Category: images - Part 3

Satellite Image: The Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza

The Giza Plateau as seen in this satellite photograph. But you can see even closer! Click this image to explore this great satellite image. - Image courtesy of GeoEye.The Pyramids of Giza at the Giza Plateau, Egypt, are one of the most famous sights in the world. It’s probably photographed from every possible angle from the ground, but often do you see it from above?Sure, Google Earth might give you an insight into aerial photography, but GeoEye has kindly given Heritage Key amazing satellite imagery at a high resolution, allowing us to see the pyramids as if we were in the space shuttle (or an alien space craft).

Giza is, of course, home to the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza. Towering at 138.8 metres, it is the only remaining Wonder of the World of the original seven. The map also shows just how close the Giza Necropolis is to the city of Cairo, the most populous city in Africa. It also puts to the bed the popular myth that the famous Pyramids are in some remote desert location, when we can clearly see that nearby lucky neighbours are waking up to this magnificent sight! And you might also consider playing golf if you can get a tee time in the shadows of the pyramids.

So what can you spot in the above image?The following famous landmarks are all in there:

The Great Pyramid of Giza – Also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, this world famous landmark is one of the oldest structures in history, yet its powerful presence is only enhanced by the mystery surrounding who built them (the answer to which Dr Mark Lehner is searching for in this fantastic video) and how it was built, with theories ranging from a structural basis to all sorts of wacky theories being put out there!

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The Great Sphinx of Giza – The reclining lion with a human head is also one of the most recognisable remnants of our ancient past, yet most of the most questioned too. The questions hanging over who built it, when it was built and who the famous face was modelled on are much debated, leading to what is know as The Riddle of the Sphinx. It was also feared that this famous cat might get its paws wet, and so drilling commenced under the Great Sphinx, as can be seen in this video with Dr Zahi Hawass and Dr Mark Lehner.

New Satellite Images Coming Each Week

This post is the first in a weekly series that will be showcasing high resolution satellite photography of Ancient World sites from across the globe, courtesy of GeoEye! Be sure to check back each week to see which Heritage site we cover next.

The Pyramid of Khafre – The second biggest pyramid at the Giza Necropolis is named after Pharoah Khafra, and often misleads as being the largest of the three pyramids. This is because the Pyramid of Khafre sits on a bedrock which is 10m higher than the Great Pyramid, giving the impression that it is a taller pyramid.

The Pyramid of Menkaure – The smallest of the three pyramids, the Pyramid of Mankaure stands at 61 metres tall and was built as a tomb for Pharaoh Menkaure. A large hole can be seen on the northern face in the aerial view of the pyramid – a reminder from where early explorers entered into it. Adjacent to the Pyramid of Mankaure are three smaller pyramids – The Pyramids of the Queens. Archaeologists do not know for certain who the three queens were that these pyramids were built for, though one of them is thought to be one of Menkaure’s main consorts -Khamerernebti II.

So those are the famous highlights which you may be able to pick out from the aerial image, but for the more hardcore Egyptophile, can you tell your Eastern Cemetery from your Western Cemetery?Do you know your tomb of Queen Khentkawes from the tombs of Queen Hetepheres, and where is the Office of Pyramid Studies? And have you spotted the Builder’s Quarters, or did you find the Boat Pits? Where did Obama’s helicopter land when he was visiting the pyramids(watch the video)? Can you find the Tomb of Hemon is amongst all the Mastabas and rock cut tombs, and can you pick out the Funerary Temple of Menkaure, or will you get it confused with the Valley Temple of Khafre? Or maybe you’ll confuse the Funerary Temple of Khafre with the Valley Temple of Menkaure! And can you locate the entrance to The Lost Underworld of the Pharaohs? 😉

The Satellite Image is courtesy of GeoEye.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – The Tomb of Montuemhat (TT34) at Thebes

Dr Farouk Gomaa discussing the Tomb of Montuemhat TT34 Image Copyright - Sandro VanniniA video featuring Dr Farouk Gomaa was recently featured on Heritage Key as he explains his progress on archaeological excavations being carried out in el-Assasif, Thebes at the site of TT34 – the Tomb of Montuemhat. Dr Farouk Gomaa explains that the search in the tomb continues for the burial chamber of the diplomat Montuemhat, which has yet to be located. The mysteries ofThebes are uncovered in a new book featuring photography from the renown Egyptology photographer Sandro Vannini in the publication “The Lost Tombs of Thebes:Life in Paradise” authored by Dr Zahi Hawass.

