Monday, 30 January 2012 16:21

MAYA 2012: ANCIENT PROPHECY OR MODERN MYTH?
Penn Museum in Philadelphia Explores Origins of 2012 End of World Predictions
With Major New Exhibition MAYA 2012: Lords of Time

Tickets Go On Sale February 1st

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Did the Maya believe the world would end in December 2012?

With MAYA 2012: Lords of Time—a world premiere exhibition opening May 5th—the Penn Museum confronts the current fascination with the year 2012, comparing predictions of a world-transforming apocalypse with their supposed origins in the ancient Maya civilization. The exhibition runs through January 13th, 2013.

MAYA 2012 leads visitors on a journey through the Maya’s time-ordered universe, expressed through their intricate calendar systems, and the power wielded by their divine kings, the astounding “lords of time.” Visitors explore the Maya world through a range of interactive experiences and walk among sculptures and full-sized replicas of major monuments while uncovering the truth behind these apocalyptic predictions.

The all-new exhibition is presented in partnership with the Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia of the Republic of Honduras. MAYA 2012 features more than 100 remarkable objects, including artifacts recently excavated by Penn Museum archaeologists at the site of Copan, Honduras, and on loan from the Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia. Visitors follow the rise and fall of Copan, moving across the centuries to discover how Maya ideas about time and the calendar have changed up to the present day. Contemporary Maya speak to their own heritage and concerns for the future.

“MAYA 2012 offers visitors a rare opportunity to view spectacular examples of Classic Maya art—some of which have never before been seen outside Honduras—and delve into the Maya people’s extraordinary, layered, and shifting concepts about time,” noted Exhibition Curator Dr. Loa Traxler. “MAYA 2012: Lords of Time uncovers a history and culture far richer and more surprising than commonly supposed.”

Dr. Traxler, Mellon Associate Deputy Director of the Penn Museum and co-author of The Ancient Maya, (Sixth Edition, 2006), is an archaeologist who excavated at the site of Copan with Penn Museum's Early Copan Acropolis Program (1989 through 2003). Simon Martin, Associate Curator of the Museum’s American Section and a leading Maya epigrapher, is co-curator of the exhibition.

What is the 2012 Phenomenon?

In recent years, the media have been filled with claims that the ancient Maya predicted a cataclysmic event at the end of their calendar. Some believe that a celestial alignment will bring a series of devastating natural disasters. Others argue that this event will bring enlightenment and a new age of peace. As December 2012 draws closer, new predictions continue to emerge. But what did the Maya really believe?

The Maya and their Calendar

The ancient Maya civilization has long fascinated scholars and the public alike. For 2,000 years, the Maya flourished in southern Mexico and parts of Central America, their grand cities featuring temple pyramids, palaces, ball courts, and intricately carved stone monuments bearing royal portraits and a complex hieroglyphic script. They excelled in art, architecture, astronomy, and mathematics—developing a calendar system that amazes and intrigues to this day.

The exhibition invites the visitor to explore the ancient Maya’s complex, interlocking calendar systems, which were based on an advanced understanding of astronomy and the night sky. Their most elaborate system, the Long Count, encompasses trillions of years, and one of its important cycles comes to a close on December 23, 2012 (some scholars say December 21, 2012). This is the origin of the Maya 2012 “end of the world” phenomenon.

Highlights of this section include an immersive re-creation of a Maya pyramid, and opportunities to create your own Maya name in hieroglyphs and to calculate your birthdate within the Maya calendar.

Copan and the Lords of Time

The ancient Maya believed that their kings were embodiments of time. At the site of Copan, Honduras, a dynasty of 16 kings ruled for nearly four centuries, from 426 to after 800 CE. Discoveries from recent excavations—including work by Penn Museum archaeologists—provide new insights and remarkable artifacts to tell the story of these lords and their unique understanding, and use, of time. Tunneling deep under the pyramids of Copan, archaeologists uncovered the tomb of the founder of the Copan dynasty, “Radiant First Quetzal Macaw.” The exhibition features jade jewelry and sophisticated ceramic vessels that accompanied the king on his journey into the Underworld.

