“...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 unexpected death of the youthful Tutankhamun at the age of 18 left little time to decorate his tomb. The burial chamber was the only area that was to receive wall paintings. Each wall of the tomb has a specific theme. The East Wall depicts the Funeral Procession, the West Wall contains text from the Amduat (Book of the Dead), the South Wall depicts his arrival in the Underworld and the North Wall of the tomb shows the greeting of Tutankhamun by his godly relatives in the Afterlife.
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In this North Wall tomb painting we are witnessing three different scenes: On the left, after several dangerous adventures, Tutankhamun arrives in the underworld as Osiris, the god of fertility, agriculture, the afterlife, the dead, resurrection, and life itself. Nekhbet and Wadjet representing upper and lower Egypt, greet him with the intention of providing protection during his entry; in the center, he is welcomed by the sky goddess, Nut, and finally, on the far right, the new Pharaoh, Ay, officiating as a priest dressed in the leopard skin, performs "the opening of the mouth" ceremony.
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With the ritual blade made of stone known as the peseshkaf, Ay uses the funerary instrument to open Tut's mouth so that he will be able to eat, drink, speak, and breathe in the underworld.
The Ancient Egyptian civilization, famous for its pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, and tombs, flourished for thousands of years with a lasting impact on all who live today.
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Ebony Child’s Chair
Of similar design to that of the golden throne, this small, uninscribed chair was found in the Antechamber. Elegantly constructed of African ebony joined with gold-capped rivets and decorated with ivory inlay and gilt side panels depicting a pair of ibexes, it had a curved seat and short, feline legs.
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A typical piece of 18th Dynasty furniture, its presence in the pharaoh’s tomb suggests that it was made for Tutankhamun as a child. |
Royal Sailing Vessel
Typical of royal burials, the pharaoh’s tomb included a fleet of 35 model boats associated with his mystic pilgrimages in the afterlife and representing both practical and ceremonial vessels, the finest of which were found in the Treasury. This picturesque sailboat appears to be a funerary model of the majestic craft that carried the pharaoh up and down the Nile.
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Royal Barge
Lacking oars and a sail, this delightful wooden model is probably a likeness of a ceremonial barge, traditionally reserved for festivals and ritual events in which fleets of such boats were towed in royal processions, usually carrying exalted passengers.
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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 offering tourist incentive for the Coachella Valley's hospitality industry.
MoAW is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization; Members of the
California Association of Museums (CAM), and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
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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 state your choice on the link below.
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Help MoAW reopen during the pandemic.
After shuttering MoAW on 3 separate occasions for 2020. being closed more often than open, and with rising rates of infection, Riverside County moved back to Stay At Home Orders. Help MoAW and other Riverside County businesses reopen. The more people adhere to protocols, get tested, get vaccinated, and stay at home, the better for state-wide statistics.
Riverside County offers free testing and vaccinations at several sites, call Riverside County Health to schedule your test,
1-888-634-1123
Thank You
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Members Perks
So many reasons to join MoAW, you help keep the museum open, allow us to acquire new artifacts, plan and present programs including the Second Friday Fantasy, and help local students learn about ancient civilizations and human origins.
For all that you do to help us we thank you in many ways:
- Unlimited free admission for one year
- Free Guest Passes (see Membership levels for details)
- Invitations to Members-Only exhibition receptions and programs
- Priority registration and discounts on programs and special events
- Special rental rates for hosting events (see membership levels for details)
- Copies of exhibition catalogs (see Membership levels for details)
- Unique travel opportunities through the Museum Travel Alliance
During the initial phase of "The Pause," we offered new members two extra months with membership. While we are back in "The Pause" we are offering this again. Current memberships will be extended by the amount of time we are closed and new members, 14 months of membership will start when we reopen. Click below for more information and to join.
Thank you.
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ON DISPLAY AT THE
MUSEUM OF ANCIENT WONDERS
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FACES OF AFRICA:
A Mystical View of
Tribal Heritage
(38 Replica Masks and Sculptures)
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TUTANKHAMUN:
"Wonderful Things"
Treasures From The Pharaoh's Tomb
(124 Egyptian replicas)
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MESOZOICA:
The Age of Dinosaurs
(Approximately 100 fossil cast dinosaur elements and fully-mounted skeletons from around the world.)
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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
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