The excavations at TT34 were photographed by Sandro as the archaeological team set about documenting the finds and detailing the tomb walls. The search for the sarcophagus of Montuemhat continues, as Dr Gomaa’s team progress deeper into the tomb.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

Sandro Vannini has spent over a decade in Egypt capturing images of some of the greatest discoveries and treasures in history, such as the famous Golden Mask of King Tutankhamun. Heritage Key is working with Sandro to bring these stunning photographs to the internet, to spur the interest in our ancient past. To watch a slideshow of the photographs of the Tomb of Montuemhat, click any of the thumbnails below.

For his venture into TT34, Sandro used a Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n to photograph the archaeologists as they studied their finds, and worked to understand more about their discovery. These images are from the front line dig at this tomb, and along with the video, gives a fantastic insight into the work that goes into such archaeological excavations.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

This post is part of a series focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

See More Amazing Photography by Sandro

Have a look at some of the other stunning photographs by Sandro Vannini here at Heritage Key:

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

The Tomb of Montuemhat (TT34)

Montuemhat was an important enough figure to warrant his own tomb, yet he was not a Pharaoh. Montuemhat’s official title was “Mayor of the City of Thebes and Fourth Prophet of Amun” and was probably the most powerful official of the time in Southern Egypt. This tomb, TT34, was one of the most lavishly decorated and largest tombs of a non-royal that has been discovered to date.

As the Governor of Upper Egypt, Montuemhat was responsible for the construction work in Thebes and serving the Nubian Kings Taharqa and Tantamani, working with them on key projects such as developing the Mut Precinct of Karnak.

When the Nubian Kings were driven out by the invading forces of the Assyrians, and then replaced by the kings of the 26th Dynasty, Egypt was in a state of instability. It was at this time when Montuemhat effectively ruled Upper Egypt, and would hold this power right up until his death. During this time, Montuemhat saw it upon himself to build his tomb – a complex spanning several levels with numerous halls and an open courtyard at the centre.

The tomb itself bears no mention of Montuemhat’s first two wives – Neskhonsu and Shepenmut, and there is no evidence that either wife is buried in the tomb. Instead, the inscriptions concentrate solely on Montuemhat’s Kushite wife Wedjarenes. It is believed that they may have married in Nubia, and that she may be the reason that Montuemhat was selected to be the Governor of Upper Egypt. Wedjarenes was the grand-daughter of the Nubian King Piye.

Work on excavating the tomb was originally started in 1941 by Zakaria Goneim who unfortunately committed suicide while the dig was in progress; a story recounted by Dr Zahi Hawass in another fascinating video. Dr Farouk Gomaa now leads the team excavating the tomb as they continue their search through the several chambers and passages to find the burial chamber of Montuemhat.

HD Video: Dr Farouk Gomaa’s Search for the Chamber of Mayor Montuemhat

Dr Farouk Gomaa talks about his excavations in el-Assasif, Thebes and his work in TT34 – the Tomb of the diplomat Montuemhat. He shows the finds in the tomb so far, including the sarcophagus of Nespta, the son of Montuemhat. Dr Gomaa explains that although his team have not found the chamber of Montuemhat himself, or his sarcophagus, he remains hopeful of uncovering them soon. You can read more about the video of Dr Farouk Gomaa’s excavations in Tomb TT34 in Malcolm’s blog post.

(Transcription of this video.)

You can see the entire archive of videos on Heritage Key’s Video Page, and find out the latest from excavations in Egypt. You can also learn more about Archaeology on Heritage Key, as well as being able to explore the wonders of the Virtual World in King Tut Virtual – walk through the Valley of the Kings and discover some of the most amazing artefacts in history! You can also keep up to date on the latest new postings of Sandro’s Photography by subscribing to the feed, simply by entering your Email Address!

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – The Alabaster Perfume Vase

Found in the Tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62), The Alabaster Perfume Jar. Image Credit - Sandro Vannini.Calcite was a popular material used in ancient Egyptian times as the stone’s cool surfaces meant that the contents, such as perfumed fats and unguents, would be better preserved. However, perfumed fats were a luxury item and popular with grave-robbers in ancient times as they were easy to carry, and difficult to identify as being from a tomb. The Tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62) was believed to have been raided of about 350 litres of perfumed fats and unguents, according to an estimate by the famous explorer Howard Carter!

