For release: February 15, 2012
For press information, contact Patricia Podzorski, 901-678-2649

Travel back in time and explore the wonders of ancient Egypt during the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology’s Ancient Egyptian Family Day at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis (AMUM) on Saturday, February 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Designed to introduce children to the art and culture of ancient Egypt in a fun and creative environment, the IEAA's Family Day will let kids write their name in hieroglyphs, draw like an Egyptian, make a copy of an ancient Egyptian amulet, or color a mask while learning about ancient Egyptian gods. Special tours of the Egyptian exhibition at the Art Museum will be offered, and stories from ancient Egypt will be presented. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

The popular School for Scribes will be available again this year. In an intensive one-hour workshop, older children and adults will learn about the ancient Egyptian language, how the ancient Egyptian language was rediscovered, and the role that the famous Rosetta Stone played in that discovery. To participate, children must be at least 10 years old. Because the class size for the School for Scribes is limited, reservations are required; for more information, call 901-678-2649.

The Art Museum is located on the first floor of the Communication and Fine Arts Building, Room 142, on the U of M campus. Free parking is available in the Central Avenue parking lot just across Central from the Museum. Paid parking is available in the Fogelman garage on Innovation Drive, south of Central Avenue and east of Patterson Street.

The Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology and the Art Museum of the University of Memphis (AMUM) maintain the largest public collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the Mid-South. More than 200 objects are on display, representing 4,000 years of ancient Egyptian history. Exhibits include mummies, royal statuary, amulets, jewelry, tomb furnishings, and items from everyday life.