HOUSTON, TX – Due to popular demand, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) will host a second free preview of Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs exclusively for educators and school administrators on Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 4-9 p.m. The acclaimed exhibition, which has already been seen by over 20,000 Houston-area students, features more than 100 artifacts spanning 2,000 years of Egyptian history, most of which had never been shown in the U.S. prior to this tour.
Educators and school administrators with an interest in bringing a field trip during the school year are invited to bring a colleague and enjoy a free visit to the exhibition during this educator preview. Educators will receive an illustrated curriculum packet with innovative lesson ideas and classroom activities suitable for a range of grade levels and subject matter.
Space is limited, and educators are encouraged to RSVP at the ‘Education’ page located on www.kingtut.org to attend.
The exhibition opened October 16, 2011 and will run through April 15, 2012. Visitors have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the spectacular treasures, more than half of which come from the tomb of King Tutankhamun. These include the golden sandals that were found on the boy king’s mummy, a gold coffinette that held his stomach, golden statues of the gods, his rings, ear ornaments and gold collar.
The exhibition is organized by the National Geographic Society, Arts & Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. The majority of proceeds from the tour support the preservation and conservation of antiquities and monuments in Egypt, including construction of the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.
About the Exhibition
Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs features treasures associated with the most important rulers of the 30 dynasties that ruled Egypt over a 2,000-year span. The exhibition explores the splendor of the pharaohs, their function in both the earthly and divine worlds and what “kingship” meant to the Egyptian people. Visitors encounter master sculptures of powerful Egyptian rulers, including Khafre, builder of the Great Sphinx and one of the pyramids at Giza; Hatshepsut, the queen who became a pharaoh; statues of the warrior pharaohs, Thutmose and Ramesses the Great; as well as King Tut’s father Akhenaten, the pharaoh who changed Egypt’s religion to the worship of one omnipotent sun god. The magnificent golden death mask of Psusennes I is also on display. The spectacular exhibition also showcases the largest likeness of King Tut ever discovered–a 10-foot statue of the pharaoh found at the remains of a funerary temple.
The exhibition was curated by Dr. David Silverman, the noted Egyptologist from the University of Pennsylvania, who also served as a curator during the 1970s Tutankhamun tour. Silverman describes the exhibition: “There’s mystery. There’s excitement. It’s exotic and foreign, but it’s recognizable.” To promote understanding and put these artworks in context, the exhibition reflects environments that help convey the story of the artifacts, such as the Great Pyramids at Giza and the four rooms of King Tut’s tomb.
Tutankhamun is on view in the 22,000-square-foot Upper Brown Pavilion of the Caroline Wiess Law Building at the MFAH. Its introduction features a National Geographic documentary narrated by award-winning actor Harrison Ford. The final galleries are dedicated to King Tut’s tomb, including an area devoted to its discovery by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. There, visitors will encounter legendary treasures from the tomb’s antechamber, annex, treasury and burial chamber in corresponding galleries.
New scientific discoveries continue to provide insight into King Tut’s legendary life and death. The exhibition features the first CT scans of the young king’s mummy, which were obtained as part of a landmark Egyptian research and conservation project, partially funded by the National Geographic Society.
MFAH Programs for Educators and Students
Professional development opportunities at the MFAH introduce new ways for teachers to connect works of art to their curricula. Educator programs are designed for K-12 classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, administrators, principals and librarians, and feature lively talks, interactive workshops, tours and curriculum materials. All participants receive a certificate of participation. Teachers have the opportunity to bring their classes to visit the King Tut exhibition and broaden their students’ understanding of the age of King Tutankhamun, as well as explore the world of art at the MFAH. For more information, visit www.mfah.org/schools or email schools@mfah.org.
Ticket Information
Group rates are available for school groups. Call 1-888-931-4888 to place field trip reservations.
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