Just in case you need tangible proof of the saying "you can't take it with you," look no further then the new exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharoahs. Scheduled to open on Friday, April 23 at the Discovery Times Square Exposition in the heart of Manhattan, this highly anticipated exhibition features more than 130 artifacts, 50 of which are from King Tut's tomb. When the exhibition closes on January 2, 2011, the treasures of Tut will return to Egypt and NEVER tour again.
Affectionately known as the "Boy King," Tut became pharaoh in 1333 B.C at the tender age of nine. Ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife and, when King Tut died suddenly at the age of
nineteen, his tomb in the Valley of the Kings was filled with treasures intended for his use after death. Did Tut make it to the afterlife? I don't know. But his belongings and mummified body remained earthbound and undisturbed for some 3,000 years until the tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. Now those royal jewels, statues, funerary items, and even cosmetic containers are on display for our education and sheer enjoyment.
Today, I was invited to take a sneak peek at the exhibition before it opens to the general public. I was stunned by the impressive condition of the artifacts. And, of course, I saw more than a few pieces of spectacular gold jewelry that I would love to wear. So many of the faces depicted on the statues are breathtakingly beautiful - leaving me convinced that the ancient Egyptians were the first to master the dramatic application of eyeliner.
The exhibition is 
designed to make you feel as if you are in the tombs discovering these ancient treasures on your own. It is haunting, beautiful, and educational. Be sure to take the audio tour narrated by the one and only Omar Sharif.
One piece currently not on display is King Tut's chariot which is scheduled to arrive in the next month or so. This chariot is an important part of the mystery surrounding King Tut's death. A recent CT scan of King Tut's mummy indicates that he had an accident just a few hours before he died. Could a chariot accident have been the cause of the Boy King's untimely death? This scenario is a definite possibility according to Dr. Zahi Hawass, the outspoken Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Superstitious folks say that a curse follows King Tut's treasures. I say that you'll be cursing yourself if you miss this extravagant and extraordinary exhibition.
Adult ticket prices are $27.50. Seniors pay $25.50 and the admission for
children 4-12 is $17.50. Children 4 and under are free. A Family Pack
(2 adults, 2 children age 4-12) is $79. 50% of the ticket price will be used to further the discovery and preservation of antiquities in Egypt.
If you are traveling to the exhibition from out of town, Starwood Hotels is the official hotel sponsor. Hotel guests will get access to VIP tickets that get them to the front of the line, no black-outs, and untimed tickets.
For more information, visit www.kingtutnyc.com.
P.S. Be sure to enter the contest to win a trip to Egypt.
