Museo Egizio Research Articles

The 19th-Century Inventories of the Museo Egizio, Turin: How to Get Lost in Them and How to Find Your Way Back

The present study intends to analyse and contextualise the history of the 19th-century inventories of the Museo Egizio’s collections of Egyptian antiquities in Turin. The museum’s first collection, sold by Bernardino Drovetti and acquired by the Kingdom of Sardinia, was accompanied by an inventory compiled in French. This was the first in a series of inventories of the museum’s collection, which grew over time. This series was concluded in the last quarter of the 19th century, when a printed edition, still in use today, was published in two volumes in 1882 and 1888, respectively. This edition bears witness to the composition of the collection at that time. In 64 years (1824–1888), several objects changed their inventory numbers four times, making it difficult to reconstruct their museum biographies. The origin of the inventories themselves is not always entirely clear, some not being dated or signed. This article sets out archival research on this little-known aspect of the museum’s history. This study provides the initial results (detailed in a table and five appendixes) of ongoing work to identify the objects in the collection through the different inventories that have followed one another over time. الملخص هدف هذه الدراسة هو تحليل وتنسيق سيرة تاريخ المتحف في القرن التاسع عشر من خلال قوائم جَردْ مجموعة الآثار المحفوظة في المتحف المصري في تورينو. برناردينو دروفيتي باع المجموعة الأولى من القطع الأثرية المحفوظة في المتحف الى مملكة سردينيا، وكانت مصحوبة بقائمة كُتبت باللغة الفرنسية وتَصف كل محتويات المجموعة. تعتبر تلك القائمة هي الأولى ضمن عدة قوائم تمت كتابتها لمجموعة القطع الأثرية المحفوظة في المتحف ولقد تم تحديثها عدة مرات مع مرور الوقت. انتهى عمل الأرشفة في الربع الأخير من القرن التاسع عشر عندما طُبِعت نسخة في مجلدين، بين الأعوام 1882 و1888، تشرح حالة المجموعة في ذلك الوقت ولا تزال قيد الاستخدام حتى يومنا هذا. خلال الـ64 عاماَ (1824-1888)، تغيّر رقم أرشيف العديد من القطع المحفوظة لأربع مرات، مما جعل من الصعب إعادة بناء السيرة الذاتية الخاصة بكل القطع، غالباً ما يصعب التعرف على مصدر قوائم الجرد، حيث لم يتم تثبيت التاريخ على بعض القطع أو التوقيع عليها. تتناول هذه المقالة دراسة الأرشيف لهذا الجانب الغير المعروف من تاريخ المتحف من خلال استخدام الجداول (مرفقة)، تبحث هذه الدراسة في النتائج الأولية والجزئية للتعرف على القطع الموجودة في المجموعة من خلال قوائم الجرد المختلفة التي تعاقبت مع مرور الزمن.

Real-time identification and visualization of Egyptian blue using modified night vision goggles

The possibility to use light in the visible spectrum to induce near-infrared luminescence in some materials, particularly Egyptian blue and related pigments, offers a significant advantage in terms of their detection. Since 2008, this property has been exploited to reveal the presence of those pigments even in tiny amounts on ancient and decayed surfaces, using a technical-photography method. This paper presents a new type of imaging device that enables real-time, easy, and inexpensive identification and mapping of Egyptian blue and related materials. The potential of the new tool is demonstrated by its effectiveness in detecting Egyptian blue within some prestigious sites: (a) Egyptian findings at Museo Egizio, Turin; (b) underground Roman frescoes at Domus Aurea, Rome; and (c) Renaissance frescoes by Raphael, Triumph of Galatea and Loggia of Cupid and Psyche, at Villa Farnesina, Rome. The device is based on night vision technology and allows an unprecedented fast, versatile, and user-friendly approach. It is employable by professionals including archeologists, conservators, and conservation scientists, as well as by untrained individuals such as students or tourists at museums and sites. The overall aim is not to replace existing photographic techniques but to develop a tool that enables rapid preliminary recognition, useful for planning the work to be carried out with conventional methods. The ability to immediately track Egyptian blue and related pigments, through real-time vision, photos, and videos, also provides a new kind of immersive experience (Blue Vision) and can foster the modern use of these materials in innovative applications and future technologies.

