Soulful Creatures is the first major exhibition to focus on one of the most fascinating aspects of ancient Egyptian culture and religion—the mummification of animals. Drawing on the Brooklyn Museum’s renowned Egyptian collection, this presentation includes 30 mummies on display alongside 69 masterworks of Egyptian art related to the ritual use of animal mummies. While the exact significance of animal mummies has largely remained a mystery, this exhibition investigates the many provocative theories proposed to explain the practice, and offers dynamic presentations of its origins, techniques, and rituals, and of recent scientific tests that have uncovered key information about the methods used to create animal mummies.
Soulful Creatures was co-organized by Edward Bleiberg, Curator of Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Near Eastern Art, Brooklyn Museum, and Yekaterina Barbash, Assistant Curator of Egyptian Art, Brooklyn Museum, and includes an accompanying catalogue.