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Tutankhamun at the O-Tomb
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| The coffinette which contained Tutankhamun 's mummified liver |
BEFORE entering the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit at The O2 a member of staff whispers to me: "There's a real atmosphere in there." And, she's right. Helped along by mood music and lighting, the display of artifacts
uncovered from the boy king's tomb, breathe excitement,
mystique and history.
It manages to achieve this without, the sadly absent mummified body of Tutankhamun and the gold and blue death mask, easily the most famous findings.
Giving the British Museum's Terracotta Army a run for its hype, visitors have been flocking to The O2. Even Uma Thurman has been.
The items have been impeccably preserved, an incredible feat considering all 130 are 3,000 to 3,500 years old. One of the most fascinating and intricate artifacts on display is the canopic coffinette, which, I was fascinated to learn, contained the young pharaoh's liver. The treasures King Tut deemed too special to be buried without - such as a gold dagger - are interesting insights too.
But despite all this gold, glass and precious stone, it is the
gorgeous black and white photography which draws the eye.
Images depicting the discovery of Tut's tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 reinforce the significance of these artifacts considerably. The captivating visual accounts of the find were, for me, the highlight.
It's clear insight into King Tut's life and Carter's discovery are the focus of this exhibit. For the exhibitors, the learning experience is equally as valuable as the irreplaceable, precious artifacts on display. And, to ring every last drop of information from your visit, an Omar Sharif-voiced audio tour comes highly recommended.
Often mass interest in the young prince - who historically
didn't achieve as much as the other kings of his era - is attributed to mystery surrounding his death. And this exhibit, while being massively educating, manages to uphold the intrigue (helped by the
absence of mummy and mask) leaving visitors wanting to see more.
Exhibiting at The O2 until August 30. Call 0844 844 0003.
10:38am Wednesday 5th December 2007
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