Debrief on the Exhibition "Osiris, Egypt's Sunken Mysteries"

On September 8, 2015, the Institut du Monde Arabe opened its exhibition Osiris, Egypt’s Sunken Mysteries, an exceptional exhibition revealing one of the founding myths of ancient Egypt by evoking what were the mysteries of Osiris. It reveals the incredible remains of the temples of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus in which the most secret religious rites and processions took place, as well as highlighting numerous objects bearing witness to a cult that has completely vanished today. This unprecedented exhibition throws light on the discoveries by submarine exploration of the IEASM, undertaken by Franck Goddio, director of the excavation and curator of the exhibition.

Osiris, Egypt’s Sunken Mysteries highlights ancient Egyptian stories of evil versus good, belief in the afterlife, myths surrounding death and humanity, and godly powers. As well, scientific advances of ancient Egypt including groundbreaking discoveries of time, development of the Egyptian calendar, the significance of the fall & rise of the Nile and the motion of the stars, and the knowledge of astronomy are presented.

The exhibition’s sequence from entrance to exit is fascinating, beginning with a projection of a brief introduction of the myth of Osiris leading to the recovered statues in all shapes and sizes, crafted heads, tombs of gods and nobility, carved stones, money, jewelry, ornamented vases and cutlery, as well as videos that show how the objects were found and rescued. The atmosphere of the exhibition added to the great experience of the visit, the dark space with lights focused on the displayed objects gave the feeling of being on a spaceship traveling back to the ancient Egyptian dynasty.

– Basma Seif, MFA in Transdisciplinary New Media, Class of ’17

Osiris, mystères engloutis d’Égypte
September 8, 2015 – January 31, 2016
Institut du Monde Arabe
1, rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard
Place Mohammed-V | 75005 Paris