King Tut Golden Pharaoh Exhibit: Toronto's Art Gallery of Ontario

by Tomitheos Linardos | October 17, 2009 at 03:30 pm

4247 views | 38 Recommendations | 8 comments

The Golden Pharaoh Exhibit will debut exclusively at Toronto's Art Gallery of Ontario November 24, 2009 to April 2010.

When visitors arrive at the AGO, they will first be greeted by a 26-foot statue of Anubis, the ancient Egyptian god of the underworld, towering over them outside the Gallery entrance. The exhibition tour experience includes a documentary narrated by award-winning actor Harrison Ford sponsored by National Geographic.

Four sections of the AGO will be devoted to King Tut's 10 year reign. Tutankhamun ruled Egypt from 1334 to 1325 BC. His mysterious death at age 19 continues to intrigue millions of people around the world.

Organizers in charge of the recent showcase say that record crowds of roughly 750,000 visitors packed the AGO 30 years ago to see the first Tut exhibition and anticipate a larger crowd this time. Since the King Tut exhibit was announced in April 2009, the Gallery has seen a large influx in new members. You can preregister for the exhibit.

King Tutankhamun's Mysterious Death

King Tutankhamun was one of the few kings worshiped as a god and honored with a cult-like following in his own lifetime. His is tomb was in almost perfect condition when it was found.

New scientific discoveries, x-ray analysis and three-dimensional CT scans of King Tut's mummy emerged from an Egyptian research and conservation project, partially funded by the National Geographic Society. These provide gallery visitors with new insight into Tutankhamun's life and death.

A new x-ray analysis of the remains conducted by a trauma specialist at Long Island University suggest King Tut may have not been murdered in his sleep, but died instead from an infection caused by a broken leg.

The x-rays displayed a thickening of a bone in the cranium, which could occur only after a build-up of blood. The examining scientists suggested that the king was most probably hit on the back of his head while asleep and nursing an injured leg. The injuries indicate that the King might have bled for two months internally before he died.

History of King Tut's Tomb Excavation

More than 87 years have passed since the mummy of King Tut was found. In 1922, Howard Carter and the wealthy Lord Carnarvon discovered a hidden door that led to the main chamber. There was a secret storage room in the burial chamber where the real mummy of King Tut had been laid to rest.

Many workers died excavating King Tut's tomb due to an airborne bacteria sealed in the tomb that fed on organic matter and killed the workers when it got into their lungs. This "curse" has become nearly as infamous as the golden king himself.

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Amy Judd

at 15:53 on October 17th, 2009

Is this the same exhibition that was in London a few years ago do you know?

Tomitheos Linardos

at 17:45 on October 17th, 2009

Based on new scientific CT scans and x-rays of the mummy with related information on King Tut's death found just recently, I believe it will be a first exhibit showcase of its kind and worth the trip to Toronto!

158

at 19:11 on October 17th, 2009

Good report.

It sounds worth seeing.

marianmo

at 20:49 on October 17th, 2009

would love to see it

Tomitheos Linardos

at 22:16 on October 17th, 2009

Here is an exclusive inside look of the AGO's $276 million dollar make-over from the media tour I attended:

Toronto City Mayor David Miller opens New Art Gallery of Ontario

http://nowpublic.com/culture/toronto-city-mayor-david-miller-opens-new-art-gallery-ontario

mgmirkin

at 02:08 on October 18th, 2009

Hmm, interesting. I'd be interested to know more about the new x-rays / CT scans. Any relevant news stories you might link to / quote from regarding the new info, how it was obtained, etc.? That is to say, references?

Best,
~Michael Gmirkin

Tomitheos Linardos

at 15:04 on October 18th, 2009

Thanks for your interest Michael, as I outlined above.. the new scientific information is a result of an Egyptian research conservation project partially funded by the National Geographic Society and the data was featured in a documentary narrated by Harrison Ford, that same documentary will be implemented in the exhibit to enhance the King Tut educational experience and is also provided by the National Geographic.

Soyunangel

at 19:15 on November 17th, 2009

I saw this exhibition at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale (MoAFL) a couple of years ago and I definitely recommend it. They did not bring King Tut's mummy to Florida but the detail and the colors of the sarcophagus and jewelry were incredible and are worth the expense. I suggest that, if possible, you go on a weekday at an odd hour because the museums are really packed for this show.