What Items Are in the King Tut Exhibit?
- Artifacts relating to the Egyptian burial process comprise a significant portion of the exhibit. There are photos, descriptions and histories that help explain what happened during that process. There are also photos of the Valley of the Kings to help show children where in Egypt the burials took place. There are models of items that were commonly buried with Egyptian royalty, like fruit and boats. The fruit was for the dead to eat, and the boat would take him to the afterlife. Models like these help people understand the religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians.
- To help visitors better understand the history of King Tut, there is an exhibit dedicated to his ancestors and relatives. One of the major drawing points is a gold coffin and the gilded mask of Tut's great grandmother. A very large bust of King Tut's father is also displayed. Visitors see important artifacts, like leather dog collars and wooden cow heads, since animals were both guardians and hunters. Busts and statues of other famous Egyptian Pharaohs help give visitors a sense of what kings came before and after King Tut.
- This exhibit also showcases some of King Tut's personal items. These include board games and fancy ivory ring boxes. Other fun items include the chair he used as a child; it has lion paw legs and armrests made from gold and a glass mirror case shaped like an ankh. The ankh was the Egyptian symbol of life. There is also a gold shrine depicting scenes from his life. This exhibit includes about 100 actual artifacts that came from the tombs of King Tut and other Egyptian Pharaohs.
- The exhibit includes items from King Tut's mummy and burial chamber. A gold canopic jar is on display; it held King Tut's stomach. Gold sandals and finger and toe coverings that were found on his mummy are also on display. One of the best show pieces is a 10-foot quartzite statue of King Tut that was found at the burial site of one of his advisers.