Yo Mummy’s So Old…(Insert Punchline Here)!
July 23rd, 2008 @ 11:27 am by Mrs. Candy Corn
In addition to the Chinese Rotunda and Upper Egyptian galleries, our guests will be able to browse the other exhibits on the third floor of the UPenn Museum, including: Classical World, Etruscan World, Roman World, Canaan & Israel and the Buddhism galleries.
*photo by Lauren Hansen-Flaschen (image source)
A perfectly spherical carved Chinese crystal which belonged to Empress Dowager Cixi—one of the finest in existence. The crystal ball was stolen in 1988, and its elegant silver stand, a stylized ocean wave, was found in a culvert not far from the Museum. The items were recovered in 1991 after a former museum staff member saw the statue in an area antique shop; the crystal ball was traced to a home in New Jersey and returned to the Museum.
Guests of a wedding at the Penn Museum taking in the sights.
There’s a strong sense of history in every corner at the Penn Museum. Highlights of the Upper Egyptian Gallery include two statues of the goddess Sekhmet from one of the Theban temples of Amenophis III (ca. 1405-1367 BC). A case along the left wall of the gallery features the portrayal of animals in Egyptian art and iconography. Numerous deities were depicted in animal form, and images of animals such as cats, falcons, serpents and even scorpions were used as amulets and votive offerings. Across the gallery is an assemblage of small-scale sculptures, including inlaid bronzes of the Egyptians’ primary god of the afterlife, Osiris, and the warrior goddess Neith, patron deity of the site of Sais.
Greek/Roman/Etruscangasms!!
I will be entering the Chinese Rotunda (where our ceremony is) from the Buddhism exhibition, which traces Buddhism from its 6th century B.C. origins in India, through its development along ancient land and sea routes leading into central Asia, China, Korea, Tibet and Southeast Asia and up to the present age. Not to mention, it’s totally rockin’ because it’s my favorite area of the museum!
The Upper Egyptian Gallery is a close second favorite area of mine:
In the center of the gallery is an imposing seated statue of Ramesses II from the temple of Harsaphes. Originally carved in late Middle Kingdom, this bad boy was usurped from an earlier ruler and refitted with a head in Ramesses’ likeness. A noteworthy feature of this statue is the disproportionately small head (due to the re-carving of the original), the reconfigured cartouches identifying Ramesses, and the noticeably worn portion of the base near the pharaoh’s feet. Non-priests, who were not permitted in the temple, used this area to leave offerings for the gods.
A sculptor’s error is visible in the inscription on the left side of the throne, where the duck and sun disc in the title “Son of the Sun,” were reversed and had to be re-carved.
OMG MUMMAHS!
Even Brendan Fraser is shaking in his boots.
Is anyone else reaping the benefits of getting married in a museum?
Related Posts
12 Responses to “Yo Mummy’s So Old…(Insert Punchline Here)!”
I think that is an AMAZING location
LOL, I love the last picture! I went to a wedding reception in an art gallery once, it was really glamorous.
becky
Fabulous choice! I work in a museum that has weddings– and it’s really an exciting backdrop to an event.
The Orange County Museum of Art is one of the venues we are considering but it is hard to get, so I totally have venue envy of your awesome location!
This is gonna be so cool! As a museum-loving geek I can’t WAIT to see how this turns out.
No, but I’m totally jealous. I tried to do one locally in a Science Museum, but they stopped hosting Weddings just a few months before I started planning.
such an amazingly sweet venue… as a former art history major, we looked into museum venues, but in the bay area, it’s insanely expensive - rental fees *start* at our entire reception budget. sadly, we decided it was more important to eat and be merry than bask in the wonders of art (at least for the wedding).
i walk past the penn museum nearly every day and have never went inside! from the pics, it looks like an amazing venue! congrats!
Our reception is in a *very* different kind of museum than yours. I am envious of your mummies! Less creepy than the embalmed in mine…
[...] [...]
hello ms. candy corn!
im a fellow philly gal and soon-to-be penn grad student. i have been wanting my wedding housed at the chinese rotunda, but am finding i will need more space. we will have about 500 guests for seated dinner. based on your experience with the rotunda and upper egyptian gallery, what do you think about using both spaces for one event?
Miss Candy Corn, Philadelphia
Age and Occupation: Senior Editor/Writer & Freelance Illustrator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Student
Engagement Date: September 1, 2004
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: May 6, 2008
Venue: Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy and Anthropology
About Me: I enjoy people watching (especially in New Jersey malls), obsessive collecting, drooling over contemporary art, browsing flea markets for vintage finds and eating an absurd amount of cheese. In my Philadelphia abode, I create mixed media artwork and one-of-a-kind home accessories in the company of my farmer-tanned fiancé, our Westiepoo (Betty White), our three rabbits (Cadbury, Willie Nelson and Applesauce) and our two frisky chinchillas (Ethel Funk and Maude).
The venue is amazing, and I can’t wait to see your photos and live vicariously!!!!