The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition, Divine Egypt, brings ancient Egyptian deities to life, showcasing about 210 works, including pieces never before seen in the US. From Hathor, the nurturing cow goddess of love and kingship, to Ra, depicted as an otter-mongoose hybrid, the exhibit proves that Egyptians viewed these likenesses not as mere symbols but as vessels for living presences. More importantly, the exhibition explores how Egyptians visually expressed the divine over 3,000 years. Visitors encounter intimate and monumental artworks, including animal mummies offered to gods, Anubis guiding souls, and goddess Nut swallowing the sun. According to curator Diana Craig Patch, the show highlights the adaptability of Egypt’s divine imagery and how gods evolved yet retained their core identities.
artnet
