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Before visiting the pyramids, our group went to the Ramseis II Museum in Memphis which harbored one of the most humbling and educational aspects of the trip.

The outside of the museum is meager at best and many people in the group were not expecting much before entering other than a couple small pieces of stone. On entering, it became apparent that there were indeed the few pieces of stone but also more. The first big structure that many people saw and flocked to was a mini sphinx which was at the center of the open air museum. Because of the tour guide who had explained many of the Egyptian symbols in previous days, it was easy to interpret the sphinx and the different meanings that would have been lost on many before going on the trip. The ears of the sphinx were visible to symbolize listening and wisdom, the snake on the head dress represented protection of the pharaoh, and the false beard represented reality. Along with that, as with most of the statues and structures in Egypt, it was made out of local lime stone.

Another main attraction of the museum was in the one indoor area housing a giant fallen statue of Ramseis II. As with the sphinx, all of the representations of the ears, snake, and false beard were present but with the longer statue there were the symbolic images of the hands and remnants of the legs. The hands at the side of the statue were clenched in fists which symbolized power. If the hands had been open, they would have represented mercy. While the feet were missing from the fallen statue, the positions of the legs were easily seen showing the left foot forward. As the tour guide explained, this represented the pharaoh’s (or any standing statue with this position) journey into the afterlife. Again, as with the sphinx before it, the huge statue was made of local limestone.

Even though the main attractions were big statues and sphinxes, one of the main things to be noticed about the museum was the casual feel of the entire experience. While looking around, one would see a guard standing up against a statue base smoking a cigarette and watching the crowds go by. When waiting for the tour guide to speak, it was easy to get distracted by little things such as a goat or dog wandering by. Along with that, while the most of the displays were “marked off” and “not to be touched”, it was not like the security that one witnesses in American museums. There were no fancy lasers or guards at every statue to ensure that no tourist got too close. Instead, the displays of larger items were simply roped off in the hopes of keeping tourists from getting too grabby. This point was especially interesting because it was obvious that the tourists themselves would have to practice restraint as opposed to the authorities having to impose that restraint.

Overall, the whole trip the museum was a more casual yet still important piece of the experience. Because of the casual nature of the museum, students were allowed to wander and really take the time to appreciate different monuments. It was not an instance were one would just snap a picture and move on to the next statue. Instead, it gave the group an opportunity to contemplate the time that the sculptors must have put into all of the different pieces on display and how well preserved all of them were. Every detail was visible, especially in pieces that had hieroglyphics. Along with that, it would give everyone a chance to reflect on the differences between the open air museum and the museums in America that everyone was used to. Even in an “academic” setting, things were different because of the location. It was indeed one of the most peaceful yet educational parts of the trip enjoyed by everyone. And though the group saw the pyramids that day as well, the experience had in Memphis was no less amazing than what we experienced later.

by Elizabeth Binion