Several important artifacts too massive to travel outside Honduras have been reproduced at full scale using state-of-the-art 3D scanning technology. These include the historically significant Altar Q, the ultimate symbol of the Copan dynasty that carries portraits of all 16 kings, and the Margarita Panel, a vibrantly painted architectural panel featuring the emblematic name of Copan’s first ruler, shown as two elegantly entwined birds.

In all, 75 Classic period Maya artifacts excavated at Copan are featured. An interactive multimedia touchtable allows visitors to explore the extraordinary tunnels and tombs under the pyramids at Copan, using the actual drawings and images from the archaeologists who first uncovered them.

The “Lost” History of the Maya

The fall of divine kings and the abandonment of a great number of Maya cities are referred to as the Maya “Collapse.” This exhibition connects the missing pieces of the Maya story following its still mysterious decline, taking visitors to the present day. The Maya did not disappear. Today, more than seven million Maya, speaking a variety of Mayan languages, live in Central America and Mexico, with more Maya people living around the globe.

Many aspects of Maya culture were lost during the Spanish Conquest. Only four Maya books remain from this period. Two reproductions, the Dresden and Madrid Codices, are partnered with an extremely rare manuscript written just after the Conquest, revealing the extent to which Maya concepts of time were altered. Fine ethnographic textiles and 20th century folk art masks from the Penn Museum’s own collection lead the visitor to meet the Maya in the contemporary world.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors are able to “meet” experts on the ancient Maya to hear their perspectives through a series of interviews. In the final section of the exhibition, several Maya people speak for themselves, sharing their perspectives on the end of the world predictions—and on the contemporary concerns of the Maya.

MAYA 2012: Lords of Time is made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor. A. Bruce and Margaret Mainwaring and the Selz Foundation are Partnering Underwriters. Renee and Carlos Nottebohm and the Mexican Society of Philadelphia are Supporting Underwriters. The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, Annette Merle-Smith, PNC Foundation, and the Malcolm Hewitt Wiener Foundation are Education Partners. Host Hotels and Resorts is the Hotel Partner. Global Arena is the Language Services Partner.

TICKET AND TOUR INFORMATION for MAYA 2012: Lords of Time:

General admission timed tickets (includes admission to the rest of the Museum) for individuals are available for purchase beginning February 1, 2012.
* Adult: $22.50
* Senior (65+)/Military: $18.50
* Students (full-time with ID)/Children (6 to 17 years): $16.50

Special exhibition timed tickets may be purchased online: www.penn.museum/maya2012, or by phone: 1.888.695.0888

Penn Museum Members receive complimentary tickets for MAYA 2012: Lords of Time. For membership information please call 215.898.5093 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Discounted group timed tickets for groups of 10 or more are available.
Call or email about extended group hours, tailored package options, and reservations:
(215) 746-8183 (K-12 student groups) or (215) 746-4174 (all other groups) or email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Museum hours during the MAYA 2012: Lords of Time exhibition are Tuesday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm;
Wednesday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm; and Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Individuals and groups can receive update emails about MAYA 2012 by signing up at
www.penn.museum/maya2012.

About the Penn Museum
A visit to the internationally renowned University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South Street on Penn’s campus in Philadelphia, is a journey through time and across continents—under one roof. Three gallery floors feature materials from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Asia, the ancient Mediterranean World, the Americas, and Africa. Amenities include inner gardens, two shops, and the glass-enclosed Pepper Mill Café, operated by Wolfgang Puck Catering.

Founded in 1887 and celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2012, Penn Museum is dedicated to the study and understanding of human history and diversity. Over its 125 year history, the Museum has sent more than 400 archaeological and anthropological expeditions to all the inhabited continents of the world. With an active exhibition schedule and educational programming for children and adults, the Museum offers the public an opportunity to share in the ongoing discovery of humankind's collective heritage. For general information: www.penn.museum, or (215) 898-4000.

Photo captions and credits, from the top: 1. The Margarita Panel, a grand, modeled-stucco building panel, measuring almost nine feet high by 12 feet wide, was discovered by a Penn Museum excavation team in the 1990s. Photo courtesy: Early Copan Acropolis Project, Penn Museum. 2. Censer Lid with Founder Portait, circa 695 CE, one of 12 ceramic lids that features portraits of Copan kings. This one shows distinctive "goggles" tht identify the Copan Founder. Photo courtesy: Honduran Institute of Anthropoogy and History. 3. Dr. Robert Sharer, Director of the Penn Museum's Early Copan Acropolis Program (1989 to 2003), working in the Hunal Tomb, examining the bones of K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo', the Founder of the dynasty of Copan.

