Explore highlights from Te Papa’s Egyptian collection that appear in Egypt: Beyond the Tomb.
Ba bird
The ancient Egyptians believed that a dead person's ba, or soul, continued to exist after their death. < more...
Ka figure with vandalised face
In ancient Egypt, the ka was the actual life force of a person, symbolised by a pair of raised open arms. < more...
Mummiform shabtis
The ancient Egyptians believed that the afterlife involved compulsory manual labour. To avoid this work, many Egyptians included shabtis in their tombs. < more ...
Forgery of a royal shabti
Shabtis (funerary statuettes) have always been popular souvenirs for visitors to Egypt. < more ...
Mummified ibis
This mummy contains an ibis bird - an animal sacred to Thoth, god of the moon, magic, and writing. < more ...
