Visitors step into ancient history

CHICAGO – The Field Museum’s exhibits encompass areas from far afield, both in distance and in history.

Many of these make visitors feel as if they are being transported in time and space to go back hundreds of years. Those tired of the cold outdoors, can walk a path through warmer climes by visiting Inside Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Americas.

Inside Ancient Egypt is permanently on display.

Here explorers wander through a life-size Egyptian mastaba tomb, which holds two chambers from the burial place of Unis-Ankh, a nobleman and the son of a pharaoh.

The exhibit is known for its large collection of mummies, but that’s not all. Dioramas display workshops, a marketplace can be explored, hieroglyphs prevail and a shrine to Bastet, the cat goddess, has a sculpture of the goddess thought to contain a mummified cat.

Leaving Egypt behind, visitors can move on to the Ancient Americas. This, too, is a permanent exhibit, which depicts life before European settlers and conquerors arrived. Pay attention to the Virtual Ice Age Environment, a digital animation that shows Illinois during the last ice age.

It may not seem like an escape from winter, when visitors find themselves in that cold environment, but things warm up as they move on to an 800-year-old pueblo and the Aztec empire.

The Americas walk shows hunter-gatherers, farming villagers, rulers and citizens, empire builders and living descendents.

Adding to the mix of exhibits are the temporary ones, such as one exploring the life and works of Genghis Khan.

This is an opportunity to learn a little more about the warrior. Starting Feb. 24, an exhibit about this conqueror will be on display until Sept. 3.

Khan was a Mongolian warlord known for his ability to roll over anything in his way. He wasn’t just a fighter though.

During his reign, he established open trade, a written language and freedom of religion.

Visitors to the exhibit will be able to see a nomadic home, a marketplace and walk through a battlefield complete with the sounds and sights of battle. Part of the exhibit is devoted to jewelry, religious artifacts and weaponry of the time, including crossbows and leather armor.