The first room in the Egyptian museum welcomes visitors to the world of the pharaohs, who ruled ancient Egypt. You see a statue of Ramses the Second. He sits on a throne, a ceremonial chair. He looks very much like a powerful ruler. A very tall statue of the mother of Ramses looks over another room in the Egyptian museum.

FAITH LAPIDUS: The Vatican Museums also exhibit objects from an ancient land called Etruria. This area is now part of northern Italy. Most historians believe that Etruscan society reached its height more than two thousand five hundred years ago. The Etruscans created fine art with terra cotta, or baked clay.

Pope Gregory the Sixteenth established the Etruscan Museum in eighteen thirty-seven. The collection includes vases and objects made of bronze and gold. It also includes statues of full human bodies and sculptures representing heads. In addition, you can see objects that added beauty to the Etruscan temples, or religious centers.

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MARIO RITTER: Next we visit the Chiaramonti Museum, established by Pope Pius the Seventh. The pope’s name was Chiaramonti before he was chosen to lead the church. This museum has almost one thousand ancient works of art, including statues of Roman gods.

The Chiaramonti Museum is sometimes closed to the public. But when inside, you can see a statue called “Augustus of Prima Porta.” The Roman ruler holds his right arm high in the air. Art experts say the Emperor Augustus was making a victory sign. Or, the statue may have once held a weapon. The statue was found in eighteen sixty-three in the ancient home of Livia, the wife of Augustus.