King Tut's Last Stop Before He Retires to Egypt

"Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs"

King Tut arrived at the Pacific Science Center on May 24th for his final North American appearance. After the exhibit leaves Seattle on January 6^th the only place you will be able to see the young boy King and all of his treasures will be at his permanent home in Cairo, Egypt.  Some strange things have happened since the Pharaoh King arrived. The King Street Station was transformed into ‘The King Tut Station’ complete with the 28-foot tall Egyptian guardian of the afterlife, Anubis. We have also seen record breaking ticket sales of the exhibit, more than half a million tickets sold and counting! Though, this is not the first time King Tut has come to Seattle. The exhibit is twice the size as it was on its first visit here in 1978, and some of the artifacts have never been seen in the United States

What you can expect to see once you enter the exhibit are ancient artifacts spanning 2,000 years of Egyptian history. There are more than 130 unearthed treasures just from the tomb of Tut alone. Among them, an impressive sarcophagus that once held his stomach, lined with gold and intricately carved hieroglyphic inscriptions that rival some of the best penmanship I have ever seen. No minuscule detail is spared. A tomb for a cat, Tut's bed and an intricately carved chair also sit among the relics.

The optional ear piece is highly recommended as Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and the original archeologist who discovered the tomb narrate you through each treasure. Most of the artifacts date back 3,000 - 4,000 years and each is more exquisite than the next.

Here are some of the treasures that await you. They are much more spectacular in person. So hurry down to the Pacific Science Center before you lose your only chance to see these amazing artifacts! 

Funerary Mask of Psusennes I

The golden mask lay over the head, chest and part of the shoulders of the mummy of Psusennes, as a layer of protection. The royal headdress with ureaus cobra and the divine false beard he wears attested to his royal and godly status. The use of gold, considered the flesh of the gods, reaffirmed his divinity in the afterlife.

Tutankhamun’s Golden Sandals

These golden sandals have engraved decoration that replicates woven reeds. Created specifically for the afterlife, they still covered the feet of Tutankhamun when Howard Carter unwrapped the mummy.

Tutankhamun Shabti

The only such figure found in the antechamber, it is one of the largest of the servant statuettes. The inscription records the shabti spell from the book of the dead, ensuring that the king would do no forced labor in the afterlife.

Collar of Neferuptah

found on the body of Neferuptah, daughter of Amenemhat III, this collar might have been worn in life and was included in the tomb for her use in the afterlife.

*Artifact photos by Sandro Vannini