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The Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm - mummies and virtual reality

The Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm is one of the World Culture Museums, and here you can see Egyptian mummies and archaeological finds from the great Swedish Cyprus expedition 1927-1931. We were told that the Mediterranean Museum is worth a visit, and yesterday we decided to check it out.

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Visiting museums in Stockholm

A few weeks ago we did a "museum tour" in Stockholm, where we had time for both Museum of the Middle Ages and adventure museum Viking life. Both these museums were really nice, and we got a taste for seeing museums in Stockholm. It's so easy to get home blind and miss things in your own hometown!

The Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm

We were told about the Mediterranean Museum, where we have never been, and yesterday we took the opportunity to visit. There will probably be some more museums in the future, so feel free to suggest museums you like, or that you would like to know more about!

What we thought of the Mediterranean Museum? This is a very nice museum in beautiful premises, with impressive collections and a nice restaurant. We thought there were perhaps too many classic displays of artefacts, but on the other hand it's completely free to visit. Definitely worth it!

Egypten utställning Medelhavsmuseet
Some of the many filures on display at the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm.

The Cyprus collections

In 1927, four young Swedish archaeologists travelled on an expedition to Cyprus. Over four years they carried out an extensive excavation, authorised by the then British colonial government.

The Swedes were allowed to take just over half of the artefacts back to Sweden (excluding gold and silver items), which meant that around 12,000 items were shipped to Sweden. Thanks to this expedition, the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm now has the world's largest Cyprus collection outside of Cyprus.

Medelhavsmuseet i Stockholm
The Mediterranean Museum has a huge collection of artefacts from Cyprus.
Hästar
Horses and riders in terracotta, from around 750-480 BC

If you want to see more than objects, you can enter another world, using VR (virtual reality) goggles. Kind of fun, actually!

VR Medelhavsmuseet
Peter is in another world ...!

A walk through the history of Egypt

At the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm, you can take a walk through the history of Egypt, starting around 7000 years ago. You can see lots of artefacts from different eras, not to mention the objects that accompanied the mummies into the tombs. The tombs were the place where the worlds of the living and the dead met.

The link between the worlds was a 'door of light' through which the soul of the dead could enter and leave. Being remembered was the most important prerequisite for eternal life, so the name and titles of the gravedigger were written on the walls of the tomb, preferably together with a story about the dead person's life.

It was also important that the body was mummified, so that the soul had a home even after death. The tour here reminded us of our... travel to Egypt, when we visited the Valley of the Kings, with all the tombs of the pharaohs. Powerful!

Egypten utställning
Entering the exhibition on Egypt
Egypten Medelhavsmuseet
Pots from different periods of Egyptian history
Museum Stockholm
Preserved figures that remind us of another time and reality!

See more at the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm

In addition to the above-mentioned exhibitions, there is an exhibition on Ancient Greece and Rome, a gold room with a collection of silver and gold artefacts, and some smaller temporary exhibitions. There are also children's activities, a library and a shop.

Baghdad Café

Within the museum premises is the Bagdad Café wine bar, restaurant and café, which looked cosy and is apparently very popular. Here you'll find things like salads, sandwiches and Mediterranean-inspired delicacies like lamb steaks and baklava.

Bagdad Café
Medelhavsmuseet
The entrance to the Mediterranean Museum

Film from the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm

Peter put together a short film from our visit to the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm. Feel free to check it out!

Find the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm

  • Location: The Mediterranean Museum is located at Fredsgatan 2 in Stockholm, right next to Gustav Adolfs torg.
  • Underground railway: The nearest metro station is Kungsträdgården.
  • Go for a walk: It takes about 10-15 minutes to walk from the T-centre.

Guide: Opening hours and prices

  • Opening hours: The museum is open Tuesday-Friday 11:00-20:00 and Saturday-Sunday 11:00-17:00. The museum is closed on Mondays and certain public holidays such as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (2018) Please note that opening hours are subject to change. For up-to-date information, see the museum's website.
  • Prices: Visits to the Museum of the Mediterranean are free of charge, and a guided tour ticket costs SEK 20 (2018). Fees may also be charged for special activities such as Family Saturdays, see information on tours and other activities in the museum's calendar.
  • Accessibility: All exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair. Some tours are given with a sign language interpreter. More detailed information on accessibility is available on the museum's website.
  • Read more: You can find more information at the museum's website.

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