Egyptian Museum of Berlin

The Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection of Berlin (German: Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung) is one of the world's most significant collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts. Located in the Neues Museum on Berlin's Museum Island, it traces its origins to 1828 when the Egyptian department was established on the recommendation of Alexander von Humboldt. The museum is particularly renowned for housing the celebrated bust of Queen Nefertiti, and its holdings span four millennia of Egyptian history from the Predynastic era through Roman rule.

The museum emerged from the royal art collections of the Hohenzollern kings of Prussia. In 1828, King Friedrich Wilhelm III established the Egyptian department following Alexander von Humboldt's recommendation. The Trieste merchant Giuseppe Passalacqua, whose extensive archaeological collection formed the core of the holdings, became its first director. Initially housed in Monbijou Palace, the department gained substantial additions through the Prussian expedition to Egypt and Nubia led by Karl Richard Lepsius from 1842 to 1845. The collection moved to its purpose-built home in the Neues Museum in 1850, designed by Friedrich August Stüler. The Nefertiti Bust, discovered during Ludwig Borchardt's excavations at Amarna, was donated by Henri James Simon in 1920 and rapidly became the museum's most famous exhibit.

World War II severely disrupted the collection. The Neues Museum suffered heavy damage in 1943, and numerous objects were destroyed. The collection was divided between East and West Berlin: the main portion remained in East Berlin and was displayed at the Bode Museum from 1958, while evacuated artefacts including the Nefertiti Bust returned to West Berlin, where they were exhibited from 1967 to 2005 in the Stüler building opposite Charlottenburg Palace. Following German reunification, the collections were reunited. The East Berlin collection closed for renovation in the 1990s, and in August 2005 the West Berlin holdings moved back to Museum Island, initially to the Altes Museum. The complete collection returned to its reconstructed original home when the Neues Museum reopened in October 2009.

The collection encompasses artefacts from approximately 4000 BC through the period of Roman rule, with particular strength in material from the reign of Akhenaten around 1340 BC. It offers extensive insight into daily life in the Nile Valley, the veneration of kings and gods, funerary beliefs, and significant ancient Egyptian texts on papyrus. The holdings include statues, reliefs, small art objects, and at least 23 mummified ancient Egyptians. In the 2020s, CT scans were performed on these mummies as part of research into mummification practices, specifically examining the treatment of hearts and attempting to establish the sex and age at death of the individuals. The collection also preserves three decorated cult chapels from Old Kingdom mastabas belonging to Metjen, Manefer, and Merib.

The undisputed centerpiece is the exceptionally well-preserved and vividly coloured bust of Queen Nefertiti, donated by James Simon in 1920. Other celebrated works include the "Berlin Green Head" and the Papyrus Westcar (Berlin 3033), a literary text from the late Hyksos or early Eighteenth Dynasty containing the tale of magicians at the court of King Khufu. The papyrus collection also includes Berlin 3022, Berlin 3024, Berlin 3027, a medical papyrus (Berlin 3038), the Reinhardt papyrus (Berlin 3063), a mathematical papyrus (Berlin 6619), and several others. The Papyrus Berlin 25239, also known as the Papyrus of Cleopatra, has been identified by papyrologist Peter van Minnen as possibly bearing the autograph of Cleopatra VII, though this attribution remains debated. The Kalabsha Gate, discovered as fill material during the dismantling of the Kalabsha Temple in connection with the Aswan High Dam construction, was given to the Federal Republic of Germany by Egypt in 1973 as thanks for German assistance in the UNESCO Nubia campaign. This gate, currently in the collection, is slated for eventual display in the new wing of the Pergamon Museum.

The Egyptian Museum occupies the Neues Museum on Berlin's Museum Island (Museumsinsel), a UNESCO World Heritage site. The building was originally constructed to Friedrich August Stüler's designs and opened in 1850. After suffering severe war damage in 1943, it underwent extensive reconstruction and reopened in October 2009. The museum's current installation spans three levels. However, space constraints mean that much monumental sculpture and architecture cannot be displayed, including the Kalabsha Gate and the temple courtyard from Sahure's mortuary temple. These are planned for eventual exhibition in the fourth wing of the Pergamon Museum, a component of the Masterplan Museumsinsel that remains both under construction and controversial.

The Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection is located on Museum Island in the Mitte district of Berlin. It operates as part of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (State Museums of Berlin) and is accessible through the Neues Museum. Since 2015, the museum has participated in the "Multaka: Treffpunkt Museum" programme, which offers guided tours in Arabic and Persian to facilitate intercultural dialogue and the exchange of perspectives on cultural heritage. The Egyptian Museum joined this initiative at the end of 2023. The museum's work is actively supported by the Verein zur Förderung des Ägyptischen Museums e. V. (Society for the Promotion of the Egyptian Museum Berlin).