I was invited on a complimentary basis to take a journey of wonder through this exhibition of Tutankhamun’s precious treasures.
I walked like an Egyptian, travelled through a journey to the afterlife and discovered about King Tutankhamun from the moment he died until the moment he resurrected and enjoyed eternal life.
Tutankhamun Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh exhibition
The legend of Tutankhamun captured imaginations globally when his tomb was unearthed by British explorer Howard Carter and financier Lord Carnarvon in 1922.
Produced by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and IMG, and presented in London by Viking Cruises Tutankhamun Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh will unveil more than 150 masterpieces over nine galleries of which 60 are travelling out of Egypt for the first, provided along with digital content and audio to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb on tour all over the world for a limited run.
Discover the most famous of the Pharaohs, and the young sovereign’s personal belongings as you follow his passage into everlasting life through this exhibition.
“The UK has long had an affinity for the Boy King ever since his discovery by British archaeologist Howard Carter on 4 Nov 1922. Massive crowds are already preparing for the opportunity to behold his treasures one last time before they return to Egypt and their final home in the Grand Egyptian Museum.”
Dr Zahi Hawass (World-renowned archaeologist)
Tutankhamun exhibition hits London
The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities allowed tours of Tutankhamun treasures back in 1962 with it’s first exhibit at the Louvre in Paris. The exhibit drew in millions of visitors which then resulted in his treasures been exhibited around the world from 1972 – 1979 starting with United States, then onto Soviet Union, Japan, France, Canada and ending in West Germany. There were no international exhibitions again until 2005 – 2011. This exhibit featured Tutankhamun’s predecessors from the 18th dynasty, including Hatshepsut and Akhenaten, but did not include the golden death mask.
For one last trip Tutankhamun’s treasures will be touring this year till 2022 starting off in Los Angeles and ending in it’s new home the new Grand Egyptian Museum which is in Cairo.
The Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt, Cairo will though be displaying the full Tutankhamun collection, gathered from all of Egypt’s museums and storerooms.
For us Londoners we will be able to walk like an Egyptian through Tutankhamun’s treasures from 2 November 2019 to 3 May 2020. Be quick though before it walks on out of London.
Walk like an Egyptian
Heading into the exhibition along with my friend we discovered and learnt all there is about Tutankhamun through this wonderful exhibition.
We gazed among Tutankhamun jewellery, weapons, statues and so much more all of which belonged to the boy King himself.
This exhibition is the largest collection of his treasures ever to go on display, in celebration of the 100 year anniversary since the ancient ruler’s burial site was discovered.
This is the only exhibition to feature authentic objects from Tutankhamun’s tomb, 60 of which have never left Egypt before until now!
The only famous piece that was not on display within this large exhibit was the Funerary Mask which remains within an Egyptian Museum in Cairo but it will eventually go on view with the entire Tutankhamun collection at the forthcoming Grand Egyptian Museum. It was a very popular object that travelled in the 1970’s and many people have fond memories of it. However because it is such an iconic world treasure, the Egyptian government has decided it will never travel again so that it can remain for posterity.
Discovery
His treasures were discovered back in 1922 by Howard Carter whom which discovered Tutankhamun’s practically intact tomb, funded by Lord Carnarvon, it received worldwide press coverage. With over 5000 artefacts, it sparked a renewed public interest in ancient Egypt.
Upon my journey I learnt things I never knew about Tutankhamun such as:
- He took the throne (1332-1323 BC) at nine years of age.
- He married his own half sister Ankhesenamun.
- During their marriage they lost two daughters, one at 6 months of pregnancy and the other shortly after birth at full term.
- He was physically disabled with a deformity of his left foot that required the use of a cane, several of which were found in his tomb as well as body armour and bows, having being trained in archery.
- He had several health issues including a cleft palate, scoliosis and several strains of malaria.
- He died at a young age of 19.
- He was the last of his royal family to rule during the end of the 18th dynasty during the New Kingdom of Egyptian history.
Here is a tree chart of his family history.
Treasures of Tutankhamun
I was in awe of everything I saw throughout this exhibition and I would love to list everything but as there are over 150 treasures in all I thought I would mention my top 10 which belonged to Tutankhamun.
A statue of Tutankhamun which once stood to the left, guarding the entrance to his burial chamber.
A statue of Tutankhamun which gold gilded.
A wooden armchair which Tutankhamun used to use.
The Canopic jars was used to bury mummified organs.
This was found in Tutankhamun’s mummy wrappings which is believed to be worn by the King in daily life.
This Egyptian statue is over five metres in height and is the tallest Egyptian statue with one identical statue.
This Egyptian figure of a Horus Falcon is a masterpiece which represents a solar god in falcon form, circa 300 to 250 BC (Greco-Roman), made of gold with blue glass inlay.
A Gilded shrine.
This is a Canopic Coffinette of Tutankhamun which is a small vessel which was used to hold internal organs.
Spoiler alert: If you want to discover all the artefacts of Tutankhamun which are on display at the Saatchi Museum then click here for the full catalogue of what is on display throughout this exhibition.
Upon coming to the end of the exhibition displayed was this image of Tutankhamun’s mummified body. His body rests in the sarcophagus in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
Stepping into the shop there is also on display a replica of Tutankhamun’s death mask. The real death mask was discovered by Howard Caret on 28 October 1925 in tomb KV62, in the Valley of the Kings and is now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It will be soon transferred to the new Grand Egyptian Museum in anticipation of the 2022 grand opening. The ministry of antiques of Egypt does not allow the mask to travel outside of the country due to its fragility and status a world treasure.
On sale in the shop was a vast selection of merchandise from magnets to t-shirts.
Verdict
This exhibition was a wonder and made me think of what it must of been like for this young King to have such a huge responsibility and be surrounded by such luxury.
If you have never been like myself to an exhibition on King Tutankhamun then I highly recommend as it was very interesting to learn more about the young King who died at the young age of 19 and to be able to gaze on all his treasures from the jewellery he wore to the household objects he used. It is surprising how it all still looks immaculate.
So it is no surprise that more than 250,000 tickets sold for this exhibition before it even opened within London. London is this exhibitions third stop in this ten city world tour, and it broke record sales in Los Angeles before becoming France’s most attended exhibition of all time with more than 1.4 million attendees.
I highly recommend.
Book your journey through the history of Tutankhamun
This exhibition of Tutankhamun’s treasures will be at the Saatchi Gallery until Sunday 3 May 2020.
Saatchi Gallery
Duke of York’s HQ
King’s Road
London
SW3 4RY
Tickets are sold in 30 minute entry slots, but you are welcome to spend as much time as you like enjoying the exhibition once in.
Adult: Peak from £28.50 / Off Peak from £24.50 + fees
Concessions(Senior 55+, student, wheelchair/ambulant): Peak from £26.00 + fees / Off Peak from £22.00 + fees
Child; aged 16 and under (3 and under go free): Peak from £19.50 + fees / Off Peak from £16.50 + fees
Note: The proceeds from this exhibition will help support the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo which is expected to open in 2020. Upon the show’s conclusion, Tutankhamun’s artefacts will return to Egypt and be permanently displayed in the museum.
From 3 May 2020 the exhibition will then continue it’s journey around the world before Tutankhamun’s objects go on permanent display at the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt.
Thank you to the PR who is handling bookings for Tutankhamun Exhibition for this historical adventure we loved it.
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