Meeting the King

I can't really say I am a very big Egyptian fan but I have always been fascinated with anything remotely related to King Tutankhamun or King Tut.

When I say his name, my accent fails me because it always sounds like King Toot. But I know he wouldn't mind. ♥ :-)

Yesterday, Rich and I went to the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs Exhibit at the Melbourne Museum. It started about 4 months ago and I was itching to go on the first day. But we are both not good with crowds. Rich gets claustrophobic and I, personally does not know how to restrain my Teacher self when school kids around it gets rowdy. I take it to myself to shush them in museums and galleries. I am just programmed that way, and though it works in the Philippines - no can do here in Australia. Unless I want to go home with a rearranged facial structures courtesy of an irate parent.

Waiting until the crowd lessens a bit is a wise plan. (I was so sure that it will never happen- exhibits like this only happens once in a lifetime. Imagine, during the April school holiday, attendance of 10,192 visitors was recorded on a single day!!! )

But good things are promised to those who wait. It is also a virtue.

We agreed on a Saturday. It is the best time since Sunday's our Church day. Rich chose the 8:30 am opening time. What the! 8:30 am?! I argued it was way too early on my weekend! When am I going to have my sleep-in? But since it was his visa, it was his decision.

We had an experience with the Titanic Exhibition last year. We came so early but the queue was already so long. I hate queues. I wanted to do a Uey and go home. But not this time. King Tut was watching over me!

We were the first one on the premises. The traffic was non-existent from home to the city. We stood out the glass doors of the museum with half an hour to spare! It was so cold. Luckily, the Guard let us in early.



Over 10,000 kids were recorded to
have come on a single day! Not
today! Hurray!

We just breezed past through the check-in stations or whatever you call them because we purchased our tickets online. Reminded me of Fast Pass in Disneyland! Hurray for no queue!

We were the first to set foot on the Exhibit that 13th day of August 2011. For precious half an hour there were just 4 of us in the galleries. People started coming in slow mo- like they were thinking of my feelings, of how I want it to be a perfect Museum visit. Thank you crowd.

There were 10 Galleries in all. After the first 2 ones, I thought: Is this it? But 8 more waited with muted lights behind the walls. I read in the papers that the organizers considered Melbourne Museum the best venue, space and sound wise- in all of their exhibits outside of Egypt. Yeah Man.

The place was softly lighted and magical. Some kind of Circe du Soleil way, but more awe inspiring. I spoke in whispers to Rich as if taking note that the exhibit has been asleep for a long time and talking loud was disrespectful.

When Howard Carter first peered into Tutankhamun's tomb, he remarked on the glitter of gold everywhere. Indeed almost everything is gold or gilded, from the diadem and dagger found with the king's mummy, to the statues of gods and to everyday objects like dog collars and spoons. Yes, Royals from over 3,000 years ago has pets! I wonder what this collar owner answer to. Spot?

The ancient Egyptians had such a materialistic conception of the afterlife. They gave their entombed royalty everything they might need in the journey to the next life. All the things they have enjoyed or loved while in this life were entombed with the deceased. I was specially fascinated with the Shabtis. They were intended to act as substitutes for the dead should they be called upon to do manual labour in the afterlife. King Tut had a lot in various shapes and sizes. He must really just like to chill in the eternities. No work. I can see him ordering the Shabti - go til the ground until sunset, Shabti!

Gold, gold, gold everywhere.


   

What striked me the most though was not the glitter of gold but the presence of a little wooden chair with foot rest. It was so small it can only sit a tiny baby. Such loved item was preserved by his guardians and considered worthy to be taken to that trip to the afterlife. There were also game boards. I almost forgot that Tutankhamun ascended to the throne at a very young age. Of course he needed his old games. The chair and the game boards were buried with him, supposedly never to be seen again - but here I was looking into it. It felt eerie but at the same time evoked a feeling of reverence. These items were loved and the owner did not want to part with it.

Though I used the word materialistic earlier I also would like to add that I was moved at the way they try to preserve everything. (Not only tried, but succeeded.) Thousands of years affirm that. Two foetuses believed to be daughters of King Tut was placed in nested coffins so tiny, it looked like a wooden toy. The intricate designs though belied its simple look. Closer inspection you will see gold and silver inlays and other special things on it. It was stacked like the Babushka dolls. They loved really well in those times. Everything was important even the spoon rest that the deceased used was respected and kept. We can learn a thing or two from them. Not that we need to be materialistic but to keep each member of our family any of our loved ones closer to us by remembering how they lived.

In this exhibit I also learned new words: Faience is one of them. I perused the item's description, then glanced at the item. It looked like thin porcelain covering on an earthen item. I was tempted to get my iPhone but thought against it. It did look like porcelain so I plan on actually googling it later. I did and I was close: it is a french word for fine thin glazed pottery on a delicate pale buff earthenware body. How advanced were these Egyptians!

The Museum visit made me realize and appreciate even more many things. My life, my husband, my family and my possessions however humble. I may not have gold and silver but I have loved items that made my life enjoyable and easier. Though I do not want to be buried with them, I want to hand them down to family members who will appreciate them. Maybe not in glass cabinets but in their homes. Where they can remember the life I lived. Maybe they will learn from me and continue to love me to the eternities. I too believe in Life after this life. I know that my love and family is forever.

I really enjoyed the 10 galleries. At the last one, I wanted to go back again and retrace my steps but I know that we  had to go. I took a quick look back and said goodbye to what was once just pages of my childhood encyclopaedia. I stepped out knowing I have seen parts of history that only a few are able to experience.

The last stop was the controversial gift shop. It was actually pleasant. Some people in the past exhibitions complained on the tacky souvenirs like a King Tut rubber ducky. It was okay. I don't understand why some people take things so seriously and criticizing everything seemed to make them feel better about themselves. Chill people.

We got ourselves DVDs, postcards, the customary fridge magnet, a vial of gold nuggets (fake of course, but who knows gold are down nowadays haha). We also had a photo taken with the Golden Sarcophagus of Tjuya. I wanted to get a necklace too, but it was way too expensive. Rich said "we'll get one in Cairo". That made me smile - he knows how to get me moving out of the shop. We do not have Cairo in our future travel itenerary ever. But the thought was sweet. ☺♥

I am glad you came to Melbourne, King Tutankhamun. Grateful as well to those who looked after you in your life. I do not know the circumstances of your death but I do know a little bit of how you lived. I hope that you do not mind us looking into your precious possessions. Of us looking into not just the artefacts but also a model of your mummified self. I hope that your countless Shabtis are useful in your afterlife. Your after Ankh. We were also guided and educated so much more through current technology like CT Scans & XRays. Though we may be in the modern times we are still far behind a lot of your techniques then.  

The queue outside was growing by the second. A lot of big families with school aged children and tiny tots hungry in their prams. I am glad I was a submissive wife when Rich wanted to go early. I have nothing against noisy children. It is part of my daily routine. It's just that when I am in a museum, I command total silence. And I was given that.

I walked out hand in hand with Rich with a smile.

It was really nice to finally meet you King Tut.

***

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs Exhibit runs until November 2011 in Melbourne. This is claimed to be the last time, objects from the King's tomb will leave Egypt.

ps- I used my usual American English spellings z in realize and a bit of my Aussie English spellings :-) I put o in fetuses and a in encyclopedias :-) I am multi-cultural♥