Walking into the ‘Discovering Ancient Egypt’ exhibition at the Queensland Museum, I felt an unexpected hush settle over me, like I’d stepped into a sacred space.
Surrounded by ancient relics, I was drawn into a world where every painted coffin and intricately carved amulet seemed to whisper stories from a long time ago.
Among the more than 250 artefacts on display, the stone coffin sarcophagi first drew me into meditative stillness.
Their surfaces, adorned with hieroglyphs, vivid depictions of gods, and protective spells, held a powerful presence.
These inscriptions were spiritual maps, crafted to guide the soul safely through the afterlife and ward off unseen dangers.
The sarcophagi were not merely burial vessels, but gateways to the eternal.
The exhibition carefully handles sensitive material, including displaying human and animal remains.
In a respectfully curated gallery, five mummified individuals are presented: a woman named Ta(net)kharu (also referred to as Tadis), a young girl, Sensaos, a man named Harerem, and two unidentified individuals, one male and one female.
For visitors who prefer to avoid this section, the museum provides an option to bypass it.
Now, under the museum’s custodianship, these remains are treated with utmost dignity.
The museum also engaged in meaningful consultations with First Nations groups and members of the Egyptian-Australian community to ensure a culturally sensitive and ethically responsible presentation.
Standing before these mummies invites deep reflection on life, death, and humanity’s evolving rituals of remembrance.
It is a solemn yet enlightening experience that reminds us of our collective responsibility to preserve and interpret the past with reverence.
What struck me most was a profound sense of continuity. The human impulse to honour the dead, to find meaning in mortality, and to leave behind traces of existence transcends time and culture.
Each coffin told the story of a soul’s journey into the afterlife. To the ancient Egyptians, death was not an end, but a holy transition.
Even the eyes painted on the coffins were not merely decorative; they were meant to let the deceased see into the next world, staying watchful and connected.
Every pigment, every carved line, carried sacred meaning. It was as if the divine had been etched into the grain of the wood and the mineral of the paint.
Equally moving were the amulets, small but vast in symbolism.
Fashioned from carnelian, faience, and gold, they were far more than ornaments.
They were tangible prayers. The ankh for life, the scarab for rebirth, and the eye of Horus for protection embodied a spiritual force intended to shield and guide the soul through the perils of the afterlife.
I was struck by the spiritual intelligence embedded in these artefacts.
In today’s material-obsessed world, here was a civilisation that infused the sacred into everyday objects.
Their faith extended beyond temples and was woven into life and death.
These amulets and coffins remind us that to live well is to die well and to see life not as a race against time, but as a holy variety of experiences.
One display in particular captivated me: a collection of amulets crafted for the living and the dead.
It resonated with the principles of Vasthu Sastra, which also recognises the protective and symbolic power of revered objects.
Like ancient Egyptians, who used amulets to ensure spiritual safety and harmony, Vasthu Sastra prescribes yantras, sacred geometric symbols, and similar amulets to balance energy, ward off negativity, and enhance well-being.
The parallels across cultures and centuries reaffirm a universal human instinct: to seek protection and harmony through sanctified symbolism.
I returned with a gold Egyptian cartouche pendant. Its elegant hieroglyphics encase the name of a royal figure, and the pendant is believed to bestow protection and good fortune upon the wearer.
When I chose it, I felt an unspoken connection to the ancient world, drawn not just by its beauty but also by its timeless hope.
I now wear it close to my heart, not merely as a souvenir but as a personal talisman, a reminder of history’s sacredness and the enduring human quest for meaning and protection.
In a world that often rushes forward, it is grounding to pause and reflect on the ancient wisdom that has guided civilisations for millennia.
These symbols, rooted in deep spiritual and cultural traditions, continue to offer us insights. They teach us that even in the modern age, we can draw strength from the past and carry forward its lessons of balance, protection, and the search for deeper significance.
The Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition runs in Brisbane until August.
I urge you to walk among these ancient treasures for those yearning for beauty, wisdom, or a deeper connection to humanity’s eternal questions.
Award-winning writer Dr T. Selva is the author of the bestsellers Vasthu Sastra Guide and Secrets of Happy Living. To get a copy, WhatsApp 019-2728464. He can be reached at drtselvas@gmail.com. Facebook: Vasthu Sastra