Tutankhamen's Treasures

The funeral mask of Tutankhamun was made in the traditional form of the god Osiris. The Egyptians believed that by enacting magical burial rites his body would be reanimated as Osiris had. This mask was made of gold with glass eyes and lapis lazuli eyebrows and eyelashes. The manner of painting the eyes is also identified with the sun god.

 


Though small and unimpressive, Tutankhamun's Tomb is probably the most famous, due to its late discovery. Howard Carter's description upon opening the tomb in 1922 was, "At first I could see nothing, the hot air escaping from the chamber causing the candle flames to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues and gold - everywhere the glint of gold. For the moment - an eternity it must have seemed to the others standing by - I was dumb with amazement, and when Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand the suspense any longer, inquired anxiously, 'Can you see anything?' it was all I could do to get out the words, "Yes, wonderful things."

 

 

This plaster head is a true likeness of the young king. He is pictured emerging from the lotus flower, just as the sungod Osiris had done when he came into existence from a lotus flower on the surface of the ocean at the creation of the universe.

This necklace, which resides in the Cairo Museum, represents the right eye of Re, the principle of light; the eye is framed by Uadjit the serpent, of the north, and Nekhebit, the vulture, of the south. This piece of jewelry was found inKing Tut's tomb, and was probably worn for ceremonial purposes.

 

This coffin, made of solid gold, represents Tutankhamun as the god Osiris golding his regular emblems, the crook and flail, but with the features of the king himself. It is over six feet in length and about one eighth of an inch in thickness.

This Pectoral, belonging to Tutankhamun, represents the goddess Nekhbet, in the shape of a vulture, holding to shenu-signs in her talons. This protective amulet was found on the mummy of the king.



Tutankhamen's funeral bed is made in the bovine form of the goddess Hathor with the solar disc between her horns. This is the bed on which Tutankhamen's coffin was layed.

The Crook And Flail, the emblems of Osiris, were carried by kings on some ceremonial occasions. The flail may have been used in Tutankhamun's coronation since it has the cartouche of both his childhood name and the name he took as king, Nebkheperura.

 

 

This royal scepter is made of wood with a sheet of gold beaten to it. On the side of the blade there is an inscription reading "The good god, the beloved, dazzling of face like the Aton when it shines, the son of Amun, Nebkheperura, living for ever." Above the inscription is a frieze of lotus petals, and on the other side of the blade are rows of trussed and slaughtered bulls.

 

This tabernacle contains the king's internal organs. It is made of gold plated wood, includes small coffins for each of the organs, and is flanked on all four of its sides by protective gods.

The golden throne was used for meetings of state. Made of wood and overlaid with sheet gold, its lion-paw legs are covered with either copper or bronze. The decorationis an image of Tutankhamen and his wife.

The small chair (only 141Ú2" wide) was used by Tutankhamen as a child. The wood is ebony, inlaid with ivory and the joints are riveted with either copper or bronze pins capped with gold.

 

This cobra is identified as Netjer-ankh, or "the living god." It is made of gilded wood, and was found in one of the black shrines, which contained figures of underworld spirits.

This carved lions-head was found on one of the beds in Tut's tomb. Its features are the same as those of Sekhmet, a lioness goddess. It is made of carved wood, gilded in gold, with colored glass nose and eyes.

This Shrine is made of wood and overlaid with sheet gold. It is an architectural model of the ancient shrine of the vulture goddess Nekhbet of the north, known as the Great House.

 

 

 
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