Ancient Egyptian artifacts from UWinnipeg’s Hetherington Collection*
After more than 5,000 years of Egyptian history, the Egyptian Pavilion is arriving at Folklorama this August.
Themed as the “Crossroads of Civilization,” the pavilion will receive a contribution from The University of Winnipeg in its inaugural Folklorama journey.
Alumna Mirett Awadalla, who is one of the pavilion’s ambassadors, became familiar with UWinnipeg’s Hetherington Collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts while she was a student at the University. Awadalla approached Val McKinley, curator of UWinnipeg’s Anthropology Museum, to request assistance in creating a display for the pavilion that would feature the collection and celebrate Egypt’s ancient history.
McKinley is providing information panels featuring images of some of the ancient artifacts.
“It’s always a pleasure to share this collection in whatever way we can,” said McKinley. “The collection is beautiful and interesting, and it represents a unique bond between UWinnipeg and Egypt that has existed since the collection arrived here beginning in 1903. It’s exciting to be involved in the Egyptian community’s first Folklorama pavilion.”
Mirett Awadalla, ©UWinnipeg
The Hetherington Collection has been at UWinnipeg since the early 1900s. The circumstances around the acquisition of the collection remain somewhat mysterious, but what is known is that the objects are authentic and they were sent to the University in at least two shipments — one in 1903 and another after 1925, most likely through the Egyptian Exploration Society. The objects represent several dynasties from multiple sites and include lamps, storage jars, domestic dishware, stone cutting and scraping tools, bone game pieces, ceramic funerary figurines called shabtis, and metal Osiris figurines.
The Egyptian Pavilion runs during the first week of Folklorama — Sunday, August 4 to Saturday, August 10 — at The University of Manitoba’s University Centre. For more information, please visit the Egyptian Pavilion.
*The artifacts in the photo (clockwise): Hatshepsut hoe, frog lamp, slipper lamp, Hatshepsut rocker, and Shabhati.
