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Friends of the Carlos Museum in Washington, DC

On June 20-22, a group of museum supporters traveled to Washington, DC, with Carlos Museum Director Bonnie Speed and Curator of Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art Melinda Hartwig, visiting the National Geographic Museum, Dumbarton Oaks, and the Freer/Sackler Gallery.

At the National Geographic museum, the group toured the Queens of Egypt exhibition, where they learned myriad secrets of female leadership under Hartwig’s guidance. Through objects rarely seen outside of Egypt, the exhibition reveals the story of six female rulers. “My favorite object was the 3,000-year-old juridical papyrus from the Egyptian Museum in Turin that records the plot to murder Ramesses III by a minor harem wife, who wanted her son the be king. Royal harems could be dangerous places!” Hartwig reflected.

Near Eastern art was the focus of the group’s stop at the Freer/Sackler Gallery, where the exhibitions Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient IranA Glimpse of Ancient Yemen, and Shaping Clay in Ancient Iranwere on the itinerary.

“It was a pleasure to be among such intrepid travelers. From ancient queens and Iranian silver to champagne at a French bistro, a great adventure was enjoyed by all,” Speed stated.