PassPorter's
Article Tools |
| |
King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs : Exhibition: Londonby Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
Last modified 5/29/2008
| | |
Cool Tip: Click here to get a FREE PDF version of this article, fully formatted to print and put into your PassPorter Deluxe Binder!
Filed in Articles > International Travel > Traveling
It's amazing to think how the story of a boy king, who ruled for only about a decade thousands of years ago, still attracts the interest of millions of people, but that's exactly what's happened with Tutankhamun.
Known more fondly these days as King Tut, which may have something to do with a struggle to spell his full name, an exhibition of the wonders found with him in his final resting place is once again touring the world.
When the exhibit first went on tour in the 1970s, the exhibition set records for the numbers of people who passed through the doors at various venues around the world to see it. It was last in London at the British Museum in 1972 - the year I was born - so when I heard it would be returning to the city, I figured this could be our once in a lifetime opportunity to see it.
The exhibition is made up of 11 galleries and, as soon as you arrive, you know this is going to be something special. The first room you come to is just like a pre-show at a Disney attraction, with a video introduction narrated by Omar Sharif. As this 90-second presentation ends the doors slide open and you enter the world of Tutankhamun and the Age of the Golden Pharaohs. The name really sums up what you'll see, as it's not just about King Tut. The first gallery you visit explains about Ancient Egypt and gives you some background to Tutankhamun, including his family tree. You learn about the 18th Dynasty of rulers and Egypt as a country, which at that time, was a huge empire.
Then you find out about their beliefs. It was fascinating to learn about all the gods they worshiped. One piece that caught my eye in here was the winged cobra figure that protected King Amenhotep II, with wings outstretched, as if ready to catch him should he fall. The colors on this - bright blues, greens and reds - didn't seem to date 3,000 years, they looked so vibrant.
Then it was time to learn more about death, burial and the afterlife, including the amazing gilded coffin of Lady Tjuya, before discovering the world that Tutankhamun inherited. It was one that his father changed considerably, as he tried to convince his people to believe in only one god - the sun. It fell to King Tut to restore convention when he took the throne.
When he ascended the throne he was just nine years old. It's in the next gallery that fact is brought home to you, via the tiny ebony and ivory chair that he used to sit in. Your first thought is that this is a child's chair and then you realize that's exactly what it is, except this child was also a ruler of an entire country at such a tender age. This room is also home to golden items everywhere you look, whether solid gold or gilded wood. It came as no surprise that one of the scientists who found the tomb exclaimed that everything inside was gold.
From here, it's on to perhaps one of the highlights, Tut's tiny gold coffinette - from his burial chamber and this just whets your appetite for more, with five golden items that were all wrapped in the linen of the mummy, including an elaborate head-dress. This pictured a cobra and a vulture, both designed to protect the King in the afterlife.
The finishing part brings you bang up to date with the science of Tut, examining the mystery of how he died so suddenly aged around 19. There's still no definite conclusion to that, with research continuing to this day to try and solve the riddle.
In every gallery you visit, there are superb explanations about everything you're seeing and unusually, there are normally at least two versions of this written out, one on top of the cabinets, so you don't have to wait for someone to move out of the way. It's also worth keeping in mind that you walk all the way around the exhibit cases, allowing you to view them from the front, side and behind, which gives many of the items a totally different perspective. In particular, the pectoral of gold, a cross worn by Tutankhamun on his chest, appeared stunning enough from the front view. Walk around the back of it though and you see a completely different design, just as intricately made. The detail that went into this piece is breathtaking.
That was really the overall feel we came away with from this exhibition. Every piece you saw just had so much detail on it. Many items had lines and lines of hieroglyphics that couldn't have been more than quarter of an inch tall. Often, you would stand there and as you looked at the item, you would see more detail, with the heads of animals suddenly appearing to you in the design of everyday items such as jewelery boxes and tables.
We kept stopping to discuss how long each must have taken to create and what tools they must have used. One thing's for sure, we must have better quality tools today, but somehow you just can't imagine us creating anything as detailed in our modern world.
It's a fascinating step back three thousand years to an era when countless hours were spent creating jewels fit for a King in his afterlife. When you emerge from this exhibition, you feel very privileged to have witnessed these beautiful things. This may well be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this, so if you get the chance, be sure to take it up.
