In Brazil, Egyptology, as a complete scientific discipline did not have a normal development until our days. In spite of the existence of a few Museums displaying Egyptian antiquities and the existence of some private collectors since the XIX Century (when Orientalismo became a fashion) there is not a tradition in studying Ancient Egypt as has occurred in Europe and other First World Countries. Maybe, it can mirror the cultural immaturity of an emergent country of the New World...

In fact, in 1826, when powerful European monarchs were buying Antiquities for their Museums, the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro I (Pedro IV of Portugal) also bought a representative Collection for the former Royal Museum of Rio de Janeiro. Including numerous stelai, coffins, human and animal mummies, statues and practically all kinds of objects, they belong to a Collection sold by an Italian called Nicolas Fiengo and were certainly collected in Egypt by Giovanni Baptista Belzoni. Today, part of this Collection was subtracted, part damaged and part is displayed at the National Museum of UFRJ. Also, unfortunately, this precious Collection have had an unpleasant history of forgetfulness, mainly due to the negligence and ignorance of the Museum’s staff.

Despite the fact that the Egyptian Collection at the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro is the oldest and most important in all Latin America, the state of conservation of some pieces of the Egyptian Collection is so endangered that in 1992, when the Vice-Director of the Greco-Roman Museum at Alexandria, Dr. Mervat Mohanmed Abd el-Halim saw the collection, she said: “If the Brazilians are not more interested in these pieces, they could return them to Egypt. We will take care of this treasure” (O Globo, 30th April, 1992 p.1, Second Part). Unfortunately, in 1995, a terrible storm invaded the Museum’s Rooms and hundreds of pieces were damaged, including a XXI Dynasty human mummy, papyrus, cartonnages and other items.

In order to solve, or, at least to try to solve some of these problem, the Instituto de Egiptologia was founded in 1990. The Institution is an organisation which unites the efforts of persons, scholars and supporters, willing to work within its frame for the promotion of Egyptology. Assembling a selected team of archaeologists, historians and others, not only in Brazil, but also in Egypt and Britain, the INE is the sole Institution of this kind in Brazil. The INE shall openly discuss problems affecting Egyptological studies, and shall incentive and promote the study of Ancient Egypt in all its aspects on an international basis.

In order to achieve its purposes, the INE has established the following missions:
1) To obtain and disseminate information concerning new discoveries, scientific work on progress and work completed on ancient Egypt and increase the Egyptological research programmes, exploring the available material;
2) To make surveys, explorations, experiments or investigations for the purpose of obtaining or disseminating any information with regard to the Egyptian culture;
3) To promote a wider understanding and appreciation of Egyptology on the part of the general public by encouraging and supporting exhibitions and cultural events;
4) In connection with any such purpose as aforesaid to prepare drawings, paintings, models, reproductions, books, plans, descriptions, sections, maps, photographs, engravings, representations, pamphlets and papers, and to publish, sell, lend, give away, or otherwise distribute the same for the benefit of the Institute and to disseminate the results of its work;
5) To incentive the printing of Egyptological titles and to publish periodical and occasional titles, some specifically to inform the members;
6) To hold meetings and to organise conferences, courses of lectures, seminars, didactic exhibitions and other scientific events related to;
7) To have its work associate to other institutions respecting Egyptology and develop educational programmes in all levels;
8) To encourage collaboration between scholars and existing associations and to promote the co-operation among national and international associations, as well as the creation of Fellowships, Scholarships, etc. in Egyptology;
9) To assist any isolated researchers or students (or other independent institution) in order to secure bigger efficacy to their work as well as help assist any survey, exploration or investigation related to the purposes of the Institute;
10) To take part in archaeological fieldwork and, in time, promote a Brazilian Archaeological Mission in Egypt;
11) To make, maintain and exhibit illustrative collections and other things relative to, or connected with any of the objects of the Institute;
12) To organise files and documents related to Egyptology and to create and maintain an institutional Library, Museum and Documentation Centre;
13) To safeguard and encourage the preservation of the cultural and historic heritage of the ancient inhabitants of the Nile Valley and places related.