Preservation of the heart in ancient Egyptian mummies: A computed tomography investigation with focus on the myocardium.

The ancient Egyptians considered the heart to be the most important organ. The belief that the heart remained in the body is widespread in the archeological and paleopathological literature. The purpose of this study was to perform an overview of the preserved intrathoracic structures and thoracic and abdominal cavity filling, and to determine the prevalence and computed tomography (CT) characteristics of the myocardium in the preserved hearts of ancient Egyptian mummies. Whole-body CT examinations of 45 ancient Egyptian mummies (23 mummies from the Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, Berlin, Germany, and 22 mummies from the Museo Egizio, Turin, Italy) were systematically assessed for preserved intrathoracic soft tissues including various anatomical components of the heart (pericardium, interventricular septum, four chambers, myocardium, valves). Additionally, evidence of evisceration and cavity filling was documented. In cases with identifiable myocardium, quantitative (measurements of thickness and density) and qualitative (description of the structure) assessment of the myocardial tissue was carried out. Heart structure was identified in 28 mummies (62%). In 33 mummies, CT findings demonstrated evisceration, with subsequent cavity filling in all but one case. Preserved myocardium was identified in nine mummies (five male, four female) as a mostly homogeneous, shrunken structure. The posterior wall of the myocardium had a mean maximum thickness of 3.6 mm (range 1.4-6.6 mm) and a mean minimum thickness of 1.0 mm (range 0.5-1.7 mm). The mean Hounsfield units (HU) of the myocardium at the posterior wall was 61 (range, 185-305). There was a strong correlation between the HU of the posterior wall of the myocardium and the mean HU of the muscles at the dorsal humerus (R = 0.77; p = 0.02). In two cases, there were postmortem changes in the myocardium, most probably due to insect infestation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the myocardium systematically on CT scans of ancient Egyptian mummies. Strong correlations between the densities of the myocardium and skeletal muscle indicated similar postmortem changes of the respective musculature during the mummification process within individual mummies. The distinct postmortem shrinking of the myocardium and the collapse of the left ventriclular cavity in several cases did not allow for paleopathological diagnoses such as myocardial scarring.

Reflections into Ptolemaic Glass II: Characterizing Yellow, Yellowish‐orange, Red, and Brown Inlays from Tebtynis

AbstractA systematic and extensive analytical study was carried out on the loose inlays discovered in the Ptolemaic workshop of Tebtynis (Fayum oasis, Egypt). This paper presents data derived from the multi‐methodological archaeometric investigations (optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy–energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, electron probe microanalysis, micro‐Raman spectroscopy) performed on a set of intentionally colored and opacified glasses. In particular, we will discuss the textural, chemical, and mineralogical results related to the study of the yellow, yellowish‐orange, red, and brown inlays and semi‐finished/waste products now preserved at the Museo Egizio, Torino. The results highlight the presence of natron (low‐magnesium glasses, LMG) and plant ash (high‐magnesium glasses, HMG) base glass, coexisting with intermediate composition. Yellow samples are opacified using lead antimonates doped with iron and sometimes tin; conversely, yellowish‐orange specimens and the only brown sample are characterized by nanocrystals of cuprite. Red glasses are found in two variants: Dull reds are HMG with colloidal metallic copper particles, while sealing‐wax reds show LMG composition, associated with dendritic cuprite dispersed in a transparent, greenish matrix.

