Racibórz Museum

Before she was born, her parents asked the oracle of the goddess Amaunet about their child's fate and were told: "she will live". That is the meaning of the name Djed-Amaunet-ius-ankh – an Egyptian woman who died around 2,800 years ago aged 19 or 20, and who now lies in a former Gothic Dominican nuns' church in Racibórz, Upper Silesia. Her mummy is the most famous exhibit of the Racibórz Museum, which holds some 30,000 archaeological, historical, ethnographic and art objects.

History: from a school collection to a museum

The museum's roots go back to around 1819, when the Royal Protestant Grammar School in Racibórz began collecting teaching aids. The town gave the collection a disused church building at 1 Gimnazjalna Street – the former Dominican nuns' Church of the Holy Spirit, empty since 1811 – and the museum officially opened on 4 December 1927. During work in 1936–1938, 17th-century wall paintings were discovered in the church, including the Descent of the Holy Spirit and an adoration of the Blessed Euphemia, a 14th-century princess of Racibórz who became a Dominican nun. In 1945 most of the collection was destroyed or scattered and only about 900 objects survived; the museum reopened in 1948. Renovation in 1976–1983 restored the chancel's Gothic appearance.

The Egyptian mummy

The mummy was bought in Egypt in the mid-19th century by Baron Anselm von Rothschild, who owned estates near Racibórz; it was unwrapped at his palace in Szylerzowice, and in the 1860/61 school year the baron donated it to the grammar school. It is often said that it was a wedding present his bride-to-be refused – but how much truth there is in this is unknown. X-ray examinations in 2002 suggested that the woman most likely died of complications in childbirth. Since 1983 the mummy, its cartonnage and two coffins have been displayed in the exhibition "In the House of Osiris", designed to resemble an Egyptian burial chamber. The canopic jars shown alongside are examples and did not belong to her burial.

What to look for

• A grave with a broken sword, found in the chancel – possibly the resting place of Valentin, the last duke of Racibórz from the Czech Přemyslid dynasty,
• a stove from around 1500, reconstructed from tiles found during renovation – probably the oldest of its kind in Poland,
• a collection of 249 pewter objects from the 17th–19th centuries and Racibórz folk bonnets,
• in the second building, at 12 Chopina Street: exhibitions on the region's prehistory, medieval Racibórz, a Lusatian culture cremation cemetery from Samborowice and historic dental techniques.

Practical information

The exhibitions at 1 Gimnazjalna and 12 Chopina streets are open Tuesday–Friday 8:00–16:00, Saturday 10:00–18:00 and Sunday 11:00–15:00; closed on Mondays. A standard ticket costs PLN 15, reduced PLN 10, family PLN 30, and there is a combined ticket with the SOWA Science Centre. Admission is free on Sundays.

Tripto tip

Start in the former church with the mummy and the rediscovered frescoes, then move on to the Chopina Street building. Allow about 2 hours for both. If you would like a guided tour in English or Czech, book a guide in advance.