The Instituto de Egiptologia has organised conferences and scientific meetings and other scientific events as didactic exhibitions in Projects or Joint-Projects developed with the most remarkable Brazilian institutions as: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Museu Nacional da Quinta da Boa Vista e Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Sociais e Laboratório de História Antiga ), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Clube de Engenharia - RJ, Colégio Pedro II, Centro Cultural Eva Nil (Cataguases-MG), Centro Cultural Antonio Klinger Filho (DMAE-Porto Alegre), Universidade Gama Filho, Universidade Estácio de Sá, Clube Naval, Circulo Monárquico do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, among many other.

One of most important projects developed by the INE was that one called Voyage to the Upper Nile: The Egypt by D. Pedro II . A successful research project was transformed in a didactic exhibition organised by the INE at Pedro II High School and later at the National Museum of UFRJ. Widely publicised, it was attended by nearly 190.000 people and showed the travels conducted in 1871 and 1876 by the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II, presenting, for the first time part of his Collection of photographs and other documents, now hold at the National Library, Imperial Museum Documentation Centre and other places.

Nowadays, the library of the Institute comprises nearly 11.000 titles, varying considerably, including rare books of XIX Century date, from Perrot & Chipiez and Lenormant to some of the most recent titles in the Egyptological field. One important contribution was made by Dr. Geoffrey T. Martin in 1993, when he sent more than 30 publications by him. Also, Dr. Kenneth Kitchen has done important contributions with his offspring. Also, different collections of objects are keep, including fragments, bronzes and many others. Obviously, these include the Didactic Collection of Egyptology.

The INE, also, is involved in publishing new titles and the results of its researches. Among the recent publications made by the INE, we can mention the following books and monographs: 1) O Caminho da Morte no Egito : Uma Introdução à Arqueologia Funerária, under partial orientation by Dr. Kenneth A. Kitchen. Biblioteca Xerográfica do INE, Rio de Janeiro, 1990, 192 pages, illustrated ; 2) The Way of Death in Ancient Egypt. Biblioteca Xerográfica do INE, RJ, 1990, illustrated; 3) Egito Antigo: Engenharia de Uma Civilização. Imprensa Naval, Rio de Janeiro, 1992. 24 pages, illustrated; 4) Sistema Mortuário Privado na XVIII Dinastia Egípcia (MA Dissertation of August 1994), UFF, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. Partially published in Phoînix 1998, pages 89-119. Illustrated.; 5) Viagem ao Alto Nilo: O Egito de D. Pedro II , Guide of the Exhibition organised by the Instituto de Egiptologia at Pedro II High School and Museu Nacional da UFRJ, Instituto de Egiptologia, Rio de Janeiro, 1996, 45 pages, illustrated.; 6) Conexão Misr-Kemet: Em Busca de um Egito Esquecido, Guide of the Exhibition organised by the INE at Universidade Gama Filho, 1997, 34 pages, illustrated.; 7) O Paço Imperial de São Cristóvão: História e Ressurreição de um Palácio Esquecido. Instituto de Pesquisa Histórica D. Pedro II e Instituto de Egiptologia, 1998, 37 pages, illustrated. The Institute also promote exchange of titles and any other organisation of the same kind is entitled to ask for it.

The Institute was founded in 1990, thus, since 1982, we are organising an useful Documentation Centre and today we have nearly 5.000 original photographs comprising different collections, separated according to the theme. There, someone can find details of temples, tombs and other sites of historical and archaeological interest. So, we have keep and increase an odd file of pictures of monuments in Saqqarah, Cairo, Gizeh, Dashur, Abusir, Dendera, Abidos, Western Thebes, Luxor, El-Kab, Edfu and Cairo (Old, Muslim and the Egyptian Museum). One special chapter is the collection of pictures of the so called Nobles Tombs, at Western Thebes. Also, the Collection include pictures from different sites not only in Egypt, but also in the Near East as Petra, Aman, Palmira, Damascus, Crac des Chevaliers, Hama, Homs, Aleppo and others of interest.

The Documentation Centre also include nearly 7.000 files. By gathering plans, drawings, pictures, illustrations, maps and other documents in different files, we have an useful tool of work and information for the members and other consultants. Continuous work is required to maintain the files properly organised. Also, other belongings as furniture, files, showcases, panels and many other are keep in a provisory headquarter in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro.