By Jennifer R Jones | Posted on April 25, 2010 10:30 AM
Two New Exhibits Celebrating King Tutankhamun Come To New York City At The Discovery Times Square Exposition Center And Metropolitan Museum Of Art
"Tutankhamun And The Golden Age Of The Pharaohs" Opens In New York
Tut, tut, New York, get ready to catch King Tut fever: Not one, but two exhibitions celebrating the legendary Egyptian boy king have landed in New York. In midtown’s Discovery Times Square Exposition Center (Discovery TSX; 226 West 44th Street; 888-988-8692), “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” has just opened, and will be in the city through the beginning of next January before returning to Egypt.
The exhibition includes both treasures unearthed from his tomb as well as scientific findings about King Tut. The crown that was on his head in the tomb, along with a gold coffinette, are on display. King Tut died when he was 19 in about 1324 BC: the latest scientific evidence shows that the cause may have been malaria combined with a degenerative bone disease.
"Tutankhamun’s Funeral" Is On Display At The Metropolitan Museum Of Art
An entire gallery is devoted to scientific studies, including DNA information, surrounding his life and death. Two family days are coming up: Sunday, May 9, and Sunday, June 13—they will include special tours and a mummy-wrapping activity. Over at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street; 212 879-5500; through September 6), “Tutankhamun’s Funeral” is on display; it looks at the funeral rites and materials associated with Tut’s burial. The exhibition serves as a nice complement to the one at Times Square.
Materials that were used at his burial and funeral rites—including bowls, linen sheets and bandages, jars and floral collars--are on view at the exhibition, as are archival photographs that provide background. A sculpted head of the boy king is also on view, as are facsimile paintings showing funerary rites. Get wrapped up in Tut and go!
