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Tutankhamun and the golden age of the pharaohs Options
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colinbrichards
Posted: Monday, November 19, 2007 6:43:48 PM

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If you are passionate about Egyptology or perhaps want to get a taste of Egypt before travelling there, then this exhibition is a real treat. For the first time since the 70’s, an exhibition has come to London with over 130 ancient Egyptian treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb, other Valley of the Kings burials and Egyptian sites.

There are 50 major objects excavated from Tutankhamun’s tomb, including the royal diadem (the gold crown encircling the head of mummified body), plus over 70 wonderful objects from Royal tombs dating back to 1555 BC. Tutankhamun’s mummy and the Death Mask are not part of this exhibition, but this does not detract from the spectacle.

The exhibition also uses some contemporary science with computer-generated reconstructions, film footage and scan images of Tutankhamun’s mummy.

The exhibition started on 15th November and runs through to end of August 2008. I was lucky enough to attend the launch and it really is worth a visit, so find a date in your diary and make the most of one of those rainy winter weekends. See www.visitlondon.com/tutankhamun for booking tickets, with adult prices from £15 (plus booking fee).
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mikelamming
Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 9:39:39 AM

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Hello Colin,

I love Egypt and am planning on going to the Sinai from Jordan next year and I've been lucky enough to see King Tut's gold in situ in the Egyptian Museum and the Valley of the Kings (luckily this exhibition is just part of the collection so if anyone's on their way to Egypt don't worry there's still loads to see). But the revelation of Tut's face made me wonder again of the rights and wrongs of displaying what are essentially human remains.

I have to confess I did visit the amazing mummy room in the Egyptian Museum on my last visit but there is some controversy about it. Should we just leave these bodies to rest in peace outside of our gaze or has so much time passed that it doesn't matter any more?

The whole revelation of Tut face thing seemed to me a bit contrived and came just when the exhibition opened (me wonders cynically if there is a connection...).

Mind you, don't you just love 'Indiana' Hawas, that bloke from the Dept of Old Stuff with Harrison Ford's old hat!

Cheers

Mike
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Carlwelsby
Posted: Thursday, November 22, 2007 10:13:40 AM

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Hi Mike,

I met Zawi Hawas (minus hat) at a wedding in Cairo one time - nice bloke. He's done a lot to raise the profile of Egypt and bring to attention the theft in antiquities from Egypt so he's doing a good job. Mind you he could lose the hat couldn't he!

Your comments about the mummies are interesting. In 2004 I went into the same mummy room and the guide book was debating whether it was right or wrong. Personally I believe that we'd have to start reassessing every aspect of what we do archaeologically speaking if opinion moved that such exhibitions were unacceptable. It would mean no bog men on display, but what about treasures buried in graves and found centuries later, and digging around by the Time Team and the like disturbing ancient burial spots?

As far as i'm concerned they can dig me up in a thousand years if they want to - Gawd help them, i'm not in great shape now!

Carl
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wadders
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2007 2:35:34 PM

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Interesting comments about displaying human remains.

I still remember visiting the British Museum when King Tut did his tour of London the first time round.

As a mere 6 year-old, the memory of seeing these treasures, and the other mummies in the rest of the British museum brought to life the text books and led me to want to know more about the world.

So long as remains are shown with the dignity and respect they deserve, they can open up new worlds to the young and remind adults of by-gone eras.
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