Antiquities of the Bibliotheca Alexandrian Site Prior to building the new Library of Alexandria, excavations were conducted on its future site in 1993. From this archaeological investigation, several unique Mosaic pieces immerged. This is a fragment of a mosaic floor dating to the Greek Period (second century AD). The central part is in the form of a circle, which is rare. It depicts a dog beside a Bronze Greek cup (askos). The details of the scene and reflection of light on metal (bronze) represent a high artistic standard attributable to the mosaic workshops of Alexandria, which produced wonderful work, especially those made for the Greek royalty. The style was derived from the Alexandria literary legacy established during the first three centuries BC for which Alexandria became famous. This artwork is called “opus vermiculum“, incorporating very small colored marble and limestone cubes. Dimensions: 1.35 by 1.35 m A fragment of a mosaic floor decorated with a combat scene between two gladiators, one black and one white, in a gymnasium or in a public bath. Beside them a fountain which dates the piece to about the second century AD. The scene represents the athletic life in Alexandria which brought together various human races.Dimensions: 3.25 by 2.75 m The Hall of the Afterlife For the first time, in the Alexandrian museum, there is a hall devoted to the mummification process which not only provides information on ancient Egyptian mummification, but on this funerary practice in Predynastic times and during the Greek and Roman Periods. Currently this hall has on display three mummies from different eras (ancient Pharaonic, Ptolemaic and Roman). One is the coffin of an individual known as Aba, son of Ankh-hor, who was the governor of Upper Egypt and head of its treasury. This wooden coffin is decorated with colored designs and hieroglyphic inscriptions including the Book of the Dead. It still retains much of its original colors. The mummy was brought from the excavation carried out by the Belgian mission at Asasif Necropolis (part of the Tombs of the Nobles) on the West Bank of ancient Thebes (modern Luxor). The exhibit includes four canopic jars that were used to preserve the organs of the deceased. A second wooden coffin belonged to a Greek woman, who was also mummified. It is decorated with colored representations as well, including depictions of a winged goddess Isis. During this period, we know that it took only forty days for the mummification process, as opposed to the seventy days required during more ancient times. The third mummy, without coffin, is that of a Roman woman wrapped in linen bandages and covered with five pieces of cartonnage. Funerary Figurines There is also a collection of small funerary figures. These are often referred to interchangeably as Shabti, Shawabti and Ushabti, though in reality each of these terms refers to certain types of funerary figures specific to a time frame or location. Initially, these magical figures were believed to act as a substitute for the deceased himself, although later they came to be regarded as mere servants in the afterlife. Hence, at first they were sometimes fashioned either as mummies or as living persons dressed in fine linen garb, but in later periods their appearance changed more to that of servants. A spell for this purpose appeared in the Middle Kingdom Coffin Texts, and from the New Kingdom the figures were inscribed with Chapter six of the Book of the Dead. My thanks must go to my dear friend, Neri, for all of her research and help in writing the pages about Alexandria.This article about The Antiquities Museum At The Alexandria Library was initially published by Neri on the Tour Egypt site.Without her help and knowledge these pages would probably not have materialized. She has a wonderful website of her own, Egyptian Home, which I encourage you to visit at: http://www.geocities.com/egyptianhome/ All content on this page unless otherwise specified © Diane Day 2001-2006