3D Multispectral Imaging for Cultural Heritage Preservation: The Case Study of a Wooden Sculpture of the Museo Egizio di Torino

Digitalization techniques, such as photogrammetry (PG), are attracting the interest of experts in the cultural heritage field, as they enable the creation of three-dimensional virtual replicas of historical artifacts with 2D digital images. Indeed, PG allows for acquiring data regarding the overall appearance of an artifact, its geometry, and its texture. Furthermore, among several image-based techniques exploited for the conservation of works of art, multispectral imaging (MSI) finds great application in the study of the materials of historical items, taking advantage of the different responses of materials when exposed to specific wavelengths. Despite their great usefulness, PG and MSI are often used as separate tools. Integrating radiometric and geometrical data can notably expand the information carried by a 3D model. Therefore, this paper presents a novel research methodology that enables the acquisition of multispectral 3D models, combining the outcomes of PG and MSI (Visible (VIS), Ultraviolet-induced Visible Luminescence (UVL), Ultraviolet-Reflected (UVR), and Ultraviolet-Reflected False Color (UVR-FC) imaging) in a single coordinate system, using an affordable tunable set-up and open-source software. The approach has been employed for the study of two wooden artifacts from the Museo Egizio di Torino to investigate the materials present on the surface and provide information that could support the design of suitable conservation treatments.

The Leiden-Turin Excavations at Saqqara

This article highlights the history of almost 50 years of Leiden archaeological work at Saqqara, in the cemetery south of the Unas causeway, and places the recent findings of the current Leiden-Turin Expedition within a broader historical context, both ancient and modern. The relationship between the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden and Egypt started almost 200 years ago, with the acquisition of the first objects. The arrival of a collection of important objects coming from Saqqara triggered an interest in finding the context from which they originated. This led to the creation of the joint Dutch-British mission, that made the first important discoveries. Over the time, Museo Egizio, Torino, joined the mission; the current Dutch-Italian mission has been working on unearthing further structures as well as documenting in detail all the aspects of the site, from the buildings to the reliefs, from the finds to the overall context. Discoveries on the field are led and followed by the careful study of objects belonging to museum collections, in an interplay between archaeological sites and museums that goes beyond their physical boundaries.

Non-Invasive Paleo-Metabolomics and Paleo-Proteomics Analyses Reveal the Complex Funerary Treatment of the Early 18th Dynasty Dignitary NEBIRI (QV30).

Biochemical investigations were carried out on the embalmed head of Nebiri (Museo Egizio, Turin; S-5109)-an 18th Dynasty Ancient Egyptian dignitary-and on the canopic jar containing his lungs (Museo Egizio, Turin; S. 5111/02) with the aim of characterizing the organ's (lung) specific paleo-proteins and of identifying the compounds used in his embalming "recipe". The application of a functionalized film method allowed us to perform a non-invasive sampling. Paleo-proteomics confirmed the presence of lung tissue-specific proteins (organ specific) as well as the presence of proteins linked to severe inflammation. Paleoproteomics and paleometabolomics further allowed the identification of the main components of Nebiri's embalming recipe: animal fats and glue, balms, essential oils, aromatic plants, heated Pistacia, and coniferous resins. Both the use of Pistacia and coniferous resins in an early 18th Dynasty individual confirm Nebiri's high social status. The technique applied offers a targeted approach to the chemical characterization of human tissues, embalming compounds, and organic materials layering in pottery. The ability of the functionalized film method to harvest all types of compounds, from macromolecules (i.e., proteins) to small molecules (i.e., organic acids) opens a new path in the study of ancient material culture; furthermore, it allows to perform untargeted analysis, which is necessary when no a priori information is available.

Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation Status

The Museo Egizio’s collection contains 200 precious and unique leather artifacts belonging to different historical periods. The materials used during the tanning and curing procedures affect the chemical and elemental composition of the surface of the samples as well as their preservation status, specifically through the hydration level within the bulk. Here we provide an experimental characterization of a series of samples from Museo Egizio that document an extensive denaturation phenomenon (gelatinization), by combining non-destructive techniques including surface probes (X-ray fluorescence, Raman scattering, and scanning electron microscopy enhanced by X-ray energy spectroscopy) and neutron-based bulk techniques (inelastic and deep-inelastic neutron scattering). Results show partial dehydration of the samples in the bulk, affecting the morphology of their surface, the presence of potassium alum, and iron oxides, as well as phosphates and hydroxides related to the tanning and curing procedures. Finally, we briefly discuss the need for a versatile and adaptable software package that is capable of combining quantitative analyses with complementary techniques including morphological, elemental, and chemical composition.

