Etruscan Necklace at the Penn Museum
Behold this mesmerizing ancient bling on view in our Etruscan Gallery.
The Etruscans dominated the central part of what we know today as Italy during the late 8th through 6th centuries BCE. In addition to its decorative or protective properties, Expensive Etruscan jewelry as you see here displayed a family’s wealth and social status, setting elites apart from the rest of the citizenry.
Elaborate necklaces such as this were costly and fragile. This one includes hollow pendants in the shape of vases from which female heads emerge.
Look for this exquisite piece on your next #PennMuseum visit. Book your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3C4YSEB
Necklace, Mediterranean, 299-200 BCE, MS4021
Handcrafted Statue of a Mosque at the Penn Museum
🕌 Take a closer look at the intricate details of this beautifully handcrafted statue of a mosque, made with a brass-casting technique called dhokra.
In the spring of 1986, Sri Haradhan Karmaker, a brasscaster from West Bengal, came to the #PennMuseum to demonstrate this technique that is local to East India. It involves the creation of a model made up of strips of wax melted out from within a mold using molten metal. Common items made using this technique include grain measuring bowls, oil lamps, elephants, and Hindu deities.
This statue of a mosque, recently accessioned by the museum, is a recent innovation made for a crafts competition.
Statue, Dariapur (India), ca. 1986 CE, 2022-7-3
📖 Epic myth or ancient history? Dig deep with us to uncover the truth behind Greek & Roman heroes.
Join C. Brian Rose, Ph.D, on the epic quests of four of the most captivating heroic figures of ancient Greek and Roman mythology: Herakles (aka Hercules), Odysseus, Jason, and Aeneas.
Forget what you think you know. Everyone—from lovers of classical literature to ancient history buffs—will come away from this course with a renewed understanding of the stories of these ancient heroic voyages that have been retold for centuries.
The Deep Dig: Heroic Voyages
Virtual Adult Course
Four Thursdays, starting Nov. 3
6:30 – 8:00 PM ET
🔗 See the full course description: https://bit.ly/3SUHsk6
Unearth an ancient crossroads of diverse cultures whose innovations were ahead of the curve.
🍂 OPENS NOV. 19: EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN GALLERY: CROSSROADS OF CULTURE.
For more than 4,000 years, the Eastern Mediterranean has been a crossroads of cultural exchange between diverse peoples. Merchants, migrants, and soldiers met there to raise monuments to kings and gods, sail ships across the vast Mediterranean Sea, and share ideas in unexpected ways. What will you discover in this reimagined, multi-sensory gallery coming this fall at the #PennMuseum?
🎉 Celebrate Opening Weekend with us November 19-20: Learn more about the full two-day lineup of performances by Al-Bustan, drum workshops, family activities, and more. Reserve tickets here: https://bit.ly/3EjZW9h
⚠️ Last chance to register for #TheDeepDig!
From spectacular monuments sponsored by the elite to the emulation of those works of art created by ordinary citizens, Dr. Smith explains the role art played in propagating the faith across Chinese society more than 1,000 years after the death of the #Buddha.
The Deep Dig: Building Buddhism in Medieval China
Virtual Adult Course
Four Thursdays, starts tomorrow October 6
6:30 – 8:00 PM ET
🔗 See the full course description: https://bit.ly/3xJmImK
🥳 Happy 10th Anniversary to the #PennMuseum’s Artifact Lab!
Part exhibition, and part working laboratory, this glass-enclosed conservation lab brings you right into a museum conservator’s world. It’s gone through a number of changes since 2012 but our latest configuration is open to allow visitors to see conservators in action. On your next visit, don’t forget to check out the Artifact Lab: https://bit.ly/3p5q66y
Or catch up on ten years’ worth of blog posts here: https://bit.ly/3p8jCE2
How did #Buddhist art and monuments help spread the faith across Medieval China?
It’s not too late to sign up for our upcoming four-part virtual Deep Dig class, starting on Oct. 6. Meet the artists & inspiration behind 1,500 year old Buddhist monuments, and unravel their lasting legacy.
The Deep Dig: Building Buddhism in Medieval China
Virtual Adult Course
Four Thursdays, starting October 6
6:30 – 8:00 PM ET
🔗 See the full course description: https://bit.ly/3xJmImK
Back in stock––our best-selling colorful keychains!
