The King Tut Exhibit

The ancient Egyptians have always captivated me, transporting me mind and spirit on a journey to another world, another time, through mystery and magic. My friend J is also very interested in the ancient Egyptians and accompanied me to the exhibit of King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. It was awesome, dazzling. I was dumb-struck with amazement. All I could say was "Ooh… Amazing… Exquisite… How beautiful…. We were as in a temple. I imagined the opportunity for transcending time.
To be that close to unimagined riches made of gold and inlaid with precious gems, used by the famous king and his court elevated my soul. My heart fluttered like a bird. The paint on other pieces survived across the centuries because of the dryness of the desert and the Royal Egyptian Sepulcher (burial vault). Some pieces seemed futuristic and uncannily in the art deco style, an elegant style of cool sophistication in architecture and applied arts, which range in luxurious objects made from exotic material—in this case, mostly pure gold—in geometric shapes and intense colors.

Background Thoughts
I have a friend N who also loves the ancient Egyptians and who has visited Egypt. My father (now deceased) said that many generations ago, our family lived in Egypt--as well as in Palestine. My father went with a research team, led by Dr. Jim Harris, to x-ray the Pharaoh mummies many decades ago. My cousin G says he was thrilled to hear of my father’s work with the mummies because of his own long-time fascination with Egyptology.
The Pharaoh held power for a mere seven years, yet he is the most famous of all the kings found in the Valley of the Kings. Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, died 3,300 years ago at about age 18. It is thought that he was murdered by an official because his skull was bashed in and only a person of great importance could get near enough to harm him.
He is also famous because his tomb was in almost perfect condition. His tomb had been robbed once very soon after he was put in, but everything lost was replaced as soon as possible.
Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon found the mummy of King Tut in Luxor in 1922. Lord Carnarvon was a rich man who owned the right to dig in the Valley of the Kings where Tutankhamun was found.
At the exhibit the results of some sophisticated CT scans helped create, with an artist’s skills, a sculpture of what King Tut probably looked like. CT scans also turned up evidence of a broken leg, maybe from falling from his chariot and so it is possible that he succumbed to gangrene.
This once in a lifetime chance to see the most amazing art and artifacts in history is at The Field Museum, Chicago, IL now until January 1, 2007, then to Philadelphia and to London, It has previously been to Los Angeles, CA and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Plenty of parking is available at the museum for only $5. You can buy tickets by going online to the official site, http://www.kingtut.org/.