Exhibition: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs

International Herald Tribune

An exhibition featuring more than 130 treasures from the Egyptian tomb of King Tutankhamun and other ancient sites will begin a U.S. tour with an opening November in Atlanta.

The Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University announced Wednesday it will open the exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center from November through May 22, 2009. The exhibit highlighting more than 50 treasures from Tut's tomb and more than 70 artifacts representing other pharaohs and notables, will then move to the Indianapolis Children's Museum from June to October 2009.

"Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs" is the second National Geographic exhibition dedicated to the treasures of King Tutankhamun and ancient Egyptian royalty.

The first exhibition, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," was visited by nearly 4 million people during a four-city U.S. tour from 2005 to 2007.

It will begin a three-city encore later this year in Dallas.

The Earth Times

"Tutankhamun's magic still captures the hearts of people all over the world, even though more than 75 years have passed since the discovery of his amazing tomb," said Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. "America has welcomed the golden king, and now he returns, bringing with him all the great pharaohs of Egypt. This exhibition will raise much-needed funds for the preservation of Egypt's monuments and the construction and renovation of museums throughout the country. I always say that Egyptian antiquities are the heritage of the world and that we are only their guardians."

Proceeds from the tour will go toward antiquities preservation and conservation efforts in Egypt, including the construction of a new grand museum in Cairo.