Monday, 23 January 2012 13:37

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Voices of Africa, Cultural Arts Collective choral and percussion ensemble, offers a community workshop and concert on Wednesday, February 22, 6 pm at the Penn Museum in Philadelphia. The family-friendly event, free with Museum admission ($10 adult; $7 seniors 65 and older; $6 students and children 6-17), is a featured program offered in conjunction with the Museum's year-long gallery project, Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum.

An African Cultural Arts Collective that works with a range of Philadelphia area artists from around the African Diaspora, Voices of Africa has performed widely throughout the region, around the country at sites including the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., and the National Women's Music Festival, and at venues internationally since its founding in 1990. The Penn Museum program with Voices of Africa features an ensemble of 6-8 singers, drummers and dancers. The program is curated by Gina Renzi, Director of The Rotunda, a community gathering place in University City, fueled by the belief that art is a catalyst of social change.

The program runs from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. After an introduction, the performance is from 6:15 to 7:00 pm and is followed by a 60-minute workshop of drumming, dancing and singing.

Voices of Africa features a unique blending of a cappella harmonies with traditional West African percussive rhythms. Their music spans the African Diaspora, with traditional African and African-American songs, message music, gospel, and inspirational percussive rhythms, played on a variety of instruments including the sakara, a hand held shallow drum; the sekere, a beaded gourd drum; the agogo, a double headed metal bells; the djembe, a skin-covered drum; and the sangba, a cylindrical drum played with a stick.

During the performance and workshop, guests are invited to participate as they learn about the history of the music, the techniques and style of the drums used in performance, as well as the connection between musical and movement styles in African dance.

Nana Baakan, Founder and Managing Director of the Ensemble, stresses the participatory aspect of the ensemble's performance. "In traditional African society, everyone actively participates in the making of music. It is not just entertainment but interaction between musician and the community."

She cites an African Proverb from Uganda: "If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing."

Penn Museum is open until 8:00 pm Wednesday nights, and visitors to the Voices of Africa program are invited to explore the Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum second floor gallery project before the program. Penn Museum has drawn upon its extraordinary African collection to present more than 50 objects framed around eight broad topics, from "Beauty" and "Strength," to "Healing," "Creating," and "The Divine." Through a variety of engagement opportunities, visitors are asked to provide feedback on the objects and content they see, and to discuss what would make an engaging exhibition—from their point of view. Throughout the year, the Museum is engaging—through the gallery installation, diverse public programming, and a rich website—in discussions with the regional community, as it begins long-range plans to re-envision its African gallery for a 21st century audience.

Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum is made possible with funding from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through the Heritage Philadelphia Program, and the PoGo Family Foundation. The Philadelphia Tribune and WDAS radio are media sponsors.

Penn Museum (the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2012, is dedicated to the study and understanding of human history and diversity. Founded in 1887, the Museum has sent more than 400 archaeological and anthropological expeditions to all the inhabited continents of the world. With an active exhibition schedule and educational programming for children and adults, the Museum offers the public an opportunity to share in the ongoing discovery of humankind's collective heritage.

Penn Museum is located at 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (on Penn's campus, across from Franklin Field). Public transportation to the Museum is available via SEPTA's Regional Rail Line at University City Station; the Market-Frankford Subway Line at 34th Street Station; trolley routes 11, 13, 34, and 36; and bus routes 12, 21, 30, 40, and 42. Museum hours are Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Wednesday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, with P.M. @ PENN MUSEUM evening programs offered select Wednesdays. Closed Mondays and holidays. Admission donation is $10 for adults; $7 for senior citizens (65 and above); $6 children (6 to 17) and full-time students with ID; free to Members, PennCard holders, and children 5 and younger; "pay-what-you-want" the last hour before closing. Hot and cold meals and light refreshments are offered to visitors with or without Museum admission in The Pepper Mill Café; the Museum Shop and Pyramid Shop for Children offer a wide selection of gifts, books, games, clothing and jewelry. Penn Museum can be found on the web at www.penn.museum. For general information call 215.898.4000. For group tour information call 215.746.8183.

