Eckley Coxe was one of the Museum's most generous patrons. An avid admirer of Egyptian civilization from childhood, he personally financed six Museum expeditions to Nubia and Egypt between 1907 and 1915. As President of the Museum's Board (1910-1916) he contributed large sums for general operating expenses. Although he had been the major contributor toward the construction of the Harrison Rotunda, he graciously deferred to the University Provost as namesake for the structure. Never robust, Coxe fell ill and died at the age of forty-four, leaving a half-million dollar endowment to the Museum's Egyptian Section. The Coxe Memorial Egyptian Wing was constructed in 1924 to display the collections he cherished. Public enthusiasm created by the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922 provided a warm reception for the Coxe Wing opening.
The Coxe Wing was the first of the architectural links envisioned in the 1896 plan to be constructed. It was designed to connect the westernmost (Harrison) rotunda with the planned central rotunda. The wing consists of two levels, each featuring a large main hall with small galleries opening off both sides of it.
A misunderstanding with the architects about the weight-bearing capacity of the upper floor resulted in a major tragedy in Museum history. It was intended that the splendid remains of the Palace of Merenptah would be reconstructed at full height in the Upper Hall, while the sculptural collections would be displayed in the Lower Hall. Because the Upper Hall could not support its weight, however, the Pharaonic throne room was placed in the Lower Hall where its architectural elements had to be presented side-by-side. The great sphinx of Ramesses II was placed there for the same reason. It originally stood guard outdoors at the main entrance (1913-16), but was brought indoors due to fears that winter frost would crack its red granite stone. Transported to the Lower Hall of the Coxe Wing before the eastern wall of the gallery was bricked up, it remains entombed there today. The gallery has a solemn grandeur unequaled by any in the Museum, despite the fact that it resulted from a misunderstanding.
In the minds of Philadelphians, Egyptian mummies have been associated with the Museum from its earliest days in the University Library building, and continue to be a distinguishing characteristic. The Mummy Gallery seen here, in one of the lateral galleries on the upper level of the Coxe Wing, has a tomblike appearance. Note the distinguished features of the wing, such as a vaulted ceiling with skylight, terrazzo floor, and pendant, wrought-iron light globes.