Reflections into Ptolemaic glass: Colorless, white, blue, and green inlays from the workshop of Tebtynis

AbstractInlays range among the most aesthetically pleasing and technically challenging glasses produced in the Ptolemaic period. Despite the central role of this phase in the history of glass technology, little is known about the recipes and the technological knowledge of the Egyptian artisans. This paper will thus focus on the study of the materials from the secondary workshop of Tebtynis (Fayum oasis, Egypt). We report the first multi‐methodological study comprising textural, chemical, and mineralogical analyses (optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive system, electron probe microanalysis, and μ‐Raman spectroscopy) on a set of 81 colorless, white, blue, and green samples carefully selected among the 800+ glasses from the craft area now stored at the Museo Egizio, Turin (Italy).Our study offers the biggest compositional database of well‐dated Ptolemaic glasses currently available in the literature, highlighting some interesting novelties regarding the silica and alkali sources, and the coloring and opacifying techniques employed. The results suggest a specialized craft of traditional origin, but open to innovation and experimentation, as expected from transitional phases.

Comparison of two ancient Egyptian Middle Kingdom statuettes from the Museo Egizio of Torino through computed tomographic measurements

X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) has a significant role as investigation tool not only in medical and industrial applications, but also in cultural heritage studies. One of the main reasons for such broad adoption of this method is its non-destructive capability to investigate the inner structure of precious and unique artefacts that would instead be damaged by traditional sampling procedures. Ordinary X-ray radiography is limited and gives only 2D images, while high-resolution X-ray CT imaging gives non-invasive access to three-dimensional (3D) information. This article focuses on the comparison of micro-CT results obtained from the analysis of two ancient Egyptian wooden statuettes representing offering bearers. The artefacts belong to the collection of the Museo Egizio of Torino as part of the funerary assemblage of Minhotep, discovered in the Asyut necropolis. For the analysis, an upgraded version of the X-ray imaging apparatus located in the Centro Conservazione e Restauro “La Venaria Reale” (CCR) was used, in order to reach a higher final resolution than the one already present and used at CCR. Thanks to this investigation, much information on the artistic technique was obtained and it was possible to highlight differences and similarities in the technical features of the two statuettes, acquiring elements to understand the specific contribution of micro-tomography in studying the finds and hypothesizing a common production method.

Microgeophysics and geomatics data integration reveals the internal fracturing conditions of the statue of Ramses II (Museo Egizio, Torino, Italy)

The combined acquisition of 3D ultrasonic tomography and radar scans is growing for cultural heritage diagnostics. Both methods proved to be efficient in the detection and location of fractures and weaknesses within the investigated artefacts. Although the two techniques are widely applied together, an integrated approach for data interpretation is still missing. We present the results of radar and ultrasonic prospections carried out on the statue of the young Ramses II, an absolute masterpiece of the Egyptian art preserved in the collection of the Museo Egizio of Torino (Italy). Geophysical results are incorporated within the 3D model of the statue retrieved from total station measurements, ground-based and handheld laser scanning. A data integration approach is then proposed for the joint interpretation of the geophysical results, exploiting the final ultrasonic velocity model and radar attribute analysis (i.e. local dissimilarity computation) to define a combined damage index. The proposed methodology is efficient in fracture detection and location and improves the readability of the final results also for non-expert geophysical interpreters, offering guidance to the museum for preservation and restoration of the masterpiece.

