The
Royal Museum of Scotland
has a small but interesting collection of Egyptian mummies and
other artifacts on the first floor. Don't let the dark
exterior fool you. Inside you will find an inner courtyard with
a light and airy atrium (even
on a rainy day). The museum
displays are modern and well-lit,
One
of the most interesting mummies in the exhibit is one of a
young girl (which also dates to the Roman period). The mummy
case may look large in the above photo, but it is actually
quite small. And, though the figure carved onto the front of
the coffin is that of a woman, the coffin held the body of a
young girl. This was not unusual.
The display is
notable for the grave goods recovered with the body and
included in the exhibit: tiny glass bottles for perfume and
oil, two silver mirrors, a guardian lion figure, and a mummy
label (with the figure of a man painted on one side and the
figure of a woman painted on the reverse), among others.
Most of the mummies displayed are
from the late period , such as the one below left, which dates
to the Roman period with its painted mummy-face portrait.
A Roman period mummy
case with painted face portrait
Another mummy case displayed
at the Royal Museum of Scotland
On a side note, you also won't
want to miss Dolly the sheep, the first adult mammal to be
successfully cloned, who is also on display at the Royal
Museum.
If
you are in Edinburgh, you shouldn't miss two other nearby
sites, besides the famous castle overlooking the city.
First,
the Museum of Scotland, adjacent to the Royal Museum. This
is a stunning new museum, featuring six levels of
artifacts pertaining the the history (and prehistory) of
Scotland. My particular favorite was the Iron Maiden, a type
of guillotine used in Edinburgh. It is notable for its ease
of use (it folded up for handy storage, but managed to do
the trick when in use).
Across
the street from the Museum of Scotland is perhaps Edinburgh's
most moving shrine for dog-lovers: the statue of Grayfriar's
Bobby. You'll have to find
the book or the old Disney movie of the same name to find out
what this statue is about (though if you are going to
Edinburgh, you'll be able to pick up any number of books about
the famous terrier at every bookstore). You see, when his
master died and was buried in nearby Grayfriar's Churchyard
(or Kirkyard), Bobby loyally stayed on his master's grave
(looked after by local residents) until he died a number of
years later. If you love dogs, this is a story guaranteed to
break your heart.
STAYING
IN EDINBURGH:
I have found that Edinburgh is
easier to handle on foot than by car. When I have visited, I
have either opted to stay out of town and take the train to
the well-located station or stay out of the town center near
the airport and take the bus to Princes Street. Either way,
you will arrive just down the hill from the castle and near
the museums as well.
One
of the most interesting mummies in the exhibit is one of a
young girl (which also dates to the Roman period). The mummy
case may look large in the above photo, but it is actually
quite small. And, though the figure carved onto the front of
the coffin is that of a woman, the coffin held the body of a
young girl. This was not unusual.
First,
the Museum of Scotland, adjacent to the Royal Museum. This
is a stunning new museum, featuring six levels of
artifacts pertaining the the history (and prehistory) of
Scotland. My particular favorite was the Iron Maiden, a type
of guillotine used in Edinburgh. It is notable for its ease
of use (it folded up for handy storage, but managed to do
the trick when in use).
Across
the street from the Museum of Scotland is perhaps Edinburgh's
most moving shrine for dog-lovers: the statue of Grayfriar's
Bobby. You'll have to find
the book or the old Disney movie of the same name to find out
what this statue is about (though if you are going to
Edinburgh, you'll be able to pick up any number of books about
the famous terrier at every bookstore). You see, when his
master died and was buried in nearby Grayfriar's Churchyard
(or Kirkyard), Bobby loyally stayed on his master's grave
(looked after by local residents) until he died a number of
years later. If you love dogs, this is a story guaranteed to
break your heart.