One of the most beautiful artefacts from King Tutankhamun’s tomb was the Alabaster Perfume Vase, which stored perfumed fats used as a cosmetic. The artefact was one of thousands stored at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, that was photographed by the immensely talented Sandro Vannini.

‘Alabaster Perfume Jar’ Slideshow

Heritage Key is working with Sandro and bringing his extensive catalogue of beautiful photography of Egyptian antiquities onto the world wide web, which we’re sure will fascinate even the most hardened Egyptologist! To watch a slideshow of the Alabaster Perfume Vase, simply click any of the thumbnails below.

See it for yourself in King Tut VX

But it doesn’t stop there, as you can also check out a 3D version of the Alabaster Perfume Vase in King Tut Virtual – simply just register for your avatar in our quick and easy process, and you’ll be exploring the virtual artefacts of King Tutankhamun, walking through the Valley of the Kings and even seeing more of Sandro Vannini’s photography in the virtual gallery.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

Years of experience in photographing the magnificent artefacts and tombs of Egypt has honed the skills of Sandro, and given him the experience needed to capture the beautiful details of the Alabaster Perfume Vase. The equipment used to take the amazing photographs plays its part too, and Sandro used a Hasselblad ELD Ixpress 528C camera to take these images.

So for those of you who cant make the trip to the Cairo Museum to see the Alabaster Perfume Vase, Heritage Key offers these stunning photographs by Sandro Vannini which capture the stunning Alabaster Perfume Vase from the Tomb of King Tutankhamun. But there’s more: you can visit virtual replicas of Tutankhamun treasures in the Heritage Key VX King Tut exhibition, which features a virtual replica of many breath-taking artefacts, including the Alabaster Perfume Vase.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

This post is part of a series focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

See More Amazing Photography by Sandro

Have a look at some of the other stunning photographs by Sandro Vannini here at Heritage Key:

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

The Alabaster Perfume Vase

Found between the first and second shrines which contained the royal coffins and King Tutankhamun’ssarcophagus, the Alabaster Perfume Vase is made up of four pieces of alabaster which have been fixed together. Inscribed with the names of King Tutankhamun and his Queen Ankhesenamen, the vase also features a sematawy symbol which is common throughout ancient Egyptian tombs, and represents the unification of the Upper and Lower Egypt.

There are two figures on either side of the container, who represent Hapy – the god of the River Nile. Shown tying the papyrus plant (which represents the north lands of Egypt) to a lotus plant (which represents the south lands of Egypt), the god is worshipped as a deity who brings fertile soils, and hence a fruitful bounty. On the vase, Hapy is shown with a large belly and ample bosoms.

At the top of the container are shown two cobras – one wears the hedjet White Crown of Upper Egypt, whilst the other adorns the desheret Red Crown of Lower Egypt. Protecting the perfume contained within is a vulture of a god who is either Mut or Nekhbet, who wears an atef-crown.

On the panel at the base of the vase are shown two falcons with solar disks on their heads, using their wings to protect the names of King Tutankhamun and Queen Ankhesenamen. The Alabaster Perfume Vase’s lower panel is finished with painted ivory and gold.

The Ancient Egyptians were keen on their beauty, and as such their cosmetics were strongly valued products. In addition to cosmetics, the Egyptians had treatments for various conditions and watched what they ate to maintain good health. Heritage Key even offers advice based on their ancient Health and Beauty tips!

Of course, take them with a pinch of salt. Nefertiti was definitely a beautiful lady, but spending over 200,000 on plastic surgery to look like her could well be seen as overkill.

Video: Alabaster Perfume Vase on display in King Tut Virtual

King Tut Virtual is the online virtual experience where you can explore 3D recreations of the stunning artefacts that were discovered in the Tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62). Journey through the Valley of the Kings and explore the wildlife along the River Nile, taking in the stunning realism and details. Invite your friends to join you, or meet new people from across the globe and discover the treasures of the virtual world together! Explore the treasures from KV62, go virtual and visit the King Tut exhibition nowor learn more about Tutankhamun!

