How did children live on the Nile at the time of the pharaohs? What did it mean to grow up thousands of years ago in a country that is one of the most fascinating advanced civilizations of mankind? With the exhibition "Childhood on the Nile. Growing up in Ancient Egypt", which can be seen from October 28, 2025 to June 21, 2026 at the State Museum of Egyptian Art in Munich, is the first major museum exhibition to focus explicitly and in a differentiated way on a topic that has so far only received marginal attention in Egyptology - childhood.
The SMÄK invites children, young people and adults alike on an intergenerational journey of discovery. In nine thematically organized exhibition areas, it sheds light on the life of ancient Egyptian children in all its facets - from birth, family, education and religion to clothing and play, social roles, care, illness and death. The time span covered ranges from the early period around 3000 BC to late antiquity, i.e. over 4000 years of Egyptian history.
Around 180 objects, including outstanding exhibits from the museum's own collection as well as top-class international loans, form the heart of the show. Many pieces, such as several elaborately restored children's shoes made of leather, a painted wooden child's coffin or the finely crafted stucco mask of a child's mummy, are being presented to the public for the first time. Objects from everyday life - dolls, board games, amulets - also provide intimate insights into the lives of the youngest members of this ancient society.
Child mummy © SMÄK, Roy Hessing
The innovative exhibition approach is particularly noteworthy: the presentation is deliberately designed to be interactive and multi-sensory. A specially developed children's trail, hands-on stations, scent islands, an "ancient Egyptian reclining area" with replica headrests and writing exercises in hieroglyphics make the experience of the past tangible in a playful way, even for young visitors. Those who wish can wrap themselves in linen robes or sniff the mysterious recipes of ancient Egyptian perfumes and ointments - a sensual connection to the ancient world.
With this exhibition, the SMÄK not only succeeds in building a bridge between the past and present, but also a multi-layered examination of topics such as equal opportunities, education, care and social participation - topics that have lost none of their relevance to this day. "Childhood on the Nile" impressively demonstrates how historical knowledge can not only be preserved, but also brought to life - for an audience of all ages.
The exhibition is accompanied by an elaborately designed catalog, supplemented by a children's booklet featuring the museum mascots Isi and Usi. The museum also offers an extensive education program with guided tours, workshops, lectures and educational formats for school classes and families.
October 28, 2025 to June 21, 2026
www.smaek.de
Child's coffin of Nefretiri © SMÄK, Marianne Franke
