FOREWORD

In our impression, Egypt is a distant and ancient place.There are magnificent pyramids, majestic sphinxes and mysterious mummies, which have continuously led our dreams of exploration.Today, this dream has finally come true.

The long-standing ancient Egyptian civilization, during its thousands of years of development, has attracted the attention of the whole world with its unique features.Religious beliefs, social life, writing, art, astronomy and calendars have all left the world with amazing achievements and immortal wealth.The splendid civilization, nurtured by the Nile, has been honed by the long history and left a rich cultural heritage.

"Civilization is enriched by the exchange and mutual learning.The exchange of civilizations is an important impetus for the progress of human civilization.”Using the power of civilization to help pushing forward the development of society is the noble mission which the society has entrusted to the museum in the new era.Shanxi Museum is an important window of Shanxi's foreign exchange.Over the years, Shanxi Museum has been maintaining close exchanges and cooperation with the international heritage community and planning to launch exhibitions with Shanxi cultural characteristics to display worldwide.At the same time, it has also introduced a number of outstanding exhibitions which show different cultures around the world.Visitors can enjoy exotic customs and have an overview of the whole world without travelling far.Shanxi Museum provides a useful platform for the Chinese audience to understand the world and colorful civilizations.

The Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy, has the second largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world just after the Egyptian National Museum in Cairo.It is famous for its long history and rich collection as it collects valuable cultural relics from the pre-dynasty period to the Coptic period, spanning more than four thousand years of history.In this exhibition, about 150 pieces of cultural relics cross the continents of Europe and Asia, traverse thousands of years, with the wisdom light of ancient Egyptian civilization enter China that has also created great civilization and show the deep and attractive charm of Egyptian culture.By virtue of these elegant cultural relics, an age-old picture of civilization is slowly unfolding and will lead the Chinese audience to discover, to appreciate, to explore and to experience.

In the future, we will further expand the collaboration channels for the foreign exchange of cultural relics,introduce the world’s excellent civilization achievements to give back to Shanxi people, and make a series of fine exhibitions for foreign exchange and cooperation so as to further promote the international influence of Shanxi Museum.

Finally, I would like to express my thanks for the great support of Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy and thanks for all my colleagues who have been working hard for the exhibition.I believe the exhibition will be a great success!

Thank you!

Zhang Yuancheng, president of Shanxi Museum

April, 2018