I’m not into social media that much (for starters, I don’t do Facebook–gasp!), but if my fellow colleagues at the Penn Museum would happen to pick an avatar, a visual representation for myself, it would probably be this: This is not because I visit the bathroom more frequently than the average person. This is because [...]
This week, Thomas and Max give us new ways to look at Harpoon-shaped Head: Pointy Sharp, Shiny Stabbing, Throwing, Battling What is it made of? Wood by Thomas Sharp Brown, Amazed Amazing, Interesting, Attracting How was it made? Awesome by Max
This week highlights two iconic objects from the Iraq’s Ancient Past exhibition: Ram in the Thicket and Puabi’s Diadem and Headdress. Here is what the guest interpreters had to say: Ram Caught in a Thicket Shiny A ram, Curious Kicking, Standing, Eating Why did they create this? Stuck by Marley Puabi’s Golden Headdress Pretty Big, [...]
This week, Abington School District guest interpreters Jacob and Kaileb give us two new ways to look at Penn Museum’s iconic Lyre with Bearded Bull’s Head and Inlaid Panel. Horns Cool, Creepy Living, Snorting, Kicking Where did it come from? Brown by Jacob Bull-like Amazing, Surprised Attracting, Interesting, Amusing How did they make it? Beard [...]
The month of April is a month full of dedications – everything from Fools (April 1) to Administrative Professionals (April 24) and even the whole Earth itself (April 22) receive a special day. My personal favorite celebration for April is National Poetry Month. Back in February, second graders from Abington School District visited the Penn [...]
Was beer critical in the development of civilization, agriculture, mathematics, bookkeeping, writing and language? Did beer help build the pyramids? Was beer used to treat certain afflictions and was it unknowingly used as an ancient antibiotic? Was beer safer to consume than water in the middle ages? Find out the answers to all these questions [...]
Corn is an important part of Maya culture. In the Popol Vuh, Maya cosmology holds that the Gods created the first humans from an ear of corn. Another sign of the importance of corn is the multiple names it has in Mayan language. The tortilla, a dietary staple, also has several names that change depending [...]
The Maya are well known for their achievements in counting and documenting time, but do they deserve a reputation for human sacrifice? For ancient Americans this was a ritualized practice that was considered a payment to the Gods for the gift of life. The Aztec are believed to have conducted mass human sacrifice, but the evidence we have for the [...]
One hundred years ago this year (when the Penn Museum was just celebrating the 25th anniversary of its founding) a letter arrived on the desk of then Director, George Byron Gordon. The post was from James H. McGlaughlin, who ran a trading post on Standing Rock Reservation, in North Dakota. In it, McGlaughlin replied to [...]
It’s Shark Week and how better to celebrate than with a shark inspired creation! Enjoy our shark salad! For this summer’s best dish please read directions and reference images below What you will need: 1: Shark hook, from Oceania, held in Penn Museum’s collection. For more info click here! 2: Weapon with shark teeth, from [...]