Photo captions (listed top to bottom): Voices of Africa, a choral and percussion ensemble presenting a cappella harmonies and traditional West African rhythms, perform February 22, 6:00 pm at Penn Museum. Middle: Voices of Africa members, performing February 22, 6:00 pm at Penn Museum, play the sekere, a gourd instrument originating from West Africa. Bottom: Nana Baakan is a performer, as well as Managing Director and Founder of Voices of Africa, a choral and percussion ensemble performing February 22, 6:00 pm at Penn Museum. Photos courtesy Voices of Africa.

Wednesday, 18 January 2012 16:20

PHILADELPHIA, PA—African music, dance, and diverse cultures take center stage on Saturday, February 18, from 1 to 4 pm, when the Penn Museum offers a free community afternoon, part of the ongoing Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum gallery project and public programming initiative that runs through January 2013. Philadelphia radio station 100.3 WRNB is sponsor of the free afternoon, and on air personality Lady B broadcasts live from the Penn Museum between 11 am and 2 pm.

While special activities run from 1 to 4 pm, the Penn Museum opens its doors free to the community for the entire day (10 am to 5 pm), with plenty of time to explore the new Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum gallery project, as well as the African Gallery, the ancient Egyptian Galleries, and beyond.

Guests to the afternoon are treated to the West African sounds of the Women's Sekere Ensemble (performances at 1 pm and 2:30 pm), as well as a high octane workshop (1:45 pm) and performance (3:30 pm) with the Neo-African Drums 'n Dance ensemble from La Salle University. Children and their families can join together to make their own African-inspired drums and masks at an ongoing arts and crafts table throughout the afternoon.

Special guest presenters from seven African countries (the continent boasts more than 50 countries) join the afternoon with show and tell tables, sharing information about their countries' cultures and traditions and providing related activities geared to families. The Greater Philadelphia area is home to more than 100,000 African immigrants, and members of AFRICOM, the Coalition of African Communities in Philadelphia, share information about Liberia (Mr. Wayétu Moore) and Ghana (Dr. Samuel Quartey). Dr. Mary Osirim, a Sociology professor at Bryn Mawr College and co-editor of Global Philadelphia, Immigrant Communities Old and New, talks about her book, which includes a chapter she authored on the city's African community.

African students affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania's African Studies Center share information about their native countries of Nigeria (Fortune Hayab, a visiting Fulbright scholar), Botswana (exchange student Itumeleng Buisanyang), Zambia (Wharton student Nicholas Mushaike), Ghana (Oloufounmi Koucoi), Benin (graduate student Oloufounmi Koucoi), and Sudan (students Aya Saed, Nabta Idries, and Omar Elhaj).

With the Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum gallery project, which opened in September 2011, the Penn Museum has drawn upon its extraordinary African collection to present more than 50 objects framed around eight broad topics, from "Beauty" and "Strength," to "Healing," "Creating," and "The Divine." Through a variety of engagement opportunities, visitors are asked to provide feedback on the objects and content they see, and to discuss what would make an engaging exhibition—from their point of view. Throughout the year, the Museum is engaging—through the gallery installation, diverse public programming, and a rich website—in discussions with the regional community, as it develops long-range plans to re-envision its African gallery for a 21st century audience.

Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum is made possible with funding from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through the Heritage Philadelphia Program, and the PoGo Family Foundation.

Penn Museum (the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2012, is dedicated to the study and understanding of human history and diversity. Founded in 1887, the Museum has sent more than 400 archaeological and anthropological expeditions to all the inhabited continents of the world. With an active exhibition schedule and educational programming for children and adults, the Museum offers the public an opportunity to share in the ongoing discovery of humankind's collective heritage.

Penn Museum is located at 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (on Penn's campus, across from Franklin Field). Public transportation to the Museum is available via SEPTA's Regional Rail Line at University City Station; the Market-Frankford Subway Line at 34th Street Station; trolley routes 11, 13, 34, and 36; and bus routes 12, 21, 30, 40, and 42. Museum hours are Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Wednesday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, with P.M. @ PENN MUSEUM evening programs offered select Wednesdays. Closed Mondays and holidays. Admission donation is $10 for adults; $7 for senior citizens (65 and above); $6 children (6 to 17) and full-time students with ID; free to Members, PennCard holders, and children 5 and younger; "pay-what-you-want" the last hour before closing. Hot and cold meals and light refreshments are offered to visitors with or without Museum admission in The Pepper Mill Café; the Museum Shop and Pyramid Shop for Children offer a wide selection of gifts, books, games, clothing and jewelry. Penn Museum can be found on the web at www.penn.museum. For general information call 215.898.4000. For group tour information call (215) 746.8183.