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – Tomb of Seti I (KV17): The Antechamber

King Seti I on the wall of the antechamber in Tomb KV17. Image Copyright - Sandro Vannini.The Antechamber of the Tomb of Seti I (KV17) is a small room which precedes the burial chamber, and features on its tomb walls scenes depicted from the Book of the Dead. The renown photographer in the field of Egyptology, Sandro Vannini took several photographs throughout KV17, including the First Pillared Room which we featured recently. This week we look at the tomb engravings of the Antechamber, and who they depict.

Sandro’s photography is the finest way to see Seti I’s tomb, after years of excavation have left it in a poor state of disrepair and leading to its closure to the general public. Sandro’s years of experience photographing the heritage of Ancient Egypt makes him the ideal man to send into the Tomb of Seti I to capture the beauty of one of the finest preserved tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

Heritage Key is working with Sandro to bring his fantastic photography onto the internet so you can enjoy it from the comfort of your own computer. You can also find out the latest from the excavation inside the tomb of Seti I in a video with the Director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr. Zahi Hawass. And if that’s not enough, then Dr Hawass and Sandro Vannini have a new book out looking at the Lost Tombs of Thebes, which is highly recommended reading material!

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

Sandro’s experience in photographing Ancient Egyptian antiquities gives him the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to capture some of the most valuable artefacts in the world, such as the Golden Mask of King Tutankhamun. In the Tomb of Seti I, Sandro used a Hasselblad ELD Ixpress 528C to capture the detailed engravings of the walls in the tomb’s antechamber. Despite the tomb’s closure, we can experience the magnificence of one of the Valley of the King’s finest tomb discoveries through the lens of Sandro Vannini.

The Antechamber of the Tomb of Seti I(KV17)

Discovered in 1817 by Giovanni Battista Belzoni, the Tomb of Seti I is the longest and deepest to have been found in the New Kingdom, at 136 metres and still counting. However, numerous excavations during the 1950s and 1960s caused walls to crack and even collapse due to changes in the moisture levels in the tomb walls.

The numerous chambers and passages in the Tomb of Seti I are shown in the above infomap. This week focuses on the Antechamber, which is the small room that precedes the burial chamber. The walls in the room are decorated with scenes of Seti I before various deities taken from the Book of the Dead. The lack of colour in these scenes is due to the large number of squeezes (pressed imprints) taken from the room, causing damage to the paintwork. The ceiling of the room is adorned with painted stars.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

This post is part of a series focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

See More Amazing Photography by Sandro

Have a look at some of the other stunning photographs by Sandro Vannini here at Heritage Key:

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

King Seti I

King Seti I is displayed in the antechamber as a part of Spell 151, which would protect him from various dangers in the afterlife on his journey to the much sought-after Netherworld. The Book of the Dead was one of the most popular funerary texts used by New Kingdom Pharaohs on their tomb walls. Despite the effort that went into the planning of the tomb wall texts, the mummy of Seti I was not found resting in his tomb – instead it was found in the mummy cache of Tomb DB320 at Deir el-Bahri, from where it was moved to the Egyptian Museum, Cario.

Cutting the Foreleg

The cutting of the foreleg of a sacrificial ox was an important part of the funeral ceremony, which was essential for the Opening of the Mouth. The Opening of the Mouth is Spell 23 in the Book of the Dead, and would restore functionality to the mummy so the afterlife could be fully enjoyed. The purpose of the tomb was to act as a place of offerings and to be a platform for the Pharaoh to be able to enter the Netherworld.

The Iunmutef Priest

The Iunmutef priest were characteristic of royal temple mortuaries, and in this scene, represented the eldest son of the deceased King Seti I. Shown in the Tomb of King Seti I dressed in traditional panther skin and with a sidelock of youth, the Iunmutef priest was responsible for conducting the celebration of the funeral ceremonies in the proper manner. Amongst other duties, he attends to the purification and coronation ceremonies and the ritual of the Opening of the Mouth.

Isis

Isis was an Ancient Egyptian goddess who was idealised as the perfect mother and wife. On the Tomb walls of KV17, Seti I is portrayed as giving an offering of wine to the Isis in order to win her favour for a safe passage through the afterlife. Isis was considered to be the goddess of reincarnation and protector of the dead, and would allow Seti I free passage across the underworld of the afterlife.

