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The King Tutankhamun Exhibition created by Royal Exhibitions
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Photo Gallery |
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Two sphinx guard the entrance of the tomb. The exhibition has been designed to allow large traffic flow. (6 foot sphinx on pedestral)
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This King Tut's gold leaf throne shows a portrayal of the King and his wife. The quality of the exhibition is unique. (wood gesso and gold leafing)
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Royal Exhibitions' brass copy of the original is renown as the first metal reproduction of Tut's mask. (brass) |
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This beautiful throne is an example of craftsmanship from antiquity. Objects of the exhibition are displayed in their own display cases. (Wood, mother of pearls and gold leafing) |
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This sarcophagus is a reproduction of the second of the three nested coffins found in the tomb. (Wood with gold leafing) |
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We have reproduced objects that are historically important such as this fan or the first iron dagger found in a tomb. (wood, feather, gesso gold leafing) |
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In addition to the exhibition, many activities can take place. These can be educational or entertaining.
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Egyptian dancers and Egyptian music are very entertaining. If space is not a concern, the exhibition can be as big as 5,000 square feet. |
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Tel: (613) 745 5561 |
More Information about the Exhibition
The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, by Howard Carter under the sponsorship of Lord Carnavon, November 1922, has been heralded as one of the greatest archaeological finds. It sparked an enthusiasm and appreciation of ancient civilizations worldwide. At that time, it was believed that all of the tombs already had been discovered. The King Tutankhamun discovery was all the more remarkable. It allowed the world to see a tomb of an Egyptian Pharaoh that was largely intact.
Over 3,000 items were recovered from his tomb; some of the most famous and important for historical reasons have been recreated by Royal Exhibitions.
These items were to accompany the Pharaoh to the afterlife. The beliefs of the Egyptians were such that life after death was very important, and this is the reason why so much work was done during the life of the pharaoh to prepare for the afterlife.
The tomb is not only interesting for the workmanship and the value of some of the items such as the gold funerary mask and the third coffin, but also because it can tells us about the ingenuity of the people that live in ancient Egypt. For example, the ecclesiastic chair is an early example of a folding chair. The sistrum is an example of a tambourine. We can imagine that music and some forms of comfort were important to ancient Egyptians.
This collection allows us to travel in time to learn more about an ancient civilization. The originals of Tutankhamum’s funerary treasures may no longer Egypt because of the great concern for maintaining the artifacts in good condition. They were beginning to deteriorate as a result of the travelling.
From the Antechamber
The Gold Throne
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(recreation wood gesso gold leaf enamel) |
Described by Lord Carnavon as one
of the most marvelous pieces of furniture that has ever been
discovered, the so-called Golden throne was one of six chairs
found throughout the Antechamber and the Annex.
The throne, symbol of authority and prestige in ancient Egypt, is a unique sample of the armana period as shown by the Aten disc on the back panel and the informal pose of the king and his young Queen Ankhesenamun. Winged cobras, wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, ornements the arms. The Lion's head symbolize morning and evening.
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A Richly decorated Chair
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This chair was found in the
Antechamber and is one of the most elegant of the chairs buried
with Tutankhamun. It is believed that it was intended for
use by the King in a religious ceremony, probably at his
coronation.
Between the strecher and the seat, the central feature is the sign for unification. The back of the chair carries a representation of Heh, the God of eternity. The interaction of symbols is intended to convey the hope of long and prosperous life. |
Sistrum
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(recreation wood gold leaf copper) |
Ritual rattle of which a pair were found in the Antechamber resting on one of the three animal form beds. Made of copper alloy, the rods that hold the jangles are of serpent form. The handle is gilded gesso on wood. The rather heavy utilitarian style suggests that the sistrum may have been used at the funeral obsequies in the tomb and forgotten or abandoned thereafter. Sistrum were traditionally a women's instrument and appear in many festival and other tomb scenes. |
Crook
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(recreation copper gold leaf enamel) |
The crook was one of the symbols
held by Egptian Kings during the coronation ceremonies and were
carried on some ceremonial occasions. Often, represented
as emblems of the God Osiris, the shepherd crook has acquired
the symbolical significance of rulership.
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From the Annexe
The King’s Ecclesiastical Throne
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(recreation wood mother of pearl inlaid gold leaf) |
The most peculiar of the seats buried with Tutankhamun, this throne is a type of folding stool and is often referred to as the "Ecclesiastical Throne". The back of the Throne contains three columns of text, in which the King is referred to in his earlier manifestation of Tutankhaten; the horizontal inscription above carries the King’s name in his Tutankhamun form. |
Shabtis
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Known as Shabtis or Shawabtis, 413 ofthese figures were found in the tomb. The shabtis resembling mummies acted as substitutes for the deceased owner in the Afterworld to undertake any of the manual tasks that were imposed, such as tilling the fields and collecting the harvest. |
Iron Dagger
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(recreation iron crystal) |
One of
two daggers found wrapped in with the mummy of King Tutankhamun,
it represents the earliest use of iron in ancient Egypt. Iron
was first discovered by the Hittites and indeed this dagger
shows designs that point to its manufacture to the East of
Egypt. It shows a resemblance to a similar weapon sent to King
Amenphis III by King Tushratta of Mitanni.