Photo captions (listed top to bottom): Neo-African Drums 'n Dance, a La Salle University djembe orchestra ensemble, performs at the Imagine Africa Free Community Afternoon, Sunday, January 18 at the Penn Museum (photo courtesy Neo-African Drums 'n Dance). The Women's Sekere Ensemble, a group of percussionists specializing in traditional West African music, performs at the Imagine Africa Free Community Afternoon, Sunday, January 18 at the Penn Museum (photo: Penn Museum). At the Imagine Africa Free Community Afternoon, Sunday, January 18, visitors can explore Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum, a gallery project designed to gather feedback about the Museum's African collection (photo: Penn Museum).

Wednesday, 11 January 2012 17:17

For the most updated information on programs offered at the Penn Museum, and for online pre-registration (optional or required for some programs) visit the Museum's website: www.penn.museum/calendar.

March 1
Thursday, 6:00 pm
Evening Program
Douglas G. Lovell, Jr., Annual "Reports from the Field"

Dr. Josef Wegner, Associate Curator, Egyptian Section, and Dr. Richard M. Leventhal, Director, Penn Cultural Heritage Center, are featured presenters. Dr. Wegner shares details from his 2011–2012 excavations at Abydos, Egypt. He discusses results of ongoing excavations of the tomb of pharaoh Senwosret III and a program of site development in collaboration with the American Research Center in Egypt and Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities to protect the cultural heritage of Abydos. Dr. Leventhal considers Maya heritage and its relationship to Mexican politics, indigenous rebellion, and tourism, as he focuses on a new Penn project in the Yucatán where a co-operative community heritage and development program is underway. In addition, he describes the goals and field projects of the Penn Cultural Heritage Center. Lecture admission: Pay-what-you-want. Optional reception follows: $35. For more information, call (215) 898-2680.

March 4
Sunday, 2:00 pm
Culture Change, Adaptation, and Image Film Series
Settling Down (2004)

Ireland's Traveller community–traditionally a rural nomadic people–has survived despite the effects of modernization. This film, based around the experiences of one particular Traveller community in Cork, looks at the ways in which Traveller culture and identity have altered as a result of broader changes within Ireland, and asks what the future may hold for a people who have come under increasing pressure to settle. Dr. Tim Corrigan, Professor in English and Cinema Studies, University of Pennsylvania, facilitates a discussion. This program is presented in association with the 2011-2012 Penn Humanities Forum on Adaptations, and co-sponsored by Penn Cinema Studies . Free with Museum admission. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

March 7
Wednesday, 6:00 pm
Great Riddles in Archaeology Lecture Series
The Ark of the Covenant: Lost, Found, or Forgotten?

In biblical accounts of the wanderings of the Israelites after the Exodus and their settlement in the Promised Land, the Ark of the Covenant is celebrated as a dangerously powerful object–a physical locus for the holiness and worship of God. In the centuries after its placement in the Jerusalem Temple by King Solomon, however, the Ark begins to recede from biblical history. What happened to it when the Temple was destroyed, and where is it today? Dr. Annette Y. Reed, Assistant Professor in Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania, explores ancient Jewish and Christian traditions about the Ark, its contents, its power, and its fate. Admission: $10 at the door; $5 with advance registration. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

March 11
Sunday, 1:00–4:00 pm
Family Second Sunday
Islamic Stained Glass

Visitors can explore the Islamic gallery with a family-friendly activity guide, and learn about tessellations, a traditional Islamic art motif. At a craft station, guests can also create a simulated stained glass window to take home. Free with Museum admission. For more information, call 215.898 4016.