Multi-analytical approach for the study of an ancient Egyptian wooden statuette from the collection of Museo Egizio of Torino

In the field of Cultural Heritage, the interdisciplinary and multi-technique approach to the study of ancient artifacts is widely used, providing more reliable and complementary results. To study these great value objects, non-invasive approach is always preferred, although micro-invasive techniques may be necessary to answer specific questions. In this work, a study based on both non-invasive and micro-invasive techniques in a two-step approach was applied as a powerful tool to characterize materials and their layering, as well as to get a deeper understanding of the artistic techniques and the conservation history. The object under study is an ancient Egyptian wooden statuette, belonging to the collections of the Museo Egizio of Torino. Analyses were performed at the Centro Conservazione e Restauro “La Venaria Reale” (CCR), starting from non-invasive multispectral and X-ray imaging on the whole object in order to obtain information about the technique of assembly and on some aspects of the constituents materials, and subsequently, non-invasive XRF analysis and FT-IR, SEM-EDX and optical microscopy on micro-samples. This work is intended to lay the groundwork to the study of other wooden objects and statuettes belonging to the same funerary equipment, with the definition of a measuring protocol to study the most significant aspects of the artistic technique.

Archaeology of the invisible: The scent of Kha and Merit

The burial assemblage of Kha and Merit discovered in 1906 and now preserved at the Museo Egizio in Turin (Italy) constitutes the most abundant, complete, and well-preserved non-royal Egyptian burial assemblage ever found. The discoverer of the tomb and director of Museo Egizio, Ernesto Schiaparelli, limited investigations to a few non-unique items, leaving most of the assemblage untouched. His decision has enabled contemporary scholars to study such exceptional archaeological finding with non-invasive approaches that could not be foreseen at the time. Here we show that the volatile compounds emitted by organic materials contained in vessels can be analyzed and detected directly in museums by a transportable mass spectrometer (selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometry, SIFT-MS). The interpretation of the mass spectrometric data, supported by statistical data analysis, shed new light on the chemical nature of the organic materials preserved in 50 vessels of the Museo Egizio in a completely non-destructive way.Our study proves the reliability of SIFT-MS as a fast-screening method for archaeometric investigations directly in museum, providing the unique possibility to complement, confirm and extend the archaeological research on the use and purpose of archaeological vessels and jars.

An Ancient Egyptian Multilayered Polychrome Wooden Sculpture Belonging to the Museo Egizio of Torino: Characterization of Painting Materials and Design of Cleaning Processes by Means of Highly Retentive Hydrogels

This contribution focuses on the conservation of an Egyptian wooden sculpture (Inventory Number Cat. 745) belonging to the Museo Egizio of Torino in northwest Italy. A preliminary and interdisciplinary study of constituent painting materials and their layering is here provided. It was conducted by means of a multi-technique approach starting from non-invasive multispectral analysis on the whole object, and subsequently, on selected micro-samples. In particular, visible fluorescence induced by ultraviolet radiation (UVF), infrared reflectography (IRR) and visible--induced infrared luminescence were used on the whole object. The micro-samples were analysed by means of an optical microscope with visible and UV light sources, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer, pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (Py-GC/MS) and micro-particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE). The characterization of the painting materials allowed the detection of Egyptian blue and Egyptian green, and also confirmed the pertinence of the top brown layer to the original materials, which is a key point to design a suitable surface treatment. In fact, due to the water sensitiveness of the original materials, only few options were available to perform cleaning operations on this artwork. To setup the cleaning procedure, we performed several preliminary tests on mockups using dry cleaning materials, commonly used to treat reactive surfaces, and innovative highly water retentive hydrogels, which can potentially limit the mechanical action on the original surface while proving excellent cleaning results. Overall, this study has proved fundamental to increase our knowledge on ancient Egyptian artistic techniques and contribute to hypothesize the possible provenance of the artefact. It also demonstrated that polyvinyl alcohol-based retentive gels allow for the safe and efficient cleaning of extremely water sensitive painted surfaces, as those typical of ancient Egyptian artefacts.

X-ray Imaging Investigation on the Gilding Technique of an Ancient Egyptian Taweret Wooden Statuette.