These works of art are handcrafted in Guatemala by artisans who use tiny glass seed beads, a skill that takes years to master.
♻️ Plus, they are eco-friendly as — these beautiful keychains are filled with recycled plastic bags to retain their shape.
On your next visit, stop by the @pennmuseumshop to support over 200+ women artisans with this purchase!
🔍 Who were the men and women behind ancient Chinese Buddhist monuments? 'Dig Deep' with us to find out.
The Deep Dig: Building Buddhism in Medieval China
Virtual Adult Course
Four Thursdays, starting October 6
6:30 – 8:00 PM ET
🔗 See the full course description: https://bit.ly/3S2FTiW
Host Your Holiday Party at the Penn Museum
Holiday party season is around the corner––imagine bringing guests together inside breathtaking galleries, historic spaces, or serene gardens.
Let the #PennMuseum curate your next event. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner or a large staff appreciation party, our dedicated events team and exclusive caterer CXRA will make it unforgettable.
Host your event at the Museum between December 1 and January 31 to receive 10% off the venue fee and a dessert. 🍰
Start with a complimentary consultation today: https://bit.ly/3QYDjKD
🕵️♂️ We're on the case! Unravel mysteries behind headline-making art crimes with a former FBI detective in the Deep Dig.
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The Deep Dig: Rescuing Priceless Treasures
Virtual Adult Course
Four Thursdays, starting September 8
6:30 – 8:00 PM ET
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🔗 See full course description and register: https://bit.ly/3zD1WVY
NOW OPEN: ✈️ U-2 Spy Planes & Aerial Archaeology
NOW OPEN: ✈️ U-2 Spy Planes & Aerial Archaeology.
How can declassified photographs taken by a world-famous spy plane help us decode the past?
Gain new insights into ancient cities, vanished landscapes, prehistoric hunting patterns, and 20th-century rural communities who still engaged in pre-industrial modes of life, before modern development projects transformed or erased them.
Exhibition access is included with your #PennMuseum visit.
Book your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3azqIOw
🕵️♂️ This September, unravel mysteries behind headline-making #artcrimes with a former FBI detective in the Deep Dig.
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The Deep Dig: Rescuing Priceless Treasures
Virtual Adult Course
Four Thursdays, starting September 8
6:30 – 8:00 PM ET
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🔗 See full course description and register here: https://bit.ly/3zD1WVY
Opens Aug. 20: U-2 Spy Planes & Aerial Archaeology
🔍 Our new exhibition is now DECLASSIFIED!
U-2 Spy Planes & Aerial Archaeology zooms in on top-secret aerial reconnaissance materials from the Cold War. Opening August 20, this exhibition of 15 recently declassified images uncovers the United States military’s intelligence gathering during the 1950s and 1960s, using the world’s most famous spy plane—U-2! ✈️
Discover: https://bit.ly/3azqIOw
What do you get the person who has everything? 🛍
With a curated array of artisanal gifts inspired by the #PennMuseum's world-renowned collections, you are bound to to find the perfect gift for everyone you love - or treat yourself! Only at the Penn Museum Shop.
Shop online or in store today: https://bit.ly/3rgiM8h
Every purchase supports our mission in research and education.
Anthropology Camp is ALMOST sold out — only 9 spots remain! Get your groove on during the week of July 25-29 🎵 Beats, Ballads, and Bards! Meet new friends and enjoy hands-on workshops, expert talks, gallery exploration, and outdoor fun. Summer adventure awaits — register today before it's too late!
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🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3RyJDcQ
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Already registered? Pass this along to someone who would love Anthropology Camp!
Did you know that one of the earliest pieces of evidence for an alcoholic beverage comes from the site of Jiahu, in the central plain of China? Here is a remarkable artifact of a wine vessel.
The public Ancient Alcohol tour for July 23 is now SOLD OUT! You still have a chance to discover ancient beer and wine recipes, learn about modern day brewing techniques, and uncover ways that drinking culture has changed over time. Book a private Ancient Alcohol tour for your next team building event, retreat, or celebration here: https://bit.ly/3NMbpPV
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Wine Vessel, China, 1700-1100 BCE, 54-20-1
Moving a 25,000 Pound Sphinx
For #ThrowbackThursday, we're bringing you back to a monumental move in the #PennMuseum's 135-year history! June marks three years since the 3,000-year-old sphinx made its journey from the Egypt Gallery, where it sat since 1926, to the main entrance hall as you see it today.
