Top 10 Things You Don't Want to Miss at the Indianapolis Tutankhamun Exhibition

Thirty years ago King Tutankhamun took the world by storm, and now Arts and Exhibitions International bring us another chance to see 50 objects from Tut’s tomb, along with another 80 artefacts from Egyptian rulers ranging from a statuette of Khafre to a colossal likeness of Akhenaton.  Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs is currently at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum at Indianapolis, IN, where the exhibition will remain until October 25, 2009, after which the exhibit will travel to the Art Gallery of Ontario at Toronto from November 24, 2009, through April 18, 2010.

Heritage Key had the opportunity to visit the exhibition at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and now we bring you the 10 best reasons to check out the exhibition for yourself!  We have considered several criteria in deciding which ten artefacts you will not want to miss.  First is historical value—who is associated with the artifact, and how was it used?  Second is the aesthetic value of the artefact—what is it made of and how well was it made?  And third, what is the condition of the artefact, including the level of restoration?

Honorable Mention

Before we get into the Top Ten, there are a few artefacts that deserve mention based on their ranking high on at least one of the criteria.  There is nothing in the exhibit that will leave you disappointed, and if any single piece in this very large exhibition were to pass through a local museum or gallery it would be well worth a view.

Three items are of particular interest based on their historical value.  First would be the cedar wood inner coffin of Meritamun, found at Thebes and dating from the Eighteenth Dynasty reign of Amenhotep I.  Second would be the chest-up section of the sandstone colossal statue of Amenhotep IV - Akhenaton - from the colonnade of the Temple of Gempaaten at Karnak.  And no exhibition of Egyptian kings would be complete without a larger than life representation of the ubiquitous Ramesses II, in this case a large bust of granodiorite from the Tanis delta.

From the aesthetic category, we have a lovely statue of Soped made of wood, gilt, and glass.  From the tomb of Tutankhamun, this statue depicts the hawk-headed god in a nestled position, looking very dove-like.  A particularly striking unguent vessel made of calcite certainly draws attention.  Made to look like an urn sitting on a small table with sprigs of lotus and papyrus representing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, this elaborate oil container is actually one single piece.  Also of great beauty is a large jewelry box of wood, gold leaf, and faience that was a gift from Amenhotep III to his in-laws.  With the king’s cartouches on top, the hieroglyphs along the sides bid life, endurance, and prosperity.

Three statues are of note due to their excellent condition, although their beauty and historical value are not to be dismissed.  First, there is the statue of Senenmut, the guardian of Nefrure, kneeling with the young princess on his lap.  The clear affection of this high official of Hatshepsut’s court for his charge makes this work a particular favorite.  The statue of Ramessesnakht, high priest of Amun under Ramesses VI, sitting with Thoth in baboon form on his shoulders is in near perfect condition.  The life-sized seated statue of Nofret, made of granodiorite and dating from the reign of Senwosret II, is in unbelievable condition for such a large piece.

Of honorable mention just because of their quirkiness, there is a torch holder fashioned to look like an Ankh with human-like arms held forward.  From the tomb of Tutankhamun, a small pot of oil with a wick would have rested between the outstretched arms.  There is also a fan, about four feet long, made of wood, gold, and glass, but currently missing its ostrich feathers.  And finally, don’t miss the limestone toilet seat dating from the reign of Akhenaten.   

So here are my Top 10 Things to See at the King Tut Exhibition (in reverse order!):

10:  The Sarcophagus of Prince Thutmosis’ Cat

Made of limestone and dating from the 18th Dynasty reign of Amenhotep III, this feline funerary fixture depicts the Royal Mouser on the front, with the goddess Bastet standing protectively behind her.  The end is decorated with Isis sitting on a stool with her arms spread. 

 9:  The Statue of Kai with his Children

This very detailed statue of an Old Kingdom official dates from the late Fourth Dynasty.  The priestly titles and secular duties of the seated figure are listed and hiding behind his legs are his two children in miniature. 

Made of painted limestone with copper inlays and calcite crystal eyes, the craftsmanship, condition and beauty of this statue make it one of the highlights of the exhibition.

8:  Four Statues of Inty Shedu

Discovered by Dr. Zahi Hawass while exploring the cemetery of the Pyramid Builders in 1990, these four statues - three small and one large - are made of finely detailed painted limestone and depict the Fourth Dynasty official at different stages of his life. 

Each statue bears the inscription "the overseer of the boat of the goddess Neith, the king's acquaintance, Inty-Shedu."

7:  Statue of Ramessesnakht Kneeling before Shrine

This statue of Ramessesnakht is more detailed than the one described above (with the god Thoth) and has the high priest of Amun kneeling before a shrine with depictions of the Triad of Thebes—Amun, Mut, and Khonsu—in miniature atop the shrine. 

Made of schist and calcite, this work was discovered at the Temple of Amun at Karnak and dates from the Twentieth Dynasty reign of Ramesses VI.

6:  Canopic Lid of Tutankhamun

 This piece is made of painted calcite and was the stopper of one of Tutankhamun’s canopic jars. 

Adorned with the ghostly likeness of the young king crowned with the double uraeus of Nekhbet and Wadjet, symbolizing the united Upper and Lower Kingdoms, this work is important for its beauty, condition, and its intimate connection with the king as one of his funerary items.

5:  Pectoral of Shoshenq II

This artefact is one of the pieces of funerary jewelry discovered on the mummy of the Twenty-Second Dynasty Pharaoh Shoshenq II, who was entombed in the burial complex of Psusennes I. 

The square gold plate depicts the goddesses Isis and Nephtys flanking a winged scarab centerpiece made of green stone, with inlays of glass. 

4:  Large Shabti of Tutankhamun

This was the only shabti found in the antechamber of Tut’s tomb, and is one of the largest shabtis found to date.  Made of wood and detailed with gold and paint, the condition and detail make this one of the most recognizable depictions of the boy king. 

This statuette of Tut holds the heqa-scepter and the nekhakha-flail, and is inscribed with the shabti spell from chapter six of the Book of the Dead.

3:  Leopard Head Amulet

This piece depicts the face of a leopard rendered in gold-covered wood and detailed with paint.  It is one of two discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb along with associated robes. 

The robes and amulets would have been worn by the sun priests while performing the Opening of the Mouth ceremony that was intended to  reactivate the king’s physical senses for use in the afterlife. 

Its beauty, condition (despite a section where the gold foil is torn), and importance in the funerary rituals of Tutankhamun make this the number 3 artefact.

2: Burial Mask of Psusennes I

This funerary mask is made of gold with glass eyes and lapis details.  This mask covered the head and upper chest of the Twenty-First Dynasty pharaoh Psusennes I, and the false beard and uraeus depicted on his likeness indicate his royal divinity. 

Next to the burial mask of Tut himself, this is one of the most dazzling finds to come out of Egypt, earning it the number 2 spot.

 1:  Canopic Coffin of Tutankhamun

This small coffin made of gold, carnelian, glass, and semi-precious stones is of spectacular detail and craftsmanship. 

One of four such coffins discovered in Tut’s tomb, this one held his stomach and was protected by the gods Duamutef and Neith.  There is a spell from the Book of the Dead inscribed on the underside of the lid. 

The importance of this artefact in preserving the king's organs for the afterlife, the incredible detail and intricate workmanship, and the perfect condition earn this piece the number 1 rank in the exhibition.

Your Virtual Top 10?

So how did I do?  How would you rank the top 10?  Should some of the 'honorable mentions' be in the top list, or vice-versa? 

Explore the incredible artefacts from King Tut's tomb yourself, in Virtual King Tut, then use the comments box below to tell us your top 10. 

Image of Anubis at the Indianapolis Children's Museum by Meredith Hayden, all rights reserved. 

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About The Author

Keith Payne (follow me: )

Last three pieces by this author:

The Riddle of KV63 - King Tut's mom? | Discovery of Abydos: Examining the Work of the Penn-Yale-IFA Joint Expedition | Exclusive Interview: Dr. Josef Wegner discusses Abydos, Senwosret III, and Egyptian Funerary Practices

Keith Payne is a freelance writer whose subject matter has ranged from Appalachian culture and history to Ancient Egypt. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and has completed the coursework for an M.A. in the same, specializing in sociology of religion and the nature of belief.