Hathor

In the tomb KV17, Seti I is shown on the tomb wall being welcomed by the goddess Hathor. She was one of the most popular deities in Ancient Egypt, and was worshipped by numerous Pharaohs, as well as citizens. A goddess of music and dance, fertility and foreign lands, Hathor was the deity which welcomed the deceased into the next life, and for this reason her prominence in the Tomb of King Seti is important.

Movie: Dr Zahi Hawass and the Mysterious Tunnel in the Tomb ofSeti I (KV17)

Over the last two years, Dr Zahi Hawass has been leading a team excavating in the Tomb of Seti I, exploring a mysterious tunnel starting in the burial chamber. The purpose behind the tunnel and what it leads to is unknown, but Dr Hawass shares what he thinks could be there and updates the progress on the excavation on KV17.

You can see the transcript of the movie over on our Video Page, as well as seeing other fascinating films from the Valley of the Kings shot by Sandro in our weekly series. Additionally, you can find out more about Ancient Egypt on Heritage Key, as well as being able to explore the Valley of the Kings and the fascinating KV62 – King Tutankhamun’s tomb – in 3D in our exciting virtual experience! Also be sure to keep up to date on all new postings about Sandro’s photography from Egypt by subscribing to our feed, simply by entering your email address above.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion

The Recumbent Lion of the Cosmetic Jar. Image Copyright - Sandro Vannini.The Tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62) contained many calcite jars and vases, but most were located in the antechamber and the annexe. However, the Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion was found between the walls of the first and secondshrine of King Tut, in the burial chamber, suggesting it may have had more significance. Perhaps used in the funeral ceremony, the jar was found with residues of a costmetic inside – a blend of vegetable resin and animal fats.The Cosmetic Jar was one of the many artefacts from KV62 originally discovered by famous explorer Howard Carter, and photographed at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo by the renown photographer Sandro Vannini. His stunning images of this artefact are brought to the internet exclusively by Heritage Key.

‘Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion’ Slideshow

Heritage Key is working with Sandro and bringing his extensive catalogue of beautiful photography of Egyptian antiquities onto the world wide web, which we’re sure will please all fans of Egyptology! To watch a slideshow of the Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion, simply click any of the thumbnails below.

See it for yourself in King Tut VX

But it doesn’t stop there, as you can also check out a 3D version of the Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion in King Tut Virtual – simply just register for your avatar in our quick and easy process, and you’ll be exploring the virtual artefacts of King Tutankhamun, walking through the Valley of the Kings and even seeing more of Sandro Vannini’s photography in the virtual gallery.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

What makes Sandro’s photography stand out? Attention for detail and skills gathered over the years in photography gives Sandro the necessary experience to capture the intricate details of the Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion. Of course, the equipment Sandro uses plays a role too, and he comes well prepared with a Hasselblad ELD Ixpress 528C camera.

So for those of you who cant make the trip to see the Cosmetic Jar, Heritage Key offers these stunning photographs by Sandro Vannini which capture the beauty and magnificence of the Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion from the Tomb of King Tutankhamun. But it doesnt stop there: you can visit virtual replicas of Tutankhamun treasures in the Heritage Key VX King Tut exhibition, which features a digital recreation of many breath-taking artefacts, including the Cosmetic Jar.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

This post is part of a series focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

See More Amazing Photography by Sandro

Have a look at some of the other stunning photographs by Sandro Vannini here at Heritage Key:

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion

The Cosmetic Jar is styled in a typical fashion of the Amarna period and made from mostly calcite, with the additions to the jar made from ivory and copper. It has a height of 26.8cm and a width of 22cm, and was one of many jars and cosmetic vases that were found inside the tomb of KingTut.

The Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion. Image Copyright - Sandro Vannini. The side of the Cosmetic Jar is adorned with images of lions and dogs attacking hoofed desert animals (ungulates). The savannah plants scattered around the scene give the context of a desert environment, with the lower edge portraying a band of niches, replicating the commonly shown palace faades in Egyptian art. The upper edge, above the animal scene, shows a series of spear shapes which represent lotus petals, behind which are lines of red, white and black.

The lid of the Cosmetic Jar is what catches the eye of most people though. It’s the recumbent lion, laying along the lid with its tongue hanging out. Carved from the same block of calcite as the lid itself, the opening of the jar was done by a swivel mechanism which was kept shut by a piece of string wrapped around knobs at the sides of the jar. Decorated using blue paint on the eyes, ears, nose, claws, eyebrows and the tip of the tail, the lion is laying with its left paw on its right and it’s pink-stained ivory tongue hanging out.

