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TUTANKHAMUN: Exhibition Guide

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TUTANKHAMUN: Exhibition Guide 8. Monkey Kohl Pot. Used as a container for kohl, a black cosmetic eye shadow originally worn to diminish the glare of the harsh desert sun. TUTANKHAMUN: 9. Golden Cosmetic Spoon. Fashioned in the graceful “Wonderful Things” from the Pharaoh’s Tomb form of a bathing maiden, a classic motif for 18th January 21 - May 6, 2018 Dynasty ointment containers. Exhibition Guide 10-13. Canopic Urns. Funerary jars for internal organs (named for the town of Canopus), ceremonially NOTE: This exhibition includes all items listed, though included as miniatures after the 21st Dynasty. they may be in different areas of the gallery and out of numerical order. 14. Winged Isis. The most revered of ancient Egyptian goddesses, the legendary mother of Horus and both MAIN ENTRANCE wife and twin sister of the god Osiris. 42. Selket. Goddess associated with magic and 15. Thutmose III. Egypt’s mightiest pharaoh, escorted by scorpions (whose emblem crowns portrayed in this New Kingdom masterpiece. her), the sideways turn of her head defying the fundamental tradition of frontality in ancient 16-17. Lady Depet and Imenmes. An 18th Dynasty Egyptian art. noble-woman and her husband, sculptured by the same craftsmen who decorated the pharaoh’s tombs. 1. Queen Ankhnesmerire and Pepi II. An Old Kingdom sculpture (c. 2188 B.C.) of the 6th Dynasty 18. Relief of a Noble Couple at a Banquet. From the child pharaoh who ruled for 94 years. Theban studio of the royal sculptor Djhutmose during the reign of Amenhotep IV (c. 1353 B.C.). 2-3. Shield of Narmer Ceremonial Palette. Commemorating the unification of Predynastic 19. Statue of Amenhotep IV. The heretic pharaoh, Upper and Lower Egypt by the first pharaoh (c. 3100 founder of the first monotheistic religious cult and B.C.), used for grinding cosmetics. father of Tutankhamun, depicted as a youth making an offering. 4. Triad of Mycerinus. The 4th Dynasty Pharaoh Mycerinus (c. 2532 B.C.) represented as a divine trinity 20. Statuette of Akhenaton. A radical visionary, with the goddess Hathor and a regional deity. Amenhotep IV changed his name to Akhenaton, portrayed with exaggerated, stylized features. 5. Limestone Relief of Horus. Characterizing the archaic, formal style of Old Kingdom art, the principal 21. Nefertiti. Akhenaten’s great royal wife. Found in divinity, represented as a falcon and personified as the workshop of the sculptor Djhutmose, used as an the pharaoh. instructional model (hence it’s missing eye). 6. Alabaster Slave. An exquisite example of the trend 22. Papyrus Vignette of Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and towards naturalistic expression in portraiture that Meritaton. Akhenaton and his royal family, making was to characterize New Kingdom art. offerings to the heretical sun-god Aton. 7. Bronze Hand Mirror. A graceful 19th Dynasty 23. Face of Akhenaton. Following the deaths of bronze casting from the reign of Seti I, father of Akhenaton and Nefertiti, their heretical capital of el- Ramesses the Great, around 1300 B.C. Amarna was abandoned and their names and faces were stricken from their monuments. The Pharaoh’s Curse. Undisturbed for over 3,000 years, when the silence of Tutankhamun’s tomb was broken by British archaeologist Howard Carter and his wealthy patron Lord Carnarvon, the public became enthralled overnight. Carnarvon’s sudden death following the discovery instantly gave rise to rumors of a curse. Before the excavation was completed, Carter’s chief assistant died. Ignominiously locked out of the tomb by the Egyptian government for a time, Carter spent his embittered final days in England in lonely obscurity while the long forgotten name of Tutankhamun found new life as the most celebrated of Egypt’s ancient god-kings. Tutankhamun’s Treasures. The following reproductions of the dazzling artifacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb evoke the splendor of ancient Egypt and the intimate daily life of a young pharaoh. The 9-year-old Tutankhamun ascended the throne in 1333 B.C. and reigned until his death 9 years later. Shortly after his burial in 1323 B.C. graverobbers attempted to plunder the lavish treasures, but the tomb was quickly resealed for over 3,000 years until its historic discovery in 1922. When Howard Carter cleared the entryway and first shined his light inside the dark tomb, the anxious Lord Carnarvon asked if he could see anything. “Yes,” the archaeologist is said to have replied. “Wonderful things.” 24-25. The Guardian Statues. Guarding 44. Ushabti Figure. A mummiform figurine, Tutankhamun’s Burial Chamber, this life-size pair of commonly buried in tombs to serve as substitutes for gilded wooden statues represented his ka, or soul. the deceased in the next world. 26. The Anubis Shrine. Majestic guardian of the royal 45. Osiris Ushabti. As the legendary first mummy, necropolis, Anubis (known as “He who belongs to Osiris, god of the afterlife, was associated with the mummy wrappings”) presided over the rites of resurrection. mummification. 