Penn Museum invites visitors to explore the wonders of history and culture from civilizations around the world through an extraordinary collection of nearly one million artifacts – objects created by humans for every day or sacred use. Just one percent of these artifacts are on public display at any one time, but the rest still need proper housing and care.
Now you can help the Penn Museum to properly care for all the artifacts in its collection by “adopting” one of your own favorites. All funds raised from adoptions will support the preservation, storage, and management of our artifacts.
Levels of adoption begin at $35. Find out more about the benefits of adopting an artifact!
Choose your favorite artifact below:
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Ram in the Thicket
This goat standing upright against a flowering plant and its counterpart in the British Museum are two of the most famous objects from the Royal Cemetery of Ur.
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Cat Mummy
While cats and other animals could be beloved pets, most of the animal mummies we have were sacred creatures, representatives of the divine.
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Sphinx
This twelve-ton, red granite Sphinx of Ramesses II, 19th Dynasty, circa 1293-1185 BCE is third largest outside of Egypt.
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Crystal Ball
This crystal ball from the Qing Dynasty, 1644 - 1911 AD is thought to be the second largest in the world.
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Nskipe Dance Crest
This dance cap from the Cross river area in Nigeria and Cameroon was worn as a symbol of power or celebration of victory in battle.
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Apache Poncho and Skirt
Young White Mountain Apache girls wear ponchos and skirts similar to this one during the four day long puberty ceremony.
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Etruscan Helmet
This bronze commander's crested hemet is from Narce, Italy and was made in the end of the 8th century BCE.
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The Puteoli Block
Roman Emperors Domitian and Trajan are both honored on this marble block circa 102 CE, but Domitian’s name has been erased as a part of the official act of damnatio memoriae.
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The Horses of Emperor Taizong
Emperor Taizong immortalized his prized horses in stone relief during the Tang Dynasty in China (618-907 AD).
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Cat Statue
This Egyptian cat statue dates to Dynasty 22, around 945 BCE.
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Stela 14
This stela from Piedras Negras, Guatamala was instrumental in our understanding of the Mayan dating system.
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