Learn about ancient Egyptian scrolls in Barrington

From mummies to Sanskrit, learn about some of the world's earliest civilizations and deepest secrets.

This spring, Barrington's White House announced the launch of its first "Curious Mind" Series - a partnership with the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. Founded by James Henry Breasted - the original "Indiana Jones" - the Oriental Institute's collection of antiquities includes ancient artifacts from archaeological sites around the world, saved from grave robbers and modern construction, and rivaling exhibits at the Louvre and British Museum.

"We are thrilled about this new collaboration between the Oriental Institute and Barrington's White House," says Barrington White House Cultural Director Rollin Potter. "We hope to continue scholarly series such as this in the future, as we continue to bring world-class cultural and humanities programming to Barrington through the White House."

The four-part series kicked off in early March with two programs and continues on Sunday, April 7, as Egyptologist Foy Scalf presents "Book of the Dead: Un-reading the Ancient Egyptian Scrolls." The Book of the Dead is a complex composition spanning a history of nearly 2,000 years. What was this sacred text and what prompted its long life?

Popular conceptions of the Book of the Dead often derive from Victorian Era misunderstandings and the legacy of the vocabulary we use to discuss ancient literary works. By reorienting these approaches, we are able to gain a better understanding of how this text was produced and how it was used.

In this talk, Foy Scalf will offer new insights into the ancient Egyptian culture that produced and used the Book of the Dead by looking at who were the people reading these massive scrolls and what exactly they were doing with them.

The series concludes on Sunday, April 14, as Kiersten Neumann presents "From Persepolis to Chicago: Achaemenid Art and Architecture and the Oriental Institute." From the rule of Cyrus the Great to the fall of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (550-330 B.C.), the Achaemenid kings constructed a visual landscape that, through its art and architecture, broadcast an idealized message of harmonious order, power, and unity.

The dynastic center of Persepolis stands as a pinnacle of this visual legacy, founded by Darius the Great around 520 B.C. and sacked by Alexander the Great in 330 B.C. While known throughout history, the ruins of Persepolis were not excavated until the Oriental Institute sponsored an archaeological expedition to the site in present-date Iran, which lasted from 1931 to 1939.

As a result of this project, the Oriental Institute now houses a collection of artifacts and archival photographs that stands as one of the best resources on Achaemenid art and architecture in the world.

Tickets for each individual event are $20 general admission. For information and tickets, go to www.barringtonswhitehouse.com/events or call (224) 512-4066.

Barrington's White House is at 145 W. Main St., in the heart of downtown Barrington. Cultural programming at the White House is underwritten, in part, by generous sponsors, including the Willow Springs Charitable Trust, Kim Duchossois, Mary B. Galvin, Wayne and Nan Kocourek, Barrington Bank and Trust, Barrington 220, Mr. and Mrs. Earle Combs, and Northern Trust.

For information, call (224) 512-4066 or visit www.barringtonswhitehouse.com.