There are two columns on either side of the jar, at the top of which is depicted the god Bes – the god of protecting women and the household. He is portrayed as a menacing looking dwarf, and is shown with his tongue hanging out in a similar fashion to the lion.

At the base of the Cosmetic Jar are four heads – the enemies of Egypt. Being at the bottom of the jar has significance in itself, denoting that the enemies are being crushed, or that they are the lowest of the low. The black stone heads are Nubian, whereas the other two are red-stoned Asiatics.

The lion on the jar is linked directly to King Tutankhamun through an inscription on its shoulder, and indicates the power and virility of the boy king. It also represents Tutankhamun’s ability to maintain order in a disorderly world, with the calm and dignified lion on top of the fighting animals and enemies of Egypt. The separation of levels in this jar indicates that the chaos of the disorderly world are kept away from the orderly conduct of King Tut’s Egypt.

MOVIE: Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion on display in King Tut Virtual

King Tut Virtual is one of the greatest discoveries you can make online. Click your mouse to travel across time and place to explore King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the digital, online Valley of the Kings. Zoom-in and get up-close to some of the most amazing artefacts ever found. Wander the banks of Nile and enjoy a feeling of life in ancient times. The details and realism will amaze you. You can invite your friends to join you on this adventure as well as meet people from all over the world in this exciting online environment. Explore the Boy King’s treasures, go virtual and visit the King Tut exhibition nowor learn more about Tutankhamun!

Sandro Vaninni’s Photography: KV63 – The Discovery of the Sarcophagus

Dr Otto Schaden (left) and Dr Zahi Hawass (right) looking over one of the coffin masks discovered in KV63. Image Copyright - Sandro Vannini.When KV63 was discovered in 2006, it represented the first tomb to be discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 80 years, since the famous explorer Howard Carter uncovered the treasures of the Tomb of King Tutankhamun. It restored hope that there is still more mystery to uncovered in the region which was said to contain no more secrets, and even today the hunt continues to find what is hidden in the next tomb – KV64. Sandro Vannini, the venerable Egyptology photographer, took many photographs from the latest excavations, including one of the most interesting finds – seven wooden sarcophagi.

Although the 18th Dynasty tomb was not used for burial, it was officially declared to be a tomb by the Director of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr Zahi Hawass, who believes it to have been the intended burial place of Queen Kiya – the mother of King Tutankhamun. The presence of many large storage jars and empty sarcophagi suggests that the tomb was used for the embalming stage of the mummification process.

Heritage Key is working with Sandro to bring his photography online for you to enjoy, and be able to see the excavations from the comfort of your own chair, including more photography from inside KV63 by Sandro Vannini. You can also find out the latest news from the excavations in the Valley of the Kings through our exclusive Heritage Key videos, as well as digitally visiting Ancient Egypt from your own computer, through our online, virtual experience – King Tut Virtual exhibition at Heritage Key VX.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

This post is part of a series focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

Suggest a Featured Artefact

We’re taking suggestions! which of King Tut’s treasures you would love to see highlighted on Heritage Key, and we’ll consult Sandro’s extensive archives to see what we can find for you!

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

VIDEO: Dr. Zahi Hawass on the Riddle of KV63

Sandro took several hundreds of photographs whilst at the KV63 site with his Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n camera, capturing archaeologists as they surveyed the tomb and the artefacts they had uncovered. Decades of professional photography experience have honed Sandro’s skills and his photography demonstrates this perfectly – capturing the details of the tomb, and the people behind the work that has gone into excavating it. From the finds inside the tomb, some of the most remarkable are the seven coffins which were found.

The Seven Sarcophagi

Seven wooden sarcophagi found inside Tomb KV63 included one which was sized for a child, and another which had been made to fit an infant. The identity of whom would have occupied these coffins is unknown, but it’s entirely possible that they were created for a family. There is also the possibility that the tomb was used as an embalmer’s room, and the coffins were a stockpile.

Two of the adult coffins and the child-sized coffin were all adorned with a yellow painted mask, which has been hypothesised to signify that the intended occupants would have been female. Glass was also used for the eyes on one of the coffins, which is a material usually reserved only for royalty.