March 14
Wednesday, 6:00 pm
P.M. @ Penn Museum
2nd Wednesday Quizzo

Penn Museum galleries stay open until 8:00 pm, with a half-hour gallery tour at 5:30 pm. Second Wednesdays only, guests can watch or sign up with a team and compete for prizes at Quizzo with Quiztine at 6:00 pm. The Pepper Mill Café offers happy hour specials and light supper until 7:30 pm. The Museum Shop remains open until 8:00 pm. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

March 14–April 18
Wednesdays, 6:30–8:00 pm
P.M. @ Penn Museum
Instructional Drum Circle

Joseph Tayoun, internationally acclaimed Middle Eastern percussionist, leads this eight-session drum workshop series. Sessions include instruction on rhythms, technique, and a drum circle jam in the mystical setting of the Lower Egyptian Gallery. A limited number of drums will be provided; drummers are encouraged to bring their own drums. Dancers are also welcome. Admission: $15 walk-in ($75 in advance for all six sessions). For more information, call 215.898.2680.

March 15
Thursday, 6:00 pm
Live from the Archives! An occasional film series
Elephant in the Dark: Refractions of Muslim Identity
With filmmakers Aggie Ebrahimi Bazaz and Ambarien Al Qadar

In this new occasional series, Penn Museum Archives invites filmmakers who have used archival film footage extensively to present their films. Bazaz and Al Qadar have made short documentary films, Inheritance and Ghetto Girl (both 2011), which interweave historical images of Iran and India with personal mythologies to examine the influence of Islamic gender politics and geopolitics on lived, daily experience. The filmmakers comment on their works, and invite questions from the audience following the screening. Admission: Pay-what-you-want.

March 17
Saturday, 3:30 pm
Annual Korsyn Lecture
New Evidence from the Hyksos Ruler Khayan at Tell Edfu

Dr. Nadine Moeller, Assistant Professor of Egyptian Archaeology, University of Chicago, speaks at this annual event, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE-PA). During fieldwork at Tell Edfu in Upper Egypt, several hundred new sealings were discovered in connection with a late Middle Kingdom administrative structure, including eleven sealings showing the cartouche (signature) of the Hyksos ruler Khayan of the 15th Dynasty. The first time that concrete evidence for a Hyksos king has been found so far south in Egypt, this unique discovery opens many new questions about the nature of contact between the Hyksos people and Upper Egypt. Admission: $8 general admission; $5 for Penn Museum members and PennCard holders; free for ARCE-PA members. For more information, visit www.arce-pa.org.

March 24
Saturday, 1:00–4:00 pm
World Culture Day
Hello India!

The art and culture of India, "Bollywood" films, diverse spiritual practices, and spicy foods are captivating the interests and palates of a rapidly growing international audience. India, in all its complexity and diversity, is the focus of this afternoon celebration. Co-sponsored by International Classroom at Penn Museum, the South Asian Center, Bharatiya Temple and Cultural Center, Chinmaya Mission and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Free with Museum admission donation. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

March 28
Wednesday, 5:00–8:00 pm
Imagine Africa Free Community Night
Hip Hop Artists Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum

In January, six local Hip Hop artists visiting the Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum gallery project were asked how they imagine Africa. At this community night, those artists return to the Museum to share an evening of original verses, inspired by the art and artifacts that they experienced. The event features live performances by local Hip Hop artists GodHead The General, Magnum O, Darian The Great, The KNomadz, Afloe and Urban Shamans, along with DJ Soul Buck and host i-be 4evr, as they showcase their original songs inspired by the Imagine Africa gallery project and the African collection at the Penn Museum. Visitors also receive a free Imagine Africa compilation CD, created just for the night, while supplies last! This Imagine Africa free community night is co-sponsored by the Monday night indie and classic hip hop radio show the IIourshow/THORTakeover, LLC on WNJC 1360AM. Free admission. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

March 31
Saturday, 1:00–4:00 pm
Imagine Africa Free Community Afternoon
Brazillian Groove

This free community afternoon, presented in partnership with ODUNDE and the Brasil Cultural Center of Philadelphia, explores the African diaspora's deep influence on the cultures of Brazil. The event features live Brazilian performances, including a demonstration of Capoeira, a unique fusion of dance and martial arts, as well as music, dance, film, and crafts. Guests can offer their thoughts and ideas in the Imagine Africa gallery, and explore ancient artifacts with a scavenger hunt throughout the Museum. Free admission. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

April 1
Sunday, 1:00–4:00 pm
Family Sunday
Maya Temples

Families are invited to view objects associated with Maya architecture and ritual in the Mexico and Central America Gallery. Then, everyone can practice some engineering skills, constructing a model of a Maya temple to take home. Free with Museum admission. For more information, call 215.898.4016.

