Travelling Back in Time to Ancient Egypt — Flashlight in Hand
Beneath the city streets of Munich, hidden away from the urban bustle, the State Museum of Egyptian Art opens its doors like a time capsule leading straight into another era. The special exhibition Childhood on the Nile – Growing Up in Ancient Egypt brings history to life. Children are invited to discover, try things out and understand how their peers lived thousands of years ago. The museum has created an exhibition that is thoughtfully designed from a child’s perspective, telling stories with great care. Question marks turn into aha moments, and every room reveals a new view of life along the Nile.
Before the journey begins, children receive a flashlight and an activity booklet. On the way down into the exhibition, the young explorers shine their lights into the semi-darkness and encounter a series of Playmobil figures. A familiar scene from their own playroom — one that gently blurs the line between past and present.
Exploring Ancient Egypt with All Senses
Once downstairs, children choose where their journey begins: with everyday life, play and learning, or in the world of royal children. Each section tells stories beyond the great pyramids — about the small moments that shape childhood, then and now.
This is a place where you can try what you would usually only read about. Children slip into ancient Egyptian clothing, feel the soft linen on their skin and test whether one could really sleep on a wooden headrest. Above them, a projected starry sky shimmers, echoing the nights along the Nile. In another room, reed pens are waiting for them to draw their first hieroglyphs on papyrus. They learn that education was once a privilege — something only three out of a hundred children were able to experience.
In small eye-level display boxes, children discover scenes from everyday Egyptian life: kids playing, dancing, learning or celebrating.
Scents, Rituals and the Secrets of the Afterlife
Between laughter and quiet voices, the atmosphere shifts in some of the rooms. At four different scent stations, the smells of myrrh, honey and herbs unfold. They tell stories of ointments and oils that healed bodies — and of rituals meant to protect the soul.
The exhibition also approaches the topic of the afterlife with a calmness that doesn’t overwhelm children but instead sparks curiosity. Protective amulets, grave goods and small figurines reveal how closely life and faith were intertwined.
An Adventure for Young Explorers
The exhibition spans around 400 square metres, yet it feels like a complete little world. Between light and shadow, objects, scents and sounds come together to awaken a long-gone era. Children move freely through the rooms, finding their own paths — their curiosity setting the pace.
The activity booklet becomes a quiet companion, filling with answers, drawings and ideas. By the end, each child takes home their own small collection of discoveries — memories that stay with them because they were experienced firsthand.
You can find even more fascinating children’s museums in Munich in this guide.
