Ancient Egypt rises in Nanaimo for nine days as the Messiah’s Mansion: Journey to the Sanctuary travelling exhibit takes place at Beban Park.
Running Saturday (Sept. 15) to Sept. 23 (a VIP tour takes place Friday) near Beban’s Centennial Building, the exhibit presents ancient history through a living museum.
Visitors travel back more than 3,000 years into the desert between Egypt and the Promised Land where more than two million people banded together to build a tabernacle for their God.
The Journey to the Sanctuary exhibit features a life-size replica of the Mosaic wilderness Sanctuary. Everything is to scale and a copy of what it would have looked like to the ancient Israelites, according to the Bible.
The tour is broken into five sections, each lasting about 15 minutes. Groups as large as 50 are guided through ancient symbols and meanings including an overview of the Hebrew tabernacle; the alter of sacrifice and laver; the table of shewbread; the alter of incense and the candlesticks; the Ark of the Covenant; and the special garment worn by the high priest.
The tour’s tabernacle was built in Abbotsford – taking more than a year to construct – and is 22 by 45 metres, including 4.5-metre pillars.
Volunteers with Nanaimo’s Adventist churches began putting the display together Sunday.
“We had 55 people here working for 10 hours and it has pretty much been like that every day,” said Philippe Richard, Nanaimo tour coordinator. “All the labour has been volunteered, and most of the material has been donated. It will probably take us five days to set up.”
Messiah’s Mansion runs from 1-7 p.m. Admission is free.
Group tours are available by calling 250-244-1519.
For information, please go to www.nanaimoadventists.net.