April 1
Sunday, 2:00 pm
Culture Change, Adaptation, and Image Film Series
Tehran Has No More Pomegranates! (2007)

Contrasting archival footage from the early 20th century with films of 2007, filmmaker Massoud Bakshi gives a portrait of Tehran in Iran as it was and as it continues to change, a view nearly unseen in the West. Dr. Pardis Minuchehr, Professor of Middle East Studies, George Washington University, facilitates a discussion. This program is presented in association with the 2011-2012 Penn Humanities Forum on Adaptations, and co-sponsored by The Middle East Center of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Cinema Studies. Free with Museum admission. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

April 4
Wednesday, 6:00 pm
Great Riddles in Archaeology Lecture Series
Atlantis: The Lost Continent?

When the Greek philosopher Plato first described an advanced civilization that sank beneath the ocean thousands of years ago, most listeners did not take it seriously. But the story acquired new popularity in the 20th century, and explorers have continually looked for evidence of its existence. Dr. C. Brian Rose, Curator, Mediterranean Section, explores the origins and development of the myth as well as modern theories of its original location. Admission: $10 at the door; $5 with advance registration. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

April 11
Wednesday, 6:00 pm
Annual Petersen Lecture with Author Christopher McDougall
Born to Run

Rarámuri, the Uto-Aztecan name for the Tarahumara people, means foot-runner, and the Rarámuri are among the best long-distance runners in the world. In honor of the exhibition Run! Super-Athletes of the Sierra Madre, join the Penn Museum for a lecture and book signing by Christopher McDougall, author of the national bestseller Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. Admission: $5. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

April 11
Wednesday, 6:00 pm
P.M. @ Penn Museum
2nd Wednesday Quizzo

Penn Museum galleries stay open until 8:00 pm, with a half-hour gallery tour at 5:30 pm. Second Wednesdays only, guests can watch or sign up with a team and compete for prizes at Quizzo with Quiztine at 6:00 pm. The Pepper Mill Café offers happy hour specials and light supper until 7:30 pm. The Museum Shop remains open until 8:00 pm. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

April 16
Monday, 6:00 pm
Evening Lecture
What Made Humans So Different from the Other Great Apes?

Humans are remarkably similar to the other great apes, but also show remarkable differences. Dr. Carel van Schaik, Director of the Anthropological Institute and Museum at the University of Zurich, argues that our unique features derive largely from the adoption of cooperative hunting and offspring care. Co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Zoo. Admission: Pay-what-you-want. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

April 17
Tuesday, 10:30 am
Beauty through the Ages Lecture and Luncheon Program
Cosmetics: Vanity Fare

This final installment in the Beauty through the Ages lecture/luncheon series, presented by the Museum's Women's Committee to benefit the Penn Museum, explores the many dimensions of human beauty as depicted in fine art and perceived by industry. Dr. Jennifer Wegner, Associate Curator in the Egyptian Section, and Dr. Louis P. Bucky, Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, present. Tickets: Aphrodite (Benefactor) $100; Diana (Friend) $85. Price includes lecture, lunch prepared by Wolfgang Puck Catering, and valet parking. Enjoy raffles and shopping from vendors such as Kiehl's and Trish McEvoy for skin care and cosmetics, and Gingy's of Malvern and Patricia Adams for stylish fashion. For more information or to register: visit www.wcpennmuseum.com; call 215.898.9202; or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

April 18
Wednesday, 6:00 pm
Imagine Africa Evening Lecture
Cultural Encounters in the Diaspora: When African and African-American Cultures Meet

Dr. Cheikh Anta Babou, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, teaches African History and the History of Islam in Africa. Following a short movie clip, Dr. Babou discusses aspects of his research, focusing on cultural encounters between Africans and African-Americans. Admission: Pay-what-you-want. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

April 24
Tuesday, 6:30 pm
Evening Lecture
Disintegrations: The Decline and Fall of Libyan Egypt

Although the reign of the pharaoh Shoshenq I (ca. 943–922 BCE) had briefly restored Egypt's international standing as a powerful player in the early Iron Age Mediterranean, the following decades saw a gradual slide towards renewed disunity, accelerating with the fragmentation of Egypt into two separate kingdoms during the reign of Osorkon II. Dr. Aidan Dodson, Senior Research Fellow, University of Bristol, England, discusses the factors which led to this period of "disintegration" in ancient Egypt. This event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE-PA). Admission: $8. For more information, visit www.arce-pa.org.

