The House of Life Gallery

The House of Life gallery is located on the first floor of the Egypt Centre. The hieroglyphs above the doors to the gallery read as per-ankh, which translates literally as “House of Life”. In Egyptian terms, it was used specifically to refer to a library or scriptorium.

A rectangular sign with a background that resembles papyrus. Two red figures, resembling Anubis, are kneeling on either side of the sign, pointing towards the center. In the centre, there is a hieroglyph representing the "House of Life" and the Welsh translation "Ty Bywyd."

Objects in the House of Life gallery largely relate to the lives of the ancient Egyptians (although most of them were actually found in tombs). Cases are divided into themes, some by period (the Prehistory of Egypt and the Amarna Period) and others by material (woodworking, metals, writing). The gallery also contains a temporary exhibition case, which is changed every six months.

A floor plan of the House of Life at the Egypt Centre in Swansea, Wales. The map shows the layout of the various rooms and exhibits, including the Learning Area, The Prehistory of Egypt, Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period Stela, Objects in Drawers, Egypt and its Neighbors, Writing & Mathematics, Temporary Exhibition, Music & Games, Pottery, Objects in Drawers, Textiles, Stone, Votive Offerings, Jewellery, Body Adornment, Objects in Drawers, Woodworking, Faience & Glass, Metalwork, Coptic Stela, Amarna, Senet game, Fakes, Forgeries and Replicas, Object Handling Board, Aba, Paneb, House of Life, Egypt Centre Library, Play Area, Doors to Taliesin, and Office.

One of the most popular cases in this gallery is the Amarna case. Objects in this case primarily originate from the Egypt Exploration Society‘s excavations at Amarna in Middle Egypt. Dating back to a short period in Egyptian history (c. 1353–1336 BC), these artefacts reflect the time when Pharaoh Akhenaten abandoned the traditional worship of hundreds of gods in favour of a single deity, the Aten. Some objects in this case are also associated with Tutankhamun, the boy-king who was Akhenaten’s son.

A display case showcasing artefacts from the Amarna Period in ancient Egypt. The case includes a variety of objects, such as pottery, jewellery, and small figurines. There is also information about the Amarna Period and Akhenaten, the pharaoh who ruled during this time.

Join in the fun at our gallery! Visitors can participate in various activities, such as handling real ancient Egyptian artefacts or challenging our volunteers to a game of Senet.

Image of a male teen holding a black and white photo of a mummified bull, which he shows to an adult male. Between them is a tray of ancient Egyptian artefacts.

Looking for help? Please don’t hesitate to ask our knowledgeable volunteers. They’re here to make your experience memorable.