Some of the coffins that were discovered are in a damaged state, as is clearly visible in Sandro’s photographs. All but two of the coffins have suffered from termite damage, which had resulted in a black paste. The termites are thought to have originated from the worker huts above the tomb, and therefore are from the age of Ancient Egypt.

Also found was a smaller wooden coffin, covered in a pink-tinged gold, which is likely to be a funerary figurine. It is completely unmarked, and contained nothing, so identification of whom this coffin belonged to would be difficult.

Called upon to draw the new finds discovered in KV63, Susan Osgood (an artist for the University of Chicago’s Epigraphic Survey) created a sketch of one of the painted sarcophagus, the in-progress of which is shown in one of Sandro’s photographs. Susan Osgood’s archaeological drawings, including those she undertook in Tomb KV63, will be exhibited at the Egyptian Museum of the University of Bonn from the 26th November, continuing until June 2010, after which it will move to the Museum August Kestner in Hanover, showing from July 15th, 2010 until October 2010. More details about the exhibtion can be viewed at Susan Osgood’s website, or at the official dig site of KV63.

One theory suggested revolves around the reign of Tutankhamun’s father, Akhenaten. Whilst in power, Akhenaten dismissed the worship of the old gods in favour of his own deity, Aten. As the residents of Ancient Egypt had been worshipping and relying upon the old gods for many centuries, for a new Pharaoh to come and change such a tradition would likely have caused much uproar.

After Akhenaten’s reign, King Tutankhamun took the throne, and he reinstated the worship of the old gods. It is believed that again there would have been divisions over such a move, with one side possibly finding themselves as the endangered minority. A theory is that KV63 may have been used as a hiding place for the coffins and jars that were found there.

MOVIE: Dr Zahi Hawass in the Valley of the Kings: KV64 is going to be discovered!

In a previously unexplored section of the area, Dr Zahi Hawass’ team uncovered a possible tomb entrance in the Valley of the Kings which saw the discovery of a stairway, which Dr Hawass is hoping will be the discovery of KV64. The possibility of this new discovery, of which the mystery has yet to be revealed, is being excavated by an all-Egyptian team for the first time. It’s not even sure on who may be inside, if this is a tomb either, with Ramesses, Thutmose and Neferiti all being suggested as the possible occupant.

You can see the transcript of the movie over on our video page, as well as seeing other fascinating films from the Valley of the Kings shot by Sandro in our weekly series. Additionally, you can find out more about Ancient Egypt here at Heritage Key, and if you want to do some discovery of your own, you can explore KV62 – King Tutankhamun’s tomb – in 3D in our exciting virtual experience! Also be sure to keep up to date on all new postings about Sandro’s photography from Egypt by subscribing to our feed, simply by entering your email address above.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography: Tomb KV63 – Storage Room?

The Site of KV63 in the Valley of the Kings. Image Copyright - Sandro Vannini.For many years, people said the Valley of the Kings had revealed all its secrets.. but then came KV63. In 2006, a team from the University of Memphis, headed by Dr Otto Schaden, were excavating the Tomb of King Amenmesse (KV10) when they accidentally uncovered something new. Noticing white stone fragments near where material was being removed, the team uncovered the first tomb to have been found in the last 80 years, since Howard Carter’s startling discovery of KV62 – the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Excavations at the tomb continue to this day, as does the hunt for KV64, and the world-renowned photographer Sandro Vannini visited the site to capture scenes of the latest tomb dig in the Valley of the Kings.

Dating from the 18th Dynasty Amarna period, KV63 was officially identified as a tomb by Dr Zahi Hawass, despite there so far being no evidence uncovered that the tomb was used for burial. It is now believed the tomb was used by embalmers as part of the mummification process. Inside the tomb, 7 wooden coffins and more than 28 large storage jars were discovered and all of them revealed several mummification materials, although none contained any mummies. Dr Hawass has also stated that he believes the tomb to be that of Queen Kiya, the mother of King Tutankhamun.

Heritage Key is working with Sandro to bring his photography online for you to enjoy, and be able to see the excavations from the comfort of your own chair. You can also find out the latest news from the excavations in the Valley of the Kings through our exclusive Heritage Key videos.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

VIDEO: Dr. Zahi Hawass on the Riddle of KV63

Sandro took several hundreds of photographs whilst at the KV63 site with his Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n camera, capturing archaeologists as they surveyed the tomb and the artefacts they had uncovered. Decades of professional photography experience have honed Sandro’s skills and his photography demonstrates this perfectly – capturing the details of the tomb, and the people behind the work that has gone into excavating it, we get a real feeling for the atmosphere at Tomb KV63.