April 25
Wednesday, 6:00 pm
Imagine Africa Evening Event
African Dance!

An evening of African and African-influenced dance featuring local artists from around Philadelphia curated by Terri Shockley, Executive Director of the Community Education Center. The program features the Umfundalai dance technique of Kariamu & Company: Traditions, which draws upon key movement principles, aesthetics and cultural traditions from the African Diapora. Other performances include original music and percussive dance by Germaine Ingram and Bobby Zankel, breakdance by Rennie Harris RHAW, and more. Free with Museum admission. For more information, call 215.898.2680.

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is dedicated to the study and understanding of human history and diversity. Founded in 1887, the Museum has sent more than 400 archaeological and anthropological expeditions to all the inhabited continents of the world. With an active exhibition schedule and educational programming for children and adults, the Museum offers the public an opportunity to share in the ongoing discovery of humankind's collective heritage.

Penn Museum is located at 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (on Penn's campus, across from Franklin Field). Public transportation to the Museum is available via SEPTA's Regional Rail Line at University City Station; the Market-Frankford Subway Line at 34th Street Station; trolley routes 11, 13, 34, and 36; and bus routes 12, 21, 30, 40, and 42. Museum hours are Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Wednesday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, with P.M. @ PENN MUSEUM evening programs offered weekly. Closed Mondays and holidays. Admission is $10 for adults; $7 for senior citizens (65 and above); $6 children (6 to 17) and full-time students with ID; free to Members, PennCard holders, and children 5 and younger; "pay-what-you-want" the last hour before closing. Penn Museum can be found on the web at www.penn.museum. For general information call 215.898.4000. For group tour information call 215.746.8183.

Photo captions (listed top to bottom): "Reports from the Field" image: Co-Directors of the Penn-Tihosuco Heritage Project visit the abandoned hacienda of the rebellion leader Jacinto Pat (photo by Penn-Tihosuco Heritage Project). Settling Down still: Photo by Declan Healey. Islamic Stained Glass image: Late 16th century tessellation, Ottoman Turkey, from the Penn Museum's Collection (photo by Penn Museum). Instructional Drum Circle: Joseph Tayoun leads eight sessions on drumming and rhythm (photo by Penn Museum). Live from the Archives: Photo by Aggie Ebrahimi Bazaz. Korsyn Lecture: Floor and column bases of the late Middle Kingdom hall (photo by Nadine Moeller). Hello India!: Guests explore the culture of India at the Penn Museum (photo by Penn Museum). Hip Hop Artists Imagine Africa: Hip hop group Magnum O performs at Penn Museum March 28 (photo courtesy THORTakeover Records). Brazillian Groove: During the Bonfim Festival in Bahia, hundreds of Brazillian women dress in the traditional white dresses of colonial Bahia and form a procession to the local church (photo courtesy Ken Dossar). Maya Temples: Families can view objects associated with Maya architecture at Penn Museum (photo: Penn Museum). Tehran Has No More Pomegranates still: Photo by Massoud Bakshi, DER, Copyright 2007. Great Riddles: This 1931 sketch by James Churchward theorizes about the location of the "lost continent." Born to Run: Image used with the permission of Vintage Books. Apes: An orangutan poses for the camera in Sumatra (photo courtesy Philadelphia Zoo). Beauty through the Ages: Burial portrait of a woman, from El Rubaiyat, Faiyum, Egypt, 2nd century CE. Disintegrations: Kneeling sculpture of King Osorkon II (photo courtesy Aidan Dodson). African Dance: Dancers from Rennie Harris R.H.A.W. perform at Penn Museum (photo by Brian Mengini).

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 13:24

Penn Museum in Philadelphia Launches Online Collections Database to Kick off its 125th Anniversary Celebration in 2012

JANUARY 2012—The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology on the Penn campus in Philadelphia dates its official founding to December 6, 1887. On that date, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania resolved to send “an exploring expedition to Babylonia”—with the stipulation that the University would build “suitable accommodations” to house any artifacts that the first expedition team, and others, would bring back.

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