Diagnostic physical methods are increasingly applied to Cultural Heritage both for scientific investigations and conservation purposes. In particular, the X-ray imaging techniques of computed tomography (CT) and digital radiography (DR) are non-destructive investigation methods to study an object, being able to give information on its inner structure. In this paper, we present the results of the X-ray imaging study on an ancient Egyptian statuette (Late Period 722–30 BCE) belonging to the collection of Museo Egizio in Torino and representing an Egyptian goddess called Taweret, carved on wood and gilded with some colored details. Since few specific studies have been focused on materials and techniques used in Ancient Egypt for gilding, a detailed investigation was started in order to verify the technical features of the decoration in this sculpture. Specifically, DR and CT analyses have been performed at the Centro Conservazione e Restauro “La Venaria Reale” (CCR), with a new high resolution flat-panel detector, that allowed us to perform tomographic analysis reaching a final resolution better than the one achievable with the previous apparatus operating in the CCR.

A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies

Commonly exhibited in museum galleries, animal mummies have been the focus of interest of both visitors and researchers alike. The study of these animal remains not only provides new insights into embalming techniques, but also brings a unique perspective on religious, social and economic practices. Twenty animal mummies are discussed in this study, including cats, ibises, crocodiles, calves and birds of prey from the collections of the British Museum (London, UK) and the Museo Egizio (Turin, Italy). The external textile wrappings encasing the mummified body of the animals were investigated with the main aim of identifying the colourants used. In fact, these are mostly patterned using undyed and coloured (mostly red, brown and black) linen strips. Broadband multispectral imaging (MSI) was initially carried out to obtain preliminary information at the macro-scale on the distribution and chemical nature of the colouring agents. Fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) was then used to survey several coloured areas of the textile wrappings. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and red ochre were identified non-invasively. Representative samples were then taken and observed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in order to obtain information at the micro-scale on the distribution of the colouring agents on the fibres, as well as the presence of other materials, including those from environmental contamination. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) revealed the elemental composition of particles and clear areas of the fibres, whereas high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) provided the identification of the organic dyes at a molecular level. The use of hydrolysable and condensed tannins, in combination with iron as a mordant, was found to be used in the very dark shades, which generally corresponded to the textiles with the worst state of preservation. Nevertheless, other aspects, such as fibre processing and bleaching, fungal attack and presence of coating materials appeared to play a role in the evaluation of the conservation state of these textiles. The characterisation of the dyes and the additional inorganic materials contributed to elucidating the production technology of the colours used for animal mummification, and provided insights into ancient dyeing methods.

Multiclass semantic segmentation for digitisation of movable heritage using deep learning techniques

<p class="VARAbstract">Digitisation processes of movable heritage are becoming increasingly popular to document the artworks stored in our museums. A growing number of strategies for the three-dimensional (3D) acquisition and modelling of these invaluable assets have been developed in the last few years. Their objective is to efficiently respond to this documentation need and contribute to deepening the knowledge of the masterpieces investigated constantly by researchers operating in many fieldworks. Nowadays, one of the most effective solutions is represented by the development of image-based techniques, usually connected to a Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetric approach. However, while images acquisition is relatively rapid, the processes connected to data processing are very time-consuming and require the operator’s substantial manual involvement. Developing deep learning-based strategies can be an effective solution to enhance the automatism level. In this research, which has been carried out in the framework of the digitisation of a wooden maquettes collection stored in the ‘Museo Egizio di Torino’, using a photogrammetric approach, an automatic masking strategy using deep learning techniques is proposed, to increase the level of automatism and therefore, optimise the photogrammetric pipeline. Starting from a manually annotated dataset, a neural network was trained to automatically perform a semantic classification to isolate the maquettes from the background. The proposed methodology allowed the researchers to obtain automatically segmented masks with a high degree of accuracy. The workflow is described (as regards acquisition strategies, dataset processing, and neural network training). In addition, the accuracy of the results is evaluated and discussed. Finally, the researchers proposed the possibility of performing a multiclass segmentation on the digital images to recognise different object categories in the images, as well as to define a semantic hierarchy to perform automatic classification of different elements in the acquired images.</p><p><strong>Highlights:</strong></p><ul><li><p>In the framework of movable heritage digitisation processes, many procedures are very time-consuming, and they still require the operator’s substantial manual involvement.</p></li><li><p>This research proposes using deep learning techniques to enhance the automatism level in the generation of exclusion masks, improving the optimisation of the photogrammetric procedures.</p></li><li><p>Following this strategy, the possibility of performing a multiclass semantic segmentation (on the 2D images and, consequently, on the 3D point cloud) is also discussed, considering the accuracy of the obtainable results.</p></li></ul>

