The quest for immortality treasures of ancient Egypt ; [exhibition dates 12 May - 2 September 2002, National Gallery of Art, Washington

With contributions by Betsy M. Bryan, Terence DuQuesne, Fayza Haikal, and Erik Hornung. — Wachington: National Gallery of Art, 2002. — 256 p.The Quest for Immortality combines aesthetically fine examples of Egyptian art with a fascinating glimpse into what the ancient Egyptians believed would occur in the world to which they journeyed after death. Highlighting masterpieces from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Luxor Museum, and other collections in Egypt, the exhibition and accompanying catalog include several works that have not been publicly displayed before, and many that have never been shown outside Egypt. Included are sculpture, sarcophagi, and reliefs—objects that facilitated communication with deities, kings, and other intermediaries, made in the hope of guaranteeing an eternal and organized world. The catalog provides readers an opportunity to learn about the religion and burial customs of the ancient Egyptians through the treasures, tomb decorations, and artifacts they left behind. Ancient Egyptian antiquities are dominated by art and artifacts depicting the Netherworld, the alternate universe mummified bodies would enter at the end of their physical lives, where they would live on for eternity. In this dazzling book, photographs and exhaustive texts illustrate how the promise of a glorious rebirth pervaded the daily life of Egyptians, from commoners to the most powerful pharaohs.

The Quest for Immortality accompanies an exhibition of Egyptian funerary art by the same name, which dates from nearly two thousand years before the Christian era. Drawn from the collection of Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, this major exhibition opens at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 2002 and travels throughout the United States over a five-year period before an extended tour in Europe.Objects such as coffins, tombs, masks, jewelry, papyri, sarcophagi, and monumental and small-scale sculpture reveal the reverence and awe with which this highly developed ancient culture considered the mystery of death. Fascinating essays explore Egyptian art history, customs, and worship, with specific focus on the Amduat, a book devoted to the pharaoh’s twelve-hour journey to the afterlife. Additional writings detail the background of the collection and focus upon the role of art in ancient Egypt. Throughout, readers will experience the artistry of the ancient Egyptians as it comes to life in this magnificent book.

"This volume accompanies an exhibition of the same name, which includes artefacts from nearly 2000 years before the Christian era. Objects such as coffins, tombs, masks, jewellery, papyri, sarcophagi and monumental and small-scale sculpture reveal the reverence and awe with which the Egyptians considered the mystery of death. The essays in this book explore Egyptian art history, customs and worship, with specific focus on the Amduat, a book devoted to the pharaoh's 12-hour journey to the afterlife. Additional writings detail the background of the collection and focus upon the role of art in ancient Egypt."--Amazon