Behind every object lies a captivating story. By adopting an object, you’re contributing to its preservation and helping us uncover its secrets. Your support is vital in ensuring that the Egypt Centre remains a hub for Egyptian culture and history. For a donation, you can choose an object to adopt for a year.
How it Works
Adopting an Egypt Centre object is easy following our four-step process.
- Select an object. Objects can be selected from the list below or by searching our online collection catalogue.
- Decide on a tier. Decide on the tier that best fits your needs and budget. Details below.
- Make a donation. Donations can be made via the Egypt Centre’s donation page. Please select the amount you want to donate based on your chosen tier. In the comments section, state that your gift is for the adoption of an object, making sure to provide the museum number. Please don’t forget to gift aid if eligible!
- Thank you! Once the donation has been received, we will follow up with you to confirm the details. We will then start the process of fulfilling your rewards! If you have not received a response from us within five working days, please email egyptcentre@swansea.ac.uk.
Our Tiers
Our Adopt an Object programme offers three tiers, each with unique benefits and a corresponding donation. Choose the tier that best suits your budget and commitment to preserving ancient Egyptian artefacts.
Bronze Beetle (£20):
Join the ranks of our Bronze Beetles and help preserve ancient Egyptian history. For only £20, you can adopt an artefact of your choice and receive:
– Digital certificate.
– Name on the online catalogue (unless anonymity is requested).
Silver Shabti (£50):
Become a Silver Shabti and unlock exclusive benefits. For £50, you can enjoy a range of exclusive rewards, including:
– Digital certificate.
– Name on the online catalogue (unless anonymity is requested).
– A guided tour of the collection and store by the Curator, including the opportunity to handle your adopted object (if safe to do so).
Golden God (£100):
Become a Golden God and support the Egypt Centre. For £100, you can make a significant contribution to the preservation of ancient Egyptian artefacts. As a Golden God adopter, you’ll receive:
– Digital certificate.
– Name on the online catalogue (unless anonymity is requested).
– A guided tour of the collection and store by the Curator, including the opportunity to handle your adopted object (if safe to do so).
– A personalised video message from the Egypt Centre staff.
– Exclusive adoption of the object for one year (subject to availability).
Testimonial
“People feel a draw to objects for lots of reasons. For me, this wooden funerary figure (W687) is very special as I spent time researching him as part of my Master’s thesis at Swansea University. Because of this, I feel very connected to him, and so adopting an object is a great way for me to commemorate that connection. It’s also a really fun way of supporting this wonderful collection at the same time to continue the amazing work they do.” (Sam Powell)
Selected Objects for Adoption
We’ve curated a selection of objects for you to choose from, including pieces on display and others in our museum store. Simply browse through our list of some of the best-loved objects from our collection and select the one you want to adopt. But if you have your heart set on a particular object that isn’t on our list, please don’t hesitate to let us know! This list below will continually change as already adopted objects are replaced by ones that are not. Click on the objects for full catalogue details.
Imagine the stories this fantastic Bes vessel could tell. Adopt it and help preserve a piece of ancient Egyptian history.
Location: House of Death
This beautiful marble head of a bearded man dates to the Roman Period (c. 30 BC–AD 200). Unfortunately, it is unknown who he is!
Location: House of Life
Paddle dolls were common in graves dating to the Middle Kingdom (c. 2,000–1,700 BC). This one is unique as it contains a tattoo of a frog!
Location: House of Life
W1367b is one of two fragments in the Egypt Centre belonging to the coffin of Amenhotep son of Hapu. Amenhotep was revered as a man of great wisdom.
Location: House of Death
Cats were particularly revered by the ancient Egyptians. This beautiful cartonnage mask originally covered the head of a mummified cat.
Location: House of Death
Offering trays were used around 4,000 years ago. While simple objects, they play an important role in ensuring the deceased receives nourishment.
Location: House of Death
While this Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figure is now incomplete, the decoration that is preserved on the front indicates that this was once a stunning object.
Location: Storage
Ba-birds represented the personality of the deceased. This bird would have originally been placed on top of a wooden stela.
Location: House of Death
This string of carnelian beads dates to the Middle Kingdom. The three larger beads are in the shape of snake heads, two of which have engraved eyes.
Location: House of Life
This cute Cypriot horse dates to around 600–500 BC. It was originally part of a larger chariot model, but this is the only element that survives.
Location: House of Life
W164 is a type of object commonly referred to as a reserve head. They are one of the most distinctive types of objects dating to the Old Kingdom.
Location: House of Death
This beautiful beaded collar dates to the Amarna Period (c. 1,350 BC). The central pendant contains a rare representation of the goddess Beset.
Location: House of Life
This miniature book consists of a hinged metal cover containing thirteen pages with printed excerpts of chapters (Surah) of the Holy Quran.
Location: House of Life
WK44 is a faience Bes bell. The material suggests it is a votive or amuletic item, particularly as faience would have been too fragile to shake vigorously.
Location: House of Life
Nourishment was one of the most important requirements for the deceased. This relief depicts a male seated before a large table of offerings.
Location: House of Death
Funerary stelae were created as a memorial for the deceased. This beautifully decorated wooden stela belongs to a priest at Edfu called Pasherienimhotep.
Location: House of Death
This stela was created to mark the death of the mother of the Buchis Bull at Armant. The inscription tells us that it occurred in AD 190, during the reign of the Emperor Commodus.
Location: House of Life
Pottery like this is referred to by Egyptologists as D-ware (decorated) vessels. They were found in graves dating to around 5,500 years ago, before the invention of writing!
Location: House of Life
This relief depicts Neferure, the daughter of the female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut. Neferure served as the God’s Wife of Amun.
Location: House of Life
Limestone statue of a priest called Aba. The text provides Aba’s genealogy, including the names of his parents, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Location: House of Life
Shabtis were one of the most common items of funerary equipment. This wooden shabti belongs to the Scribe of the Divine Offerings, Ptahhotep.
Location: House of Death
This faience figurine depicts Sekhmet and her son Nefertum. The back support takes the form of a stela, which is inscribed with good wishes.
Location: House of Death
Wooden tomb models like this were commonly placed in tombs since Old Kingdom times (c. 2,300 BC). This one depicts an unidentified tomb owner.
Location: House of Death
Double statues such as this one were common during the Middle Kingdom (c. 2,000–1,700 BC). It represents an unidentified husband and wife.
Location: House of Life
Imagine this vessel, filled with grain or water, in a bustling Egyptian household. It comes from Amarna and features intricate lotus decorations.
Location: House of Life
Anubis was the god of mummification and is represented as a jackal. This wooden figure was originally placed on top of a coffin.
Location: House of Death
Imagine the power of this statue, a replica of Djedher the Saviour. Believed to have healing properties, it’s inscribed with protective text against bites.
Location: House of Death
This black granite head was originally part of a life-size statue. Stylistically, it possibly represents either Queen Berenice II or Arsinoe III.
Location: House of Death
Copper alloy statues such as this were commonly presented as votive offerings to the god Osiris. This one is inscribed for a man called Ankhkhonsu.
Location: House of Death
This rare female figurine is made of faience and dates to the Middle Kingdom (c. 2,000–1,700 BC). She holds an apotropaic wand in her hand.
Location: Storage
Terms and Conditions
- Up to five individuals may adopt a single object, unless the said object has been adopted as part of the Golden God option.
- The adopted object remains the property of the museum. Adopting an object will not give you any rights over the object itself or images of it.
- Adoption is for one year. Existing adopters will be invited to renew their adoption before the end of the twelve-month period.
- The museum reserves the right to modify the terms and conditions at any time. Any changes will be communicated to adopters.