The museum houses the world's oldest wine vessel, dating back to approximately 5400-5000 BCE, discovered at the site of Hajji Firuz Tepe.
The 13-ton Sphinx of Ramses II is carved from a single block of red granite.
The museum's collection contains the 'Flood Tablet,' a portion of the Epic of Gilgamesh, which predates the biblical account of the Great Flood.
The Penn Museum was the first institution in the United States to display a collection of artifacts specifically for the study of physical anthropology.
The building features an 'Egyptian Wing' that houses a massive granite gateway from the Pharaoh Merenptah’s palace.
The Penn Museum, part of the University of Pennsylvania, houses over one million objects spanning human history from the dawn of civilization to the present. It is renowned for its significant collections from the ancient Near East, Egypt, Mesoamerica, and Asia. The museum features the Sphinx of Ramses II, one of the largest sphinxes in the Western Hemisphere. Its Middle East Galleries showcase the origins of writing and urban life in Mesopotamia. The Warden Garden provides a peaceful outdoor space for visitors to view architectural fragments and stone sculptures. The institution serves as an active research center, with many collections sourced from its own archaeological expeditions. Recent renovations have introduced climate-controlled galleries and improved accessibility to the artifact displays.
Beside the 13-ton Sphinx of Ramses II in the Egypt (Sphinx) Gallery.
Check the digital calendar before visiting, as the museum frequently hosts university lectures and research symposia.
Take advantage of the self-guided audio tour available through your own smartphone to understand the provenance of major artifacts.
Allow extra time to explore the rotating exhibits in the smaller galleries, which are often overlooked by visitors heading straight for the Sphinx.
Rushing through the entrance level without visiting the lower levels, where significant archaeological findings are housed.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet volume in the galleries, do not touch the artifacts, and photography is permitted only without flash.
