"Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt" is on display at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art in Las Vegas through Sept. 13.
The exhibition explores the ancient Egyptian practice of animal mummification. It features almost 100 artifacts, including 36 mummified animals and more than 60 Egyptian masterworks that put into context their role in ritual and religion.
The mummies, unearthed from more than 30 cemeteries during the 19th and 20th centuries, span Egyptian history from as early as 760 B.C. through the second century. The exhibition is divided into four categories: pets, food offerings preserved for the afterlife, embodiments of deities and gifts to carry prayers to the heavens.
The exhibition is curated by Yekaterina Barbash, curator of Egyptian, Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, and Edward Bleiberg, curator emeritus at the museum.
What visitors will learn
The mummies reveal the many ways animals shaped Egyptian worldview. The exhibition offers insights into their origins, creation techniques and symbolic meanings.
"This exhibition celebrates the timeless bond between humans and animals," said Demecina Gray, MGM Resorts director of art and culture. "These extraordinary mummies reveal how creatures were not only companions, but also sacred symbols woven into the spiritual life of ancient Egypt."
The Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Last admissions are sold 30 minutes before closing time. Tickets are $29 (plus tax and fees) for adults and $27 for hotel guests, seniors 65 and older, students, teachers and military. Docent-led tours are available at 11 a.m. daily for an additional fee of $10 per ticket.