It took an entire team and three days to move this 12.5-ton colossal granite wonder along an elevated wooden runway built on steel beams and scaffolding. It traveled in and out of windows and around the courtyard before it arrived at its new home, greeting visitors each day.
This epic sphinx move is part of the Museum’s multiyear Building Transformation. Stay tuned for more exciting gallery renovations to come!
Learn more about the largest Egyptian sphinx in the Western Hemisphere here:
https://bit.ly/2KLJdij
Video credit: University of Pennsylvania Office of Communications, Produced by Denise Henhoeffer
Happy #FathersDay to all father figures. We hope your day is filled with exploration and adventure! 😎
⚠️ The Penn Museum is closed today June 19, and will reopen on Tuesday, June 21.
⚠️ The #StoriesWeWear closes tomorrow! Don't miss this breathtaking exhibition, showcasing 2,500 years of style and adornment through approximately 250 remarkable objects.
Book your tickets to explore common threads woven through fashion history: https://bit.ly/3lZUcXQ
🍻Our popular tour and tasting Ancient Alcohol is back in person at the #PennMuseum!
Explore how our ancestors partied like it was 5000 BCE.
Drinking together has been a tradition for thousands of years. Join our archaeologists to discover ancient beer and wine recipes, learn about modern day brewing techniques, and uncover ways that drinking culture has changed over time.
Ancient Alcohol: A Taste of Bygone Booze Tour and Beer Tasting
Saturday, July 23 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET
Buy tickets here: https://bit.ly/3xfbc1m
Closing June 12: Stories We Wear
FINAL WEEK! It's your last chance to see our critically-acclaimed exhibition #StoriesWeWear, closing June 12.
⭐ “Stepping into an outfit can be one of the most powerful acts of self-expression, and it's a tool people around the world have been using for millennia.” ––CNN Style
⭐ "What this exhibition shows most vividly is that clothing is transformative. It defines and reveals but also disguises and deceives in ways that can be devious, particularly when it comes to gender.”
—Philadelphia Inquirer
⭐ “Reveals powerful expressions of identity, purpose and the meaning behind what people wore throughout different generations and civilizations.”
––Philadelphia Tribune
Exhibition access is free with general admission. Book your visit: https://bit.ly/3wvLjLM
⚠️ Anthropology Camp is almost sold out! Only one week remains open with 20+ spots left: July 25-29 🎵 Beats, Ballads, and Bards.
Don't miss out on a summer of fun with hands-on workshops, gallery exploration, and outdoor adventure!
Register now: https://bit.ly/3LOpGL0
😄 Say cheese 😄 It's #NationalSmileDay and we are grinning from ear to ear!
Explore a world of adventure at the #PennMuseum and you'll be sure to leave smiling.
Book your ticket today: https://bit.ly/3jF6XpG
Mask, Bali (Indonesia), Before 1953, 58-17-144
Audience Mask, Alaska, Klukwan, NA5778
Statue, China, Yuan Dynasty, C405A
Mask, Bali (Indonesia), Before 1953, 58-17-162
Statue, Egypt, 381-343 BCE, E14303
What do Moses, Aaron, Trajan, and Indiana Jones all have in common?
The answer is Petra.
Many mysteries still lie buried beneath Jordan's ancient sands. Explore the magnificent ruins of Petra, Jordan, and delve into an archaeological excavation of the "Temple of the Winged Lions" with Stephen "Dr. Steve" Phillips.
The Deep Dig: Petra, Jordan: “The Rose-Red City Half as Old as Time”
Virtual Adult Course
Four Thursdays, starting June 2
6:30 – 8:00 PM ET
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🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3yXEQL2
It's #InternationalMuseumDay!🏛
In addition to welcoming visitors who explore our world-renowned collections, we also reach classrooms in our communities and around the globe through onsite and online learning programs:
📝 35,000 K-12 students, including 6,000 Philadelphia Title I public school students, visit our galleries onsite.
🌎 250 award-winning distance learning programs are delivered in classrooms worldwide, from Mexico to Australia.
