Ceremonial Dagger and Sheath: Iron, gold, glass semiprecious stones, rock crystal.
ANTIKENMUS LUDWIG
It was the impossibly small child’s chair, made of timber, ivory and gold that first caught the attention of the two nine-year-old boys. They whizzed past the first 80 or so items in the preceding chambers of the exhibition, pausing briefly before the two-metre long gold coffin of Tjuya.
It was King Tut they were interested in; the boy who became a king at their own age. Not Tjuya, who may or may not have been his great-grandmother.
Tut’s ivory-and-gold board game stopped them in their tracks. It might be more than 3000 years old, but it looked just like a game board they might use. Did a king really get to play games? Who with?
Then there was the model ship for river travelling, placed inside Tutankhamun’s tomb to allow him to journey in the afterlife. It looked like a child’s toy.
They discussed the ceremonial golden dagger and its sheath for quite a while too. Was he really allowed to use that?
The boys’ reactions may have been a little raw, but for most of the visitors to the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition at Melbourne Museum, it is the daily life of the boy king that holds the most fascination.
History comes alive: Torso of Tutankhamun Wood gessoed and painted.
ANTIKENMUS LUDWIG
Billed as the largest collection of royal artefacts to leave Egypt, and visited by 7 million people during its tour of Britain and the US, the exhibition opened in Melbourne in April. More than half-a-million people have visited its only Australian location, almost 100,000 of them school?children.
Since Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered by English archaeologist Howard Carter on November 4, 1922, it has been one of history’s most fascinating discoveries. The young king, who reigned for just a decade, between 1333 and 1323BC, died suddenly aged 19, and his burial chamber lay hidden for centuries.
Mystery shrouded his death and is played up through the exhibition – was he murdered by his royal adviser Ay? Or, as later scientific evidence suggested, was it complications from malaria?
The Melbourne exhibition is narrated by the mellifluous voice of Omar Sharif and supported by Egypt 3D, a 20-minute movie on archaeology, mummies and the discovery of the Valley of the Kings and the Tcheft Marquee offering Middle Eastern-inspired food. It’s a well-orchestrated, memorable experience, right down to the glinting, golden gift shop.
The exhibition includes more than 80 artefacts from the tombs and temples of Tut’s ancestors, Egypt’s 18th dynasty royals and 50 from Tutankhamun’s own?tomb.
Small Golden Shrine Wood gesso gold foil, silver.
ANTIKENMUS LUDWIG
The themed marquee, operated by Peter Rowland Catering, is a dramatic space with slabs of inscribed sandstone, walls painted in desert colours and exotic lanterns and furniture. The menu includes mezze plates, fattoush salad, tabouleh, Middle Eastern spiced lamb pizza and exotic desserts.
The movie, which costs an extra $8.50, received some criticism in the early days of the exhibition and was improved and extended. It’s a good mood setter and provides some perspective on the history behind the exhibition to follow. On the way out, the gift shop offers everything from pens and tiny statues to expensive gold?jewellery.
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs will leave Australia on December 4, and head back to Egypt with its team of experts and curators.
» Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
Melbourne Museum until December 4.
» www.kingtutmelbourne.com.au
Tickets: adults $29.50, children $17.50.
Bookings essential.
» Last month, Peter Rowland Catering was named Australia’s “Best Venue Caterer” at the Restaurant and Catering Australia National Awards for excellence for its catering services at NGV International.