After 33 centuries in the tomb, the blade was found to be as bright as steel. Overall length is 13.5 inches. The haft is made of gold with granulated design and bands of inlaid glass and semi-precious stones. The pommel is shaped from a piece of sparkling rock crystal (quartz).
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Royal Scepter
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(recreation wood gold leafing enamel) |
The Royal scepter has a wooden core and gold overlay. The handle represents a papyrus flower and stem and is inlaid with semi-precious stones. |
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(recreation papyrus painted) |
When Carter shore his torch into the Antechamber, among the first things he saw were the gilded details of the two Guardian statues. Standing opposite one another, posing with their left leg forward, holding a staff in their left hand and a mace in their right, these two figures guarded the entrance of the Burial Chamber. |
From the Burial Chamber
Alabaster Lamp
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(recreation Alabaster) |
For the
purpose of lighting, ancient Egyptians used candles and oil-buring
lamps. Two lamps were found in the Burial chamber, one of which
was this lamp of Triple-lotus form. This triple lamp depicts a
lotus plant growing from the bed of a pond.
The original lamp was carved from a single block of alabaster. Slight traces of oil were visible in the cups when the lamp was first discovered. |
Ivory Rotating Fan
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(recreation wood gold leaf copper feather) |
Of all
the fans found in the tomb, this was the only one that was found
with all the feathers intact. It was found in a plain chest of
personal effects of the King. Its size would suggest that it was
a personal item rather than one wielded by a servant.
Made of ivvory mounted with gold, it is mounted on a swivel at right angles to the handle. This allows it to be rotated in the hand. The air-conditioning technology of 33 centuries ago! |
King Tut’s Second Coffin
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(recreation wood, gold leaf enamel. One foot shorter than original)
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One of
three coffins placed one inside each other, the second coffin is
made of overlay with gold foil. The first two coffins were made
of wood while the third one was made of gold. The use of in lays
was far more extensive than on the outermost coffin.
The physiognomy of the second differs from that of the first and third coffin which may make us believed that the Boy-King was not the intended owner. The re-creation is smaller than the original. The actual length was 6’ 81/4" inches. |
The Gold Funerary Mask
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(recreation brass enamel) |
The
finest funerary mask ever found. Made of beaten gold sheets in
two parts, it show the King as in life wearing the
Nemes-headcloth, with bound queue. On the brow, sit the vulture
and cobra, protective deities of Upper and Lower Egypt.
The mask was on the mummy of the King when the last coffin, also of solid sheet gold, was opened. The decoration is of inlaid blue glass, an imitation of lapis lazuli. |
Jewels of the Treasures
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The Pendant with the Bird
One of the richest jewels of the treasure, the central motif consists of a bird with wings curving upwards. Its body and head have been replaced with a scarab. It represents the sun about to be reborn. Wedget Eye Pendant A very fine pendant consisting of the eye of Horus, symbol of the entity of the body. On the right Uraeus, wearing the Royal Crown of the North. On the left, the vulture of the South protects the wedged eye, which is to help rebirth. Pendant of the Vulture Nekhabet The finest of the pendants found on the mummy represents a vulture holding in its claws the ring of infinity cycle |
From the Treasury
Shabti
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One of |
Stone Funerary Figure
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Another one of the many funerary figures found in the tomb. |
The Dog Anubis
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(recreation smaller than original) |
The Dog
Anubis is Tutankhamun’s transformation from a mortal to a God.
The animal of the God Anubis was for along time believed to be a
jackal, as it was always depicted black, therefore evoked the
jackals that roam the Necropolis at night. The Anubis shrine was
the main focus in the treasury.
He is made of wood, varnished black and the details are guilded. He is reclining in a guilded wood chest in the form of a shrine which in turn has been placed on the sleigh by which it has been transported to the tomb. The representation is ½ the actual size. |
Wooden Boat
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(recreation wood) |
One of
the 36 boats found in the Tomb. They are divided into two
classes: Those that represent the solar boat that conveys the
departed King to the West, and those that seem to be models or
possibly childhood toys. There were several types represented:
rowing galleys, sailing boats and small paddle boats.
This boat is characterized by astep central cabin and a mast and two steering oars. |
Flail
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(recreation wood copper gold leaf enamel) |
With the crook, the flail symbolizes immortal kingship. Two flails were found in the Treasury. |
Selket
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(recreation smaller than original) |
One of
the four goddesses, Iris, Nephthys, Neith and Selket, who
guarded the canopic shrine that housed the King’s mummified
internal organs. Each goddess stands with feet inwards, arms
outstretched in a gesture of protection, the head inclined
either to the right or to the left.
A very powerful goddess, her symbol is the scorpion, whose bite she could cure. |
The Ankh Mirror Case
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(recreation wood covered with gold leaf, red and blue enamel) |
The wooden mirror case is in the form of the hieroglyphic sign for life: ankh. One of the Egyptian words for the mirror was also ankh. |
Statuette of the King in a Walking Position
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(recreation copper gold leafing)
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A collection of hardwood figures was found in the Antechamber, the Burial chamber and the Treasury. This figure, recovered in one of the 22 double-door shrines, is an image of the King wearing the Crown of the North. In one hand, he is holding a flail and in the other a long crook used as a walking stick. |
The Viscera Sarcophagus
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During the embalming process, certain internal organs were removed (all except the heart) and were separately treated and placed in miniature mummy coffins. These were then placed in the tomb in their own shrine; the canopied chest. |
