Primary 5 went to the Ulster museum for an Egyptian workshop hosted by Fiona Baird Education Officer. Activities such as finding Egypt on the map, discussing the Nile river being used by Egyptian farmers and the importance of the flood introduced the workshop.
Religion and the afterlife provided the main theme of the day with the mummification process explained from cleaning the body with palm wine, removing parts and using Natron salt and the 4 canopic jars which held key organs from the body. Frankincense and myrrh were used to moisturise the body and amulets placed for good luck on them.
The children had the chance to see many artefacts such as linen from over 1000 years ago grown from flax and touch a shapti figure that was 3000 years old.Coloured Stones were ground down and used to decorate coffins and tombs and for make up for men and women for their eyes. The jewellery was cylinder shaped and beads were worn around the neck. Takabuti had a similar one in the museum.
The workshop ended with Primary 5 split into 3 groups and looking at different jobs. They had to find the correct trays linked to their job. They explained to everyone what they did.
The embalmers opened the body and took out the organs and prepared the body for mummification.
The Scribes used papyrus, ink and a brush with a pencil case.
The jewellery makers made necklaces, belts using copper and created jewellery from gold and ivory.
We finished our trip with a visit to Takabuti in the museum and seen other Egyptian artefacts.
Thank you to Anthony Gilchrist from Kilmore Coach Hire for sponsoring the trip.