💬 15 countries from all over the globe are represented through our International Classroom speaker program.
🎓 5,000+ Penn undergraduate students benefit from our museum-based Academic Engagement program.
📖 3,000+ households read up on archaeology and anthropology through our Expedition magazine.
💻 400,000 artifacts are made accessible online through Digital Penn Museum.
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Learn more about our mission and how we are making archaeology and anthropology accessible: https://bit.ly/38penLz
#IMD2022
In honor of #AAPIheritagemonth, we're dedicating weekly features throughout May to Asian culture and artistic traditions expressed in the Museum's Asian collections.
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The Penn Museum has a large collection of material made by the Ainu people of Japan collected in the early 1900’s. One of the highlights of the collection is a set of textiles that illustrate regional differences in the production of coats.
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Some are made of an inner bark cloth, which is softened by soaking it in running water until it can be twisted and woven into cloth using a loom. These pieces were then stitched together and cotton was appliquéd to the surface. Other examples utilize cotton and silk fabric imported from other areas in Asia that were stitched together and embroidered.
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In 2008, the Japanese government officially recognized the Ainu as an Indigenous people with a distinct language, religion and culture. A recent comic book and anime series “Golden Kamuy”, featuring a young Ainu girl as one of the protagonist, has garnered praise for raising public awareness of Ainu rights and culture.
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Coat, Japan, Hokkaido, Shiraoi, A397A
Coat, Japan, Hokkaido, Hidaka, Shiraoi, A396A
Coat, Japan, Hokkaido, Hidaka, Shiraoi, A395
Coat, Japan, Hokkaido, Biratori, 97-122-17
CLOSING MAY 15: "Water, Wind, Breath: Southwest Native Art in Community" at the The Barnes Foundation, co-curated by the #PennMuseum and Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.
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For Southwest Native peoples, the creative practices of making and using pottery, textiles, and jewelry are not just decorative arts – they are living traditions that sustain health and well-being for individuals and communities.
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Discover beautiful Pueblo and Navajo works organized into themes: working with Clay maintains relationships with Mother Earth; weaving Cloth creates places of great peace; making and wearing Silver and Stone jewelry maintains worlds of relationships.
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🎫 FINAL DAYS to save $5 on your visits to the Barnes and Penn Museum and deepen your experience of Native American art and history.
🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3EXygW3
“Mom” means the world to us. Celebrate the mother figure in your life by giving them the 🌎 this May.
Schedule a #PennMuseum visit for you and Mom any day between May 1–31, and we’ll treat Mom to a complimentary global gift from ourPenn Museum Shopp! 🎁
With over a million world wonders to see in new galleries that connect you to the cultures of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Mediterranean, it's a global getaway in one day!
*How It Works*
🎟 Book any two Museum admission tickets for you and Mom online or at walk up.
🛍 Just mention our "BYO MOM" offer at the Shop on the Main Level, and show your receipt for at least two admission tickets booked in May 2022.
*Cannot be combined with other discounts or offers. Complimentary gift can only be redeemed onsite at the Shop on the Main Level. A receipt showing a minimum of two admission tickets booked any day in May 2022 is required to redeem the gift.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Jcp1S1
Did you know there are over 250 coins on display in the #PennMuseum?
It's #NationalCoinWeek and we are adding our two cents in!
🪙 People have been using coins for almost 3,000 and we still use coins today. Around the whole world, coins are still a part of our currency!
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Obol, Argos, 420-380 BCE, 94-27-45
Coin Dirham, Near East, Egypt (uncertain), 1478-1490, 46-29-7
Coin Toman, Near East, Iran (uncertain), 1879-1880
Coin Dinar, Near East, Egypt (uncertain), 1262-1263, 46-29-1
Coin, Iran, Rayy, 1000-1099, 37-11-274
Coin Quarter Dinar, Iran, Rayy, Fatimid Dynasty, 37-11-267
Dinar, Egypt, Cairo, Fatimid Dynasty, 29-231-348
Coin, Aureus, Rome (Italy), 125-128 CE, 29-126-965
Coin Denarius, Rome (Italy), 48 BCE, 29-126-828
Coin Denarius, Rome (Italy), 89 BCE, 29-126-691
Coin Drachm, Larissa, ca. 350 BCE, 29-126-387
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