Thanks to your support, we will be able to share the story of Kha and Merit, highlighting the most recent research conducted on the artifacts and on the archaeological site of Deir el-Medina where the couple lived and where the Museo Egizio still carries out an active excavation mission today.
Thanks to recent photogrammetric models created from the excavation, we will bring a virtual reconstruction of the tomb into the gallery, allowing visitors to experience the moment of its discovery by Ernesto Schiaparelli, then director of the Museo Egizio.
A new arrangement of the findings, along with updated display texts, will make the contents accessible to everyone. Kha's Book of the Dead will be placed an innovative showcase that will improve its preservation, and an infographic will explain the most significant spells contained in the papyrus. For the first time, all the textiles from Kha and Merit's collection will be exhibited together in a new display.
At the heart of the project are the objects themselves. Their restoration will be made possible thanks to your contribution, and you will be able to witness it firsthand: the work will take place right in front of you within the gallery, and we'll be sharing updates about the works over the coming months.
The rearrangement project of the Tomb of Kha and Merit is particularly ambitious. The design phase has already begun, and the main activities will take place over the upcoming months, with the new gallery scheduled to open by the end of 2025.
More than 20 professionals from the Museo Egizio are directly involved in the project, working on various tasks including curatorship, restoration, exhibition setup, architectural design, and graphic design.
The most significant expenses concern the creation of new display cases, custom-designed to suit the characteristics of the artifacts, as well as the updating of the exhibition layout.
Reaching the campaign goal of 40,000 euros will allow us to cover the restoration costs textile collection, which has been studied and cataloged over the years and will be displayed in its entirety for the first time, to the alabaster and decorated ceramic vessels, as well as the amphorae and containers for ointments and oils.
Among the artifacts requiring specialized intervention are the large outer of Kha and Merit. The restoration work will be carried out in the gallery, in full view of visitors.
With your support, we can share the extraordinary stories these everyday objects hold.