The Oriental Institute Museum unearths early Egyptian civilization.
View full gallery here.

The Oriental Institute Museum investigates a rarely-discussed period in Egyptian history with “Before the Pyramids: The Origins of Egyptian Civilization.” This highly praised exhibit offers glimpses of early Egyptian life regarding religion, culture, trade, kingship, and early writing. Among its rare objects is a statue of early Egyptian king Khasekhem, on loan from the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford—the statue has never before been shown in the United States. Emily Teeter, PhD’90, research associate and coordinator of Special Exhibits, included the statue in a selection of some of her favorite pieces, featured in the gallery below.

University of Chicago students can view the exhibit and the museum’s other displayed collections for free, thanks to the Oriental Institute’s partnership in the Arts Pass Program. There will also be a guided tour of the exhibit on Humanities Day, October 22.

The “Before the Pyramids” exhibit runs at the Oriental Institute until December 31, 2011.