Meketre’s Tomb Models are a collection of miniature wooden models discovered in the tomb of Meketre, a royal chief steward of ancient Egypt. Unearthed in 1920 by archaeologist Herbert Winlock, these artifacts were found in a hidden chamber of the Theban Necropolis in Luxor, Egypt. The 24 models, remarkably preserved despite centuries of looting, vividly depict daily life in the Middle Kingdom. They range from residential gardens and workshops to bustling granaries and kitchens, offering invaluable insights into ancient Egyptian culture, craftsmanship, and beliefs about the afterlife.
The project aims to digitally revive Meketre’s Tomb Models, transforming these intricate miniature artifacts into immersive, life-size virtual environments. Through 3D modeling and virtual reality technologies, the project creates an interactive space where users can explore the architectural, agricultural, and social facets of ancient Egyptian life. The initiative seeks to bridge the geographical divide of these artifacts, currently split between the Cairo Museum and the Metropolitan Museum in New York, fostering a global connection to Egypt’s rich heritage.
Wooden models depicting daily life in Middle Kingdom Egypt.
© The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Users of the immersive environments will have the unique opportunity to explore detailed digital recreations, walking through and examining intricate aspects, including construction materials, architectural details like doors and windows, and various pieces of furniture. The project aims to enhance the immersive experience by integrating 3D printed models of Meketre’s Tomb Models, allowing users a tactile connection with ancient Egyptian artifacts. When touched, these models trigger the projection of corresponding virtual environments, creating a multisensory encounter.
Roots of Eternity
Roots of Eternity is a multisensory immersive exhibition that reimagines the 4,000-year-old garden model from the Tomb of Meketre—one of the most iconic archaeological discoveries of Middle Kingdom Egypt. Today, Meketre’s wooden models are housed in two distant institutions: the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. This project brings together researchers, designers, and technologists to digitally reunite and reconstruct the garden as a full-scale, multisensory experience.
The immersive environment blends ritual, ecological harmony, and digital storytelling. Visitors encounter regionally accurate flora and fauna, a soundscape native to the land, and the enduring legacy of those who once planted the seeds beneath the same sun. By integrating archaeological research with 3D animation, projection mapping, generative AI, spatial sound, and environmental scent, the exhibition breathes new life into an ancient space where daily labor, spiritual symbolism, and environmental knowledge continue to resonate.
The exhibition unfolds in three connected acts. Act I immerses visitors in a digitally reconstructed ancient Egyptian garden. Ecologically Accurate Soundscape: A key focus of the research was identifying birds, insects, and other native sound-producing organisms to develop a layered, immersive auditory environment. Narrations and soundtracks were carefully composed to complement each act, guiding visitors with context and emotional depth.
Act II brings ancient agricultural murals to life through AI-generated animation and evocative sound design.
Act III bridges past and present with AI-generated video of contemporary Egyptian farming practices, highlighting cultural continuity and the timeless rhythms of life along the Nile.
Presented in May 2025 at the Cube, Moss Arts Center, Virginia Tech.
Download Roots of Eternity Exhibition Brochure(PDF)
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center. 
Scenes from Roots of Eternity at the Cube, Moss Arts Center.
From the Cube to the Torpedo Factory Art Center
Following its debut at the Cube, Moss Arts Center, Roots of Eternity traveled to the Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia. This gallery captures moments from the immersive exhibition’s second installation, on view from June 14 to September 14, 2025, where digital storytelling and ancient heritage came together in a new public setting.
Scenes from Roots of Eternity, on view from June 14 to September 14, 2025, at the Target Gallery, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, Virginia.
Virginia Tech Faculty Team
Project PI & Exhibition Curator
Dr. Eiman Elgewely
Asst. Professor, Interior Design, School of Design, AAD
Director, Visualization & VR Lab
eelgewely@vt.edu
Ivica Ico Bukvic
Director, Creativity + Innovation
Professor, Creative Technologies in Music, SOPA, AAD
Amanda Nelson
Assoc. Professor & Grad Program Director, Theatre, SOPA, AAD
amandaj1@vt.edu
Thomas Tucker
Assoc. Professor, Creative Technologies, SOVA, AAD
Sang Won Lee
Assoc. Professor, Computer Science, College of Engineering
Students & Alumni Team
Amal Almalkawi, Emily Wilson, Sarah Zulfiqar, Austin Sherwood, Freda Marashi, Mohamed Ali, Deepak Gupta, Harshal Pilania, Josh Okoro.
Media Coverage
“Interdisciplinary project brings ancient Egypt to life through virtual reality”
Virginia Tech News, April 2025
Coverage of the Roots of Eternity exhibition and the interdisciplinary project Breathing Life into Meketre’s Tomb Models in VR at the VVR Lab.
[Link]
“Curious Conversations: Eiman Elgewely talks about using virtual reality to explore historical spaces”
Virginia Tech News, April 2025
Podcast discussed VVR Lab’s immersive reconstructions that revive and reinterpret museum collections and cultural heritage.
[Link]
“Innovative applications of VR in cultural heritage preservation and education: Challenges and future prospects”
Forward Pathway, May 2024
Overview of VR’s role in advancing cultural heritage education and preservation, including emerging challenges and opportunities for future applications.
Link
Funding Acknowledgment
This project is generously funded by the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) at Virginia Tech through the Major SEAD Grant, with additional support from the Center for Human-Computer Interaction (CHCI).
Visualization and Virtual Reality Lab 