55 
HALL 3. 
EGYPTIAN ARCHEOLOGY. 
In this hall are now installed the extensive collections brought 
togetherby President E. E. Ayer during his recent trips to Egypt. 
The nucleus of the collection is a set of twenty mummies repre- 
senting a wide range of characters, and covering a period of nearly 
two thousand years of mummy-making, closing with the develop- 
ment of Christianity. Notable exhibits may be briefly referred to. 
Case 1. — The oldest mummy, so far as the inscriptions have 
been read, is that contained in a coffin with light colored lid 
crossed with yellow bars, placed near the middle of the room. 
Its date is 1,500 years B. C. 
Case 2. — Large mummy well filled with bitumen and having 
striking faces on cartonage and lid of box. 
Cases 3 and 6 .— The two wide, low cases contain neatly 
prepared mummies in their original coffins three of which are of 
wood, and one, a unique specimen, of interlaced bulrushes. 
Cases 4 - and 5. — Two striking coffins occupy cases near 
the north end of the hall; one is a rectangular box with arched 
lid and corner posts, and is elaborately painted with symbolic 
designs and inscriptions; the other is what is known as a mummy- 
shaped case, and is a fine example of the more ornate painted 
coffins. 
Case 7. — An excellent example of mummy of early period. 
The inner and outer cases are both exhibited; the inner case, con- 
taining the body, has never been opened. 
Case 8 . — In the small floor case are mummies of two young 
girls with elaborate gilt masks. 
Cases 15 and 16. — In wall cases at the east and west are 
two pairs of coffins placed in an upright position. 
Case 17.— Against the west wall, near the south end, is 
a case containing five mummies of young persons. One of these is 
remarkable in having a portrait painted on wood substituted for 
the usual mask, and another has the wrapping removed so that a 
good idea of the state of preservation may be gained. 
In other floor cases and in the wall cases are many interesting 
relics of art, including utensils of bronze, iron, wood, earthenware, 
