Gawk at the (Ancient) Egyptians

No good story ever starts with a salad, right? Last week while we were sitting down the street, enjoying a dunkles Weißbier, I thought–hey, I can get the full 9€ of value out of my ticket by taking the train to Munich! The normal fare from Freising to a museum and back is 13€, and I hadn’t been in Munich on my own in three years–I should definitely take a day trip on a train! Having heard quite a few podcasts recently over the tombs and pyramids, I decided on the Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst (hereafter SMÄK). Got up early, and got on the bus.

At the station, I started out on the wrong platform, then nearly got on a train going the wrong direction. “Fortunately” the correct train was late. The ride in was easy. Very nearly had a panic attack in the Hauptbahnhof, but got through OK.

When I emerged from the U-Bahn, I was lost. After fifteen minutes or so, I found a building that looked familiar because I had been lost there five years ago:

Ludwig I commissioned this building to honor his son, who was sent to be the “King of Greece” after his army helped them win independence from the Ottomans. It’s pretty cool close-up. It’s also a homeless encampment. I did not linger.

Through the columns, I noticed an obelisk. Surely this points the way to Egyptian artefacts!

Nope. Ludwig I again, honoring Bavarian soldiers killed in one of the Russo-Turkish wars.

At this point, I gave up on being awesome and used Google Maps. I’m sorry I have disappointed you. The good news is: The Bavarian state collection of Egyptian artefacts and the idea of putting them out on public display was originally the work of *drum roll* Ludwig I!

Now that I have made a short story long: SMÄK. The “Five Milleniums” Room was really nice, you can see how the different kingdoms changed from how their art changed. See it all for yourself if you like! I won’t bore you with all eight hundred Bad Handy Fotos™ of artefacts behind glass, just a few highlights.

First: Beer! A brewery scene from the 6th Dynasty, 2200 B.C.

Second: Cats! This mummy is wrapped in folded linen, and this is very clearly a log cabin quilt block.

Third: Textiles! These drawers were filled with fragmented treasures from the 4th through 6th century, and yes, I opened every single one of them.

And finally! My second favorite room holds an experience that cannot be had online: it’s called “Grasping Egypt.” Replica sculptures made in Germany from stone imported from Egypt were on display with signs that read “PLEASE TOUCH!” There are also unworked examples of the typical stones used. I touched them all.

After three hours, I was tired and hungry, and wandered down the street–with no issues–to Mr Pancake. Ordinarily, I prefer to eat something I can’t make at home when I eat lunch out, but I heard the batter calling to me… The American Pancakes were delicious. The sausage is Fleischwurst, and it was fine, but I should have ordered bacon instead.

Then I found the U-Bahn station and went home. I had no problems finding home. Heh.