Mumien, Sphingen und Uschebti

Although one would hardly expect Ancient Egyptian objects in the very north of Germany, enthusiasts have acquired relevant pieces or brought them from journeys to the Nile Valley. Admittedly, research in collections in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern did not reveal any spectacular aegyptiaca, but thrilling stories of travelling and travellers in Egypt. From written documents and souvenirs, the reader learns about state visits of the high nobility, caravan journeys of natural scientists, and first organised Nile cruises of interested townspeople and tradesmen. Since the 17th century, mainly [parts of] mummies are attested in Northern Germany, some of which are lost today, but can be inferred from archive material. Examples are pieces in the Kunstkammer Gottorf, mummies in St. Annenmuseum Lübeck and Provinzialmuseum Stralsund, sphinges from Schlieffenberg Castle near Güstrow, crocodile mummies from Maabdeh, travel documents of grand duke Frederic Francis II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as well as finds passed on by the Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft to the universities of Rostock and Greifswald and to museums in Lübeck, Stralsund, and Haderslev.