the Greek parliament of the #Prespaagreement, an important contribution to the stability and prosperity of the whole region. I look forward to the future Republic of North Macedonia joining #NATO.

462

8:49 AM - Jan 25, 2019

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Polls indicate Tsipras is set to lose an election that will take place this year. The 44-year-old politician took office in 2015 as an economic populist in the height of Greece's financial crisis, promising to rewrite the terms of Greece's bailout with grand fanfare but without great success. Many Greeks see the name deal as Tsipras' legacy project aimed at securing his future in politics and strengthening his image beyond Greek borders.

Galway Named One Of The World’s Best Trips Of 2019 By National Geographic Traveler

The influential US magazine recognized the Irish city alongside the likes of Cairo and the Peruvian Amazon in its annual comprehensive travel report featuring 28 of the most exciting destinations for 2019.

National Geographic judges noted that this year will be a brilliant time to visit the city on the Wild Atlantic Way, as it marks the run-up to Galway’s time as the European Capital of Culture 2020.

“Galway may sit at the far western edge of Europe,” the magazine states, “but lately the ‘City of Tribes’ has been the center of attention. Named a 2018 European Region of Gastronomy, Ireland’s fourth largest city (population 80,000) is gearing up for the next big thing: Galway 2020, European Capital of Culture.”

The publication also cites new community heritage and arts projects “such as pop-up culture cafes and funambulism (tightrope walking) workshops” that throughout 2019 “will be rolling out in conventional and unexpected venues (beaches, fields, remote villages and rivers) across Galway city and county.”

Galway is one of Ireland’s most engaging cities. Cultured, artsy and bohemian, its brightly painted pubs pulse with traditional and live music.

Michelin-starred restaurants and cozy cafes dot the city center, melding with a lively farmer’s market and craft shops. Bridges arch over the River Corrib and a long promenade leads to the suburb of Salthill on Galway Bay.

In the spring, St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, one of the oldest and most recognized literature festivals in Europe (8 – 14 April), are fine times to go.

Summer and autumn also see the artistic, creative and fun qualities Galway is renowned for come to life in a blaze of superb international festivals ranging from the arts and food to film and horse racing.

Alongside the festivals, shows and events there is a thriving gastronomic scene to check out. Galway is especially known for its oysters and Ireland’s longest running and greatest gourmet extravaganza – the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival.

There is much more to uncover around County Galway, where the hills of Connemara, all sorts of sights and activities on the wild Atlantic coastline or the rustic lifestyle of the Aran Islands are among the attractions that make the area one of the world’s best.

www.ireland.com

Late January And February At The Philadelphia Museum Of Art #PhilaMuseum

Don't Miss Antony Gormley: STAND Opens this Thursday, January 24 Perched high on the museum’s East Terrace, ten cast-iron sculptures by British artist Antony Gormley bring art outside, releasing it into the city’s shared space. In the Artist’s Voice: Antony Gormley on January 24 is SOLD OUT, but you can still hear the artist and Timothy Rub, our George D. Widener Director and CEO, discuss this installation and the role of sculpture in civic life live on our Facebook page starting at 6:00 p.m. Watch Live Rodin Museum Rethinking the Modern Monument Opens Feb. 1 Auguste Rodin’s boldly original public monuments shocked audiences and inspired the artists who followed him. See some of his best-known sculptures and works by those he influenced. 4,000 Years of Chinese Art New Chinese Galleries Opens Feb. 3 Rediscover four thousand years of the art of China in our newly reimagined and reinstalled Chinese galleries. Go deeper into the stories behind the objects, many of which have been recently conserved. Members see it first, during Members' Previews, Feb. 1–2. Coming Soon Whitman, Alabama Opens Feb. 23 Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” is a joyful celebration of the diversity at the heart of this country—and our connectedness to one another. We are commemorating the poet’s 200th birthday with an installation of filmmaker Jennifer Crandall’s Whitman, Alabama. See all current exhibitions. Louder, Livelier, Looser Werk It! January 25, 5:00–8:45 p.m. Celebrate the art of the catwalk with a tribute to LGBTQ ballroom culture. POSSE Project Philadelphia takes over Final Fridays with the museum's first-ever ball. This competitive fashion event is presented in conjunction with Fabulous Fashion. Limited Tickets Available Family Festival Lunar New Year Feb. 3, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. This month you will squeal with delight as we ring in the Year of the Pig. Admission is Pay What You Wish all day. In the Artist’s Voice David Lebe Feb. 9, 2:00–3:00 p.m. The photographer discusses his career and creative process with Peter Barberie (Brodsky Curator of Photographs, Alfred Stieglitz Center). Talks Jasper Johns: Redo an Eye Feb. 19, 6:00–7:00 p.m. Acclaimed author Roberta Bernstein discusses her new book and her experience working closely with this significant artist. See a full calendar of What's On this season. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA 19130

AMNH Announces T. Rex: The Ultimate Predator, Opening March 11

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ANNOUNCES T. REX: THE ULTIMATE PREDATOR From fluffy hatchling to massive killing machine: new exhibition explores the life history, remarkable abilities, and ancient relatives of tyrannosaurus rex Opens for member preview days on March 8, 2019, and to the public on March 11, 2019 Illustration by Zhao Chuang; Courtesy of Xi'an Yiniao Age Culture Media Co.