46. Golden Flabellum. Originally mounted on a long 27. Ankh Candle Holder. Unusual bronze torch staff and fitted with ostrich plumes, carried by the holder in the form of an ankh (hieroglyphic symbol exalted vizier Ay (who succeeded Tutankhamun), for life) fashioned with humanlike arms. fanbearer on the pharaoh’s right. 28. Head of the Divine Cow. The goddess Hathor, 47. Golden Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun. A manifested in the form of the divine cow, with origins radiant portrait of the young pharaoh in a mask of in an ancient agrarian culture. solid gold, found resting over the head and shoulders of Tutankhamun’s linen-wrapped mummy. 29-33. Golden Shrine and Tutelary Goddesses. A spectacular, gilded Canopic shrine containing 48. Ceremonial Flabellum. A stately fan, decorated the pharaoh’s embalmed viscera, guarded by the 4 with the pharaoh’s twin cartouches bearing both tutelary goddesses: Isis, Nephthys, Neith and Selket. the prenomen (throne name) Nebkheprure and the nomen (birth name) Tutankhamun. 34. Golden Panel of Isis and Nephthys. Isis and Nephthys, sisters of Osiris, standing on hieroglyphic 49. The Golden Falcon. Image of the divine royal symbols for incorruptible gold and inscribed “Never falcon, associating Tutankhamun with the sun god. shalt thou decay.” With his accession the old polytheistic religious cult abandoned by his father was restored. Nebkheprure, 35-41. Gilt Miniature Sarcophagus and Guardians. Pharaoh of Upper and Lower Egypt, spent his life A guarded sepulcher depicting the conception of a making images of the gods, who now give him pharaoh’s tomb as a machine, a functional instrument incense, libations, and offerings every day. of magic to ensure eternal life after death. 50. Ebony Stool. An imitation of a folding camp stool 43. Netjerankh. A mysterious minor deity in serpent with a stretched leopard skin seat, presented to the form associated with the pharaoh’s nightly journey pharaoh as a tribute from Nubia. through the subterranean Netherworld. 51. Golden Bed. The pharaoh’s spectacular personal 68. Scarab Bracelet. One of the pharaoh’s personal bed, showing signs of wear resulting from use. ornaments, fastened by sophisticated interlocking hinges with gold pins. 52. Ivory Headrest. An amulet associated with resurrection, designed to support the pharaoh’s head 69. Necklace with Falcon Pendant. Representing a between the east and west horizons (symbolized by consolidation of the 2 regional sun gods Horus and lions) in the status of the sun. Re, traditionally associated with the pharaoh. 53. Dress Mannequin. Lifelike effigy with a painted 70. Winged Scarab Pectoral. Celebrating the merging linen undergarment, used for laying out the pharaoh’s of such diverse conceptions of the sun god as a falcon robes, necklaces and earrings. and a beetle. 54. Ankh Mirror Case. Amulet in the form of the 71. Prenomen Pectoral with Lunar Scarab. A sandal-shaped hieroglyphic symbol for life, which cryptographic allusion to the pharaoh’s prenomen was also the symbol for mirror. substituting a lunar emblem for the solar disc. 55. Painted Linen Chest. Among the greatest artistic 72. Necklace with Winged Scarab Pendant. treasures of the tomb, symbolically depicting the Depicting the diving solar scarab rising from a swamp pharaoh in his chariot vanquishing African and Asian represented by lotus and poppies. adversaries. 73. Pectoral with Scarab and Boat. A gold pendant, 56. Lotus Lamp. Oil burning triple lamp, carved in the symbolizing the resurrection of a god. form of a lotus from a single piece of alabaster. 74. Winged Uraeus Amulet. Depicting the sacred 57. Alabaster Perfume Vessel. Elaborate urn cobra, ancient protector of the pharaohs. representing a wish for the pharaoh’s long life and reign imparted through its fragrant contents. 75. Necklace with Udjat Eye Pendant. Sacred emblem of the solar divinity, believed to have the power of 58-62. Ebony Game Box and Casting Sticks. The resurrecting the dead. pharaoh’s board game of senet, one of the traditional pastimes in the afterlife. 76. Prenomen Pectoral with Solar Scarab. The pharaoh’s throne name celebrated in hieroglyphic 63. Magic Chalice. Enchanting alabaster oil lamp form, a symbol of the sun’s daily rebirth. concealing a painted scene of the great royal wife Ankhesenamun and the pharaoh visibly only when 77-79. Funerary Necklace and Earrings. lit. Commissioned by the 26th Dynasty pharaoh Nekhau as funerary jewelry for a noble subject. 64. Court Sandals. Made of wood with ornate marquetry veneer, the soles are decorated with 80. Mummybead Collar. Over 33 centuries old, an the traditional images of captive African and Asian 18th Dynasty funerary necklace made of faience, a enemies, symbolically trampled with the pharaoh’s fired paste of ground quartz. every step. 81-83. Funerary Collar and Earrings. A 26th Dynasty 65. Royal Broad Collar and Earrings. A splendid necklace of faience beads and gold cowrie shells, reconstruction of an openwork necklace of faience c.
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