Ancient Egyptian Treasures from Turin's Museo Egizio on Display in Forte dei Marmi

A selection of 24 artifacts from the Museo Egizio in Turin has traveled to Forte dei Marmi for the exhibition 'Gli Egizi e i doni del Nilo' (The Egyptians and the Gifts of the Nile). The show, housed at Forte Leopoldo I, features pieces from the museum's storerooms and coincides with the bicentenary of the Museo Egizio's founding. The museum, directed by Christian Greco (whose term expires in June 2025), has established a department dedicated to organizing temporary exhibitions outside its main venue. Curated by Paolo Marini, the exhibition follows a chronological path starting with Predynastic objects, including a small terracotta jar decorated with two boats—Marini called it the most significant piece on view, noting such early decorated vessels are rare. Other highlights include two model boats and a brewery-bakery scene from Assiut (circa 2000 BCE), a New Kingdom funerary stele of Nya featuring Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys, and a tiny hippopotamus amulet displayed alongside a giant reproduction. A mummified kitten and a bronze cat sarcophagus are also exhibited. The show concludes with objects reflecting Greco-Roman influence, such as a terracotta statuette merging Isis and Aphrodite and a hybrid-style funerary mask. Upstairs, virtual reality experiences include videos on papyrus and mummification, plus a 3D reconstruction of Butehamon's sarcophagus originally created for the 2019 exhibition 'Archeologia invisibile' at the Museo Egizio.