Exploring Ancient Egypt

This online gallery allows you to explore ancient Egypt in the MFA’s varied collections. Carvings, sculptures, and other objects will transport you to the ancient Egyptian world and guide you through a re-creation of what life was like in one of the largest civilizations in the ancient world. Through the slideshow and attached materials, you will learn about the aesthetics, culture, and society that these works of art represent.


Learning Goals
Teachers will:
•Feel comfortable using Museum objects as teaching tools
•Explore the relationship between art objects and the culture that produced them

Students will:
•Understand the role of the elements and principles of art in art-making (NVAS 2)
•See how art reflects the larger culture that produced it (NVAS 4) (NSHT 2G)
•Experience the learning value of close observation of objects and discussion
•Obtain a general background of ancient Egyptian art, history, and culture (NHS E2:1A)
•Form their own informed and thoughtful judgments
•Generate hypotheses based on observation and prior knowledge (NELAS 4, 12) (NSHT 3J, 5B)


Using this Resource
The content material in this online gallery is arranged divided into four main themes, with focus on certain aspects within two of the themes. Each of these sections contains two to three objects and background information about the objects and their roles and purposes in ancient Egyptian society. Additional images are available on Educators Online to make further cultural connections. Discussion questions and prompts for the students and an easily duplicated Gallery Activity Sheet are also contained within—as attached documents.

•Social Studies teachers and students will be interested in what this gallery reveals about the culture and society of ancient Egypt, including the writing system, funerary practices, and religion.

•Art teachers and students will be interested in methods, materials, techniques, and the importance of art in ancient Egyptian society. In addition, art teachers can develop lessons designed around concepts such as drawing, sculpture, and artistic style based on ancient Egyptian art.


We have selected art objects from the Museum’s collection that provide a comprehensive look at ancient Egyptian society. Exploring this gallery, you will discover the social values and religious beliefs of the people of ancient Egypt as shown in the numerous artifacts that have been uncovered. The objects in this tour are just a beginning. We encourage you to explore the Museum’s online collection through this web resource—or even better, to visit the Museum and walk through the physical galleries—to look for other objects that will provide a deeper look into life in ancient Egypt.

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