July 16, 2021
MoAW presents
TUTANKHAMUN: "Wonderful Things"
The Pharaoh's Personal Treasures

New Member Benefit
Free admission to over 1,200 museums nationwide through the North American Reciprocal Museum Program (NARM) 
TUTANKHAMUN: "Wonderful Things"
Treasures From The Pharaoh's Tomb

From the artisans of the Pharaonic Village in Egypt, this dazzling collection of reproductions of Tutankhamun’s legendary treasures recreates the richest archaeological find of all time. 

You'll see 124 replicas of the Pharaoh’s sacred and personal possessions (including his magnificent state chariot, golden shrines, beds, thrones, jewelry, spectacular funerary mask, and royal mummy) along with associated artifacts from the period surrounding Tutankhamun’s reign that reconstruct both the historic discovery of the tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 and the life and times of Egypt’s celebrated boy king.  

An innocent puppet ruler, Tutankhamun was caught in the midst of a dangerous and profound political, spiritual, and artistic revolution against the entire pantheon of ancient Egyptian gods by the first monotheistic religious cult in history. The pharaoh’s much overlooked African heritage is explored, along with the religious magic of the sacred objects, and the infamous curse of Tutankhamun.

This classic exhibition vividly brings to life the enigmatic opulent age of 18th Dynasty Egypt, presented in five areas of display beginning with an introduction to Ancient Egypt with a focus on Akhenaten and Nefertiti and the archaeological discovery of the Canopic and Anubis shrines flanked by the twin Ka statutes, which provoked the now famous, “What do you see? I see Wonderful Things!” exclamation by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon.

Artifacts related to the personal life of the pharaoh such as his bed, sandals, and jewelry, followed by artifacts associated with his public life including his royal state chariot, throne, and scepters, and, finally, the burial chamber with his bejeweled mummy with crown, mummifying bed, and wishing cup, to mention a few, are just some of the sights you would be treated to.
“...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 struck 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.”― Howard Carter, The Tomb of Tutankhamen
Painted Linen Chest.

This painted wooden coffer, found in the Antechamber, was described by Howard Carter as “one of the greatest artistic treasures of the tomb… we found it hard to tear ourselves away from it.”
Packed with sequined linen robes, a headrest, and golden court sandals, it was exquisitely decorated with intense scenes of hunting and war.
The young pharaoh is symbolically depicted in his chariot, vanquishing both African and Asian adversaries.
On the end panels, he appears as a lion trampling his foreign enemies underfoot, a customary form of flattery to the pharaoh.
Court Sandals.

Fashioned of papyrus fiber, leather, wood, and even sheet gold, some 93 articles of footwear were buried with Tutankhamun. The finest example is this elegant pair of sandals found in the Antechamber, packed inside of the painted chest.
Made of wood with ornate marquetry veneer, the soles are decorated with the traditional images of captive African and Asian enemies, symbolically trampled with the pharaoh’s every step.
Ivory Headrest.

This elegant amulet, found in a box in the Annex, had a magical function. In the form of a headrest of unique design, it represents Shu, the god of the atmosphere, kneeling between the mountains of the eastern and western horizons and raising up the heavens. In Egyptian legend, this was the end of chaos and the beginning of the universe. Carved from 2 pieces of ivory coupled by a dowel secured with gold nails, this headrest was designed to support the pharaoh’s head between the 2 horizons (in the status of the sun). Symbolizing the 2 mountains, the recumbent lions on the base are decorated with a rosette on each shoulder, a puzzling feature observed as far away from Egypt as Mesopotamia. A hieroglyphic inscription on the column behind the figure heralds: The benevolent god, son of Amun, pharaoh of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of the Two Lands, Nebkheprure (Tutankhamun’s prenomen), given eternal life like Re. Wound with strips of linen until comfortably padded, such headrests were used by the pharaoh when sleeping and were associated with resurrection.
MoAW's mission is to educate a diverse audience about the history of ancient civilizations and prehistoric life using fossils and artifacts from a variety of cultures and time periods; to enhance universal curriculum development for local and surrounding school districts, colleges, and universities while establishing museum diversity for the Coachella Valley.

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

The last admission is taken one hour before closing.

Admission:
$15.00 Adults
$12.00 Students, Seniors, & Military
$ 3.00 Discount available for Coachella Valley Residents

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, MoAW is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association, the American Alliance of Museums, and the California Association of Museums.
Coming Attraction
March through September 2022
the Museum of Ancient Wonders
presents
VESSELS OF THE GODS
Treasures of the Ancient Greeks
1650 to 410 B.C.E

Reflecting the brilliance of a millennium of ancient Aegean culture, four distinct periods produced the designs of these vases: Minoan, Mycenaean, Corinthian, and Attic. Essentially consisting of silhouetted figures drawn against a background of red, black, or white, this art form gradually dies out after the Persian wars, c. 475-450 B.C.E. Shaped and painted by hand, these exquisite reproductions were created in Greece by master artists from the originals housed in The National Museum, Athens, The Heraklion Museum, The Thera Museum, The Corinth Museum, The Delphi Museum, The Louvre Museum, The Vatican Museum, and The Museo Civico, Brescia.

Please, feel free to preview this collection on MoAW's website: www.moaw.org
Next Week:
Do you have a favorite piece at MoAW you would like to see highlighted in our weekly email? You can visit www.moaw.org, see the collections tab, visit the catalogs, and view Spotlights From The Past.
Members Perks
So many reasons to join MoAW, you help keep the museum open, allow us to acquire new treasured artifacts and fossil displays, plan and present programs, to help local students learn about ancient civilizations and prehistoric life.

The newest perk of membership: Free admission to over 1,200 museums nationwide through the North American Reciprocal Museum Program (NARM) Plus, discounts at their museum shops and restaurants (if given to their members). Local museums include the Palm Springs Art Museum and Cabot's Pueblo Museum, several museums in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, throughout California, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia, plus Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. This is available to all members at the Donor Level ($125.00) or higher. Current members who qualify will be receiving new membership cards with the NARM logo to be used at participating museums.

Current members who would like to upgrade their membership to take advantage of this new benefit please give us a call, (442) 268-5004.

Click below for more information and to join.
THANK YOU
ON DISPLAY EXCLUSIVELY
AT THE
MUSEUM OF ANCIENT WONDERS
FACES OF AFRICA:
A Mystical View of
Tribal Heritage
(38 Replica Masks and Sculptures)
TUTANKHAMUN:
"Wonderful Things"
Treasures From The Pharaoh's Tomb
(124 Egyptian replicas)
MESOZOICA:
The Age of Dinosaurs
(Approximately 100 fossil-cast dinosaur elements and fully-mounted skeletons from around the world.)
LUCY:
The Story of Human Origins
(Courtesy of the Institute of Human Origins and the National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa)
On view exclusively at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders