Did Michael Jackson Model Himself on This Egyptian Statue?
A few weeks ago, I speculated that Jeff Koons' statue Michael Jackson & Bubbles was inspired by Tutankhamun. With his deathmask-like face and opulent gilding, Koons' Michael seemed eerily reminiscent of the boy king. One extremely expensive burial featuring in-your-face-Tut'esque golden coffin later, the parallels between the two icons started adding up. Now, an ancient Egyptian statue in Chicago's Field Museum has been seen to show a shocking similarity to the face of the late Michael Jackson.
The Chicago Sun-Times pointed out that Jackson could have actually modelled himself on the limestone statue:
The limestone bust, which went on public display in 1988, was carved during the New Kingdom Period (1550 B.C. to 1050 B.C.); the same time period as Ramesses and King Tut... In 1993, Jackson, whose face was then virtually identical to the statue, cut a video titled "Remember The Time," which he sets in ancient Egypt - during the time of the Pharaoh Ramesses.
Click here to watch the video for Remember The Time on Youtube, or watch it below (Eddie Murphy plays Ramesses!).
Distinguishing Feature
Michael Jackson may have baulked at the irony of both his own nose, and that of the statue, disintegrating in later years. The statue's nose now bears an uncanny likeness to the late star's own over-worked feature. The chicago-ist adds:
A spokesperson at the Field Museum told us, "according to the curator, 95% of Egyptian statues and busts were defiled by early Christians and Muslims because they were used for idolatry. They looked at these as idols and taking the nose off made them 'non-human.'"
Perhaps, though, he would have enjoyed the comparison to the 'Boy King' - another grown man who was thrust into the limelight from an early age. King Tut is often thought of as a child - a perception that
Jackson, whose face was then virtually identical to the statue, cut a video titled "Remember The Time," which he sets in ancient Egypt - during the time of the Pharaoh Ramesses
Jackson seemed to have of himself, but which somehow, and perhaps in a sinister way, was warped. In the end, at least he achieved the moniker of 'king'.
Thankfully, Tut fans can now mould their own face and body, and vent their passion for ancient Egypt, in Heritage Key's Virtual King Tut, potentially rendering the need for plastic surgery redundant.
Log in to create your own heroic avatar - we won't tell.
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hello this is a real interesting article on forgeries
excellent article !
Museum looks really great.
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There are really lots of secrets in Egypt. I'm sure this is going to cost millions in auction.
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That's one scary mummy. Thanks for letting us know this. I find it really informational.
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Comments
The resemblance of Michael Jackson with this buste at the Field Museum seems far greater than that of him with King Tut if you compare The New Kingdom statue's disintegration and damaged 'public face' to King Tut's legacy and tomb that were more or less left intact. (Until Carter and his troops came storming in.) I guess the fact that they lost touch with reality went for both Michael Jackson as well as most of the Egyptian Pharaohs. If you are surrounded by such wealth and idoltry, then making 'keeping it real' is a difficult thing do? (And sticking on to your nose, apparently, too.)
.... was definitely not one of Jacko's strong points! The old Christian/Islamic idea that his broken-off nose actually renders him technically 'inhuman' is a bit harsh though.
I have to say though - he could have done worse. There were some odd looking Egyptians in those days - perhaps due to the Royals' love of marrying their own siblings. At least Jacko didn't cosmetically enhance himself to look like Akhenaten!
Okay - The similarities there are uncanny! Perhaps a few thousand years reincarnation - perhaps MJ will be back in the year 5000?
Can we get that statue to play out all of MJ's dates at the O2? No-one'd know the difference, and it would put on a better show than JSL.
Good idea Sean. Maybe Steve Martin could help with the dancing? That ole statue don't look like it got no funky moves.
Has anyone explored the Bubbles the Chimp and Giulietta Masina connection yet?
Actually the ancient Egyptians did have pet monkeys! Curiouser and curiouser...
Curiouser and curiouser, and more and more proof...