A golden mummy- mask (600 BC) of a lady of high rank (left picture) which was shown on NHK TV attracted me. In the afternoon of yesterday, I went to see the special exhibition of the Egyptian collections in the British Museum held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum. Few people was in line at the ticket counters, as it was later then 3:30. But the exhibition halls were very crowded.

I visited the British Museum in London a few times. But I always passed through the Egyptian collections because I thought that they were plunders of imperialism. When I saw a picture of this mask which was made more than 2,600 years ago, I was shocked by finding out that it was not only old one but also artistic. Thus my curiosity on the collections was stimulated.。

The following remarks on pictures were edited by me from a Booklet titled as "Art and Afterlife in Ancient Egypt: From the British Museum" distributed at the exhibition hall with charge.

Head of unnamed Pharaoh 1425 BC	Colossal head of King Amenemhat III, 1854-1808 BC	Seated statue of Menkheperresonb 1450 BC

Statue of a court lady 1300-1275 BC	Bastet as cat 600 BC	Mummy mask of a man named Syros　20　BC−AD　２０

Ｔｈｉｓ booklet explained in details how the British Museum has collected such a vast volume of Egyptian antiquities through today. They might be plunders by power and/or money.　But I respect the people who dedicated themselves to the scientific approach to the ancient Egyptian cultures by decoding ancient Egyptian characters.

The exhibition is my recommendation. Aged over seventy are free from entrance charge.

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