It’s the star of blockbuster movies and children’s imaginations, the inspiration for viral memes and inflatable Halloween costumes. Yet despite its high profile in the public consciousness, our perception of Tyrannosaurus rex and its relatives is often much different than the reality. T. rex: The Ultimate Predator, a new exhibition opening at the American Museum of Natural History this spring, will explore the latest research and discoveries about the genus of dinosaurs known as tyrannosaurs, with an emphasis on the most famous and impressive member of the family—T. rex.

The full tyrannosaur story includes dozens of different species and spans over 100 million years of evolution, with T. rex appearing only at the very end of that period. Most tyrannosaurs were not giants like T. rex, which, fully grown, weighed between 6 and 9 tons. Early species were small and fast, likely avoiding confrontations with larger dinosaurs. So how did mega-predators like T. rex evolve from such humble origins? How did T. rex grow so quickly in adolescence, ballooning from the size of a chicken to the size of a truck in just 21 years, gaining up to 4.6 pounds per day? And what kind of super sensory skills and traits did it use to become such an efficient killer? T. rex: The Ultimate Predator addresses these questions and more with life-sized reconstructions of tyrannosaurs at various life stages, real fossils and casts, large-scale video projections, hands-on interactives, and an exhilarating virtual reality experience that lets visitors work in a group to assemble a T. rex skeleton.

Visitors will encounter a massive life-sized model of a T. rex with patches of feathers—which, as scientists now know, were likely present on nearly all non-avian dinosaurs (all dinosaurs other than birds)—as well as reconstructions of a fluffy, helpless T. rex hatchling and a four-year-old juvenile T. rex; a “roar mixer” where visitors can imagine what T. rex might have sounded like by blending sounds from other animals; a shadow theater where a floor projection of an adult T. rex skeleton will come to life; and a magnetic wall where visitors will be tasked with placing various tyrannosaur family members in the correct time period. They will also encounter a life-sized animation of T.rex in the Cretaceous and explore real data from fossil specimens, CT scans, and microscope images at a tabletop Investigation Station.

In collaboration with HTC VIVE, the Museum will present V. rex (working title) as its first interactive, multi-player virtual reality experience. Visitors will team up to build a T. rex skeleton bone by bone and then watch as it comes to life in what is now Montana, as it was 66 million years ago.

T. rex and its relatives have a long history at the Museum. The first T. rex skeleton was discovered in 1902 by the Museum’s legendary fossil hunter, Barnum Brown, and the Museum boasts one of the few original specimens of T. rex on public display, in the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs. Mark Norell, who is curator of T. rex: The Ultimate Predator, joined the Museum in 1989 and has led and participated in a number of scientific investigations into the biology and evolutionary history of tyrannosaurs and other theropods—the group of dinosaurs most closely related to modern birds—including the first discovery of a feathered tyrannosaur, Dilong paradoxus, in 2004. Many of the studies led by Norell, who is chair and Macaulay Curator in the Museum’s Division of Paleontology, and his colleagues and former students are reflected in the new exhibition. Gregory Erickson, professor of anatomy and vertebrate paleontology at Florida State University, is a consultant for the exhibition.

T. rex: The Ultimate Predator will be open to the public starting Monday, March 11, 2019. Members will be able to preview the exhibition starting on Friday, March 8, through Sunday, March 10.

Major funding for T. rex: The Ultimate Predator provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund.

Generous support also provided by:

Dana and Virginia Randt

Chase Private Client

V. rex (working title) virtual reality experience in collaboration with HTC VIVE.

American Museum of Natural History (amnh.org)

The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent exhibition halls, including those in the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. It is home to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, New York State’s official memorial to its 33rd governor and the nation’s 26th president, and a tribute to Roosevelt’s enduring legacy of conservation. The Museum’s five active research divisions and three cross-disciplinary centers support approximately 200 scientists, whose work draws on a world-class permanent collection of more than 34 million specimens and artifacts, as well as on specialized collections for frozen tissue and genomic and astrophysical data and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, it is the only American museum authorized to grant the Ph.D. degree and also to grant the Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Annual visitation has grown to approximately 5 million, and the Museum’s exhibitions and Space Shows are seen by millions more in venues on six continents. The Museum’s website, mobile apps, and massive open online courses (MOOCs) extend its scientific research and collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to additional audiences around the globe. Visit amnh.org for more information.

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