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs is open at the O2 Dome in London from now until August 30, 2008. Its next stop will be in Dallas, Texas, where the exhibition will open on October 3, 2008. For more information visit http://www.kingtut.org
About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to Disney, and they have made numerous visits to destinations across America and Europe. They recently completed their tour of every Disney theme park around the world, which culminated in their visit to Japan, including the Tokyo Disney Resort. Click here to view more of Cheryl's articles!
Related Links:
Traveling Carry-On to Walt Disney World - Avoid Those Baggage Fees last updated 3/2/2011
New York City - Something Old, Something New last updated 01/02/2009
On the Road to Walt Disney World - Doing "The Drive" last updated 01/20/2009
Airline Security - 10 Important Tips and Reminders last updated 1/21/2009
Sick at Sea - (But Not Sea Sick!) last updated 5/14/2009
Reader Comments:
So what do you think? Click here to share your comments, feedback, and experiences on this article and topic!
(Note: You must be a member of our PassPorter Message Board Community to leave comments. Join today for free!)
Updated 5/29/2008 - Article #153
Read additional articles from PassPorter.com
|
Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter, PassPorter News, published for more than 50,000 opt-in subscribers worldwide.
As an added bonus for subscribing, you will receive a 20% discount coupon for the PassPorter Store -- no catch!
We respect your privacy and never sell or rent our subscriber list. Subscribing will not result
in more spam! We guarantee it.
|
Copyright 1999-2011
by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.
| | | LEARN MORE |
Learn More With Our Award-Winning Guidebooks
|
RSS General
PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disn...
Planning a trip around the globe, or just away for the weekend? Ask questions and share experiences!
Forum Sponsored by CruisingCo.com
Top 10 All American Road Trips article
by Dlandmom2
18 May 2012 at 7:31pm
I saw this article and immediately thought of chezp, who has seen more of my country than I have!
Here are some great ideas for summer travel!
...
(click title above to view replies)
Baltimore/Preakness traffic and DC
by mommapants
16 May 2012 at 4:23pm
Anyone have any idea what traffic will be like into and around Baltimore this weekend for the Preakness?
I'll be coming from NJ and want to go to...
(click title above to view replies)
Atlantis/Bahama tips needed.
by minemoz1
16 May 2012 at 7:59am
We are going to the Atlantis Bahama resort tomorrow and I'm just realizing, I have no idea what else there is to do. I know there are lots at the...
(click title above to view replies)
Las Vegas! Help!!!!
by kywdwmom
8 May 2012 at 11:17am
Ok...so I know where to get the best planning book for WDW, but not so much when it comes to other locations. :rolleyes:
DH has convention in Las...
(click title above to view replies)
WiFi at Tokyo Disney resort
by Tigger71
7 May 2012 at 9:59pm
Does anyone know about wifi availability in the Tokyo parks and hotels?
We are staying at the Disneyland Hotel and we are leaving some family...
(click title above to view replies)
Grand Forks, ND
by Lilianna
6 May 2012 at 2:45pm
Not an exotic choice to vacation in November, but convenient. We are in Winnipeg and my mom is in Las Vegas. To save money, she will fly from LV to...
(click title above to view replies)
Which Beaches Resort is better??
by applejenn
5 May 2012 at 9:46am
I'm just wondering if anyone has been to Beaches. I've been looking for a good All-Inclusive Family resort. I have a 19yr old and an 8 yr old, Me,...
(click title above to view replies)
Travel in eastern Romania
by jack117
27 Apr 2012 at 6:27am
we plan to be in romania for 10 days & would like to be near the sea. We are interested in constanta. Would 10 days there be too much? Where else can...
(click title above to view replies)
apps for national parks
by oldmom
25 Apr 2012 at 11:27am
Travel Kit - Technology in nature: 3 apps for national-park-bound travelers...
(click title above to view replies)
Las Vegas-CSI The Experience!!
by karadisney
24 Apr 2012 at 8:40pm
I saw this on the Anderson show and I didn't even know that they had this. It's new and it looks AWESOME!!! How fun would this be??:cool::D:)...
(click title above to view replies)
Total Visits: 1630
|