A Multi-Analytical Study of an Ancient Egyptian Limestone Stele for Knowledge and Conservation Purposes: Recovering Hieroglyphs and Figurative Details by Image Analysis

A multi-analytical study was carried out on an ancient Egyptian limestone stele with red figures and hieroglyphs (S. 6145) coming from the village of Deir el-Medina and belonging to the collection of the Museo Egizio (Turin, Italy). With the support of a multidisciplinary team, a project for the preservation and conservation of this stele provided an opportunity to carry out a very detailed study of the object. Petrographic and mineralogical analysis led to the characterization and dating of the limestone, and ultrasonic tests were of great help in shedding light on the state of preservation of the stele, as a preliminary to planning conservation treatment. The chemical nature of the red pigment was investigated by non-invasive spectroscopic analyses. Multispectral imaging and statistical image processing improved the readability of the hieroglyphs, whose preservation ranged from heavily compromised to almost completely invisible, revealing some signs that had previously not been visible.

Correlation of atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis in ancient Egypt: A standardized evaluation of 45 whole-body CT examinations

ObjectiveTo correlate atherosclerosis (Ath) and osteoarthritis (OA) in mummies from ancient Egypt. MaterialsWhole-body CT examinations of 23 mummies from the Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, Berlin, Germany, and 22 mummies from the Museo Egizio, Turin, Italy. MethodsAth was assessed in five anatomical regions by means of preserved arterial calcifications. OA was assessed using the Kellgren and Lawrence (1957) classification. ResultsStatistical analysis revealed no correlation between Ath and total OA. A significant association was found for Ath and the upper limb group for OA grade >1 and for Ath and the lower limb group, consisting mainly of the hip and knee, for OA grade >2 OA. ConclusionsThe association of Ath and advanced OA of the hip and knee is comparable in prevalence to those reported in recent clinical studies, despite the low life expectancy and the different environment and lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians. SignificanceThis is the first study to correlate findings of Ath and OA in ancient Egypt statistically. The diseases of Ath and OA are common ailments with enormous and increasing impacts on public health. LimitationsThe large number of cardiovascular diseases was indicated only by arterial calcifications that resisted the post-mortem changes of the mummification process. Also, the assessed OA was on radiological OA. Suggestions for Further ResearchGenomic studies of ancient Egyptian mummies may reveal genetic risk factors for Ath and OA that could be shared in ancient and modern populations.

Christian Epitaphs from Egypt and Nubia at the Museo Egizio, Turin: A Dossier

The article provides an overview of the collection of Christian inscriptions on stone from Egypt and Nubia in the Museo Egizio. In addition to various listings, a full text is given of all sixteen Greek and Coptic inscriptions from Egypt, eleven of which are published here in editio princeps. ملخص يقدم المقال لمحة عامة عن مجموعة الكتابات المسيحية المنقوشة على الحجر، محفوظة في المتحف المصري وأصلها من مصر والنوبة. بالإضافة إلى قوائم مختلفة، حيث يعرض نص كامل لجميع الكتابات اليونانية والقبطية الستة عشر التي أصلها من مصر، تم نشر هنا الطبعة الأولى لأحد عشر نصاً منها.