The New Tomb (KV63)

Located just 4m underground, and with maximum dimensions of 5.5m long and 4m wide, and a ceiling height of 2m, this isn’t the biggest room you’ll find at the Valley of the Kings. Yet, it was pretty packed full – inside the Eighteenth Dynasty tomb were found seven wooden coffins and at least 28 large jars.

caption

The excavation team hasn’t been without its difficulties though. In January 2008, Dr Schaden cut ties with the University of Memphis (who were his original backers for the expedition) due to differences in opinion, but in a rare move, the Supreme Council of Antiquities stepped in and backed Dr Schaden’s excavations to continue.

The elements have also proved difficult, with the intense heat and dust storms affecting the workers, as well as flash floods threatening the open tomb.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

This post is part of a series focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

Suggest a Featured Artefact

We’re taking suggestions! which of King Tut’s treasures you would love to see highlighted on Heritage Key, and we’ll consult Sandro’s extensive archives to see what we can find for you!

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

Shaft

A 5 metre narrow shaft serves as a transport route to lift artefacts out of the tomb. Apulley system has been set up which allows the safe passage of objects to be removed from the tomb without the use of potentially destructive heavy equipment. The fragility of the artefacts requires this passageway to be secure and stable.

Pottery Fragments

Inside KV63, shards of pottery and a wine label were identical to that found in the Tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62) indicating that this tomb too was from the 18th Dynasty period. Some pottery fragments were discovered with gold linings, indicating that this tomb may have served as a royal workshop.

Sarcophagi

The excavations uncovered 7 wooden coffins in the tomb, of which three had been painted with faces. They have been dated to just prior to King Tutankhamun’s reign, and their fragile condition means that restoration has to be done carefully to ensure the sarcophagi don’t disintegrate. Covered in thick, black resin, the coffins contained materials used in mummification as well as the remains of human flesh. Perhaps most telling is that on clearing out the coffins, the team found an imprint on the base, suggesting a mummy had been stored in there. It’s not completely out of the question that somebody stole the mummy of KV63!

Jars

The tomb contains 28 large and sealed jars, which the excavation team have been reopening. At approximately 75cm tall and weighing around 40kg, the jars were made from pottery and alabaster. While most of the sealed jars bore no pharoic markings, one jar was marked with the label “Paaten”, which has been suggested to mean Ankhesenamun – the wife of King Tutankhamun.

Dr Zahi Hawass and the Supreme Council of Antiquities

Dr Zahi Hawass travelled to Luxor on the 10th February 2006 when the International press had the first glimpes of inside the tomb. The Supreme Council of Antiquities has been backing Dr. Schaden’s excavations in the new tomb, and Dr Hawass was the first to enter the tomb as the world’s media watched on. “I really believe that KV63 is the tomb of the mother of King Tut,” Dr Hawass said of the new discovery. “She died when she was delivering him and therefore there was no time to cut a beautiful decorative tomb. That is actually the tomb that the mother should be buried [in]. Why King Tut is buried here? He wanted to be buried beside his mother.”

MOVIE: Dr Zahi Hawass in the Valley of the Kings: KV64 is going to be discovered!

Of course, the search for more tombs continues in the Valley of the Kings, with Dr Hawass having strongly suggested his all-Egyptian team are on the verge of uncovering a new tomb – KV64. In the video below, he shares some of the finds at the site of the excavations, and explains that he disagrees with those who believe nothing more is left to be discovered in the Valley of the Kings – for him and his Egyptian team are going to discover KV64!

You can see the transcript of the movie over on our Video Page, as well as seeing other fascinating films from the Valley of the Kings shot by Sandro in our weekly series. Additionally, you can find out more about Ancient Egypt right here at Heritage Key, as well as being able to explore KV62 – King Tutankhamun’s tomb – in 3D in our exciting virtual experience! Also be sure to keep up to date on all new postings about Sandro’s photography from Egypt by subscribing to our feed, simply by entering your email address above.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – External Trappings of the Tutankhamun Mummy

The Crook and Flail from King Tut's External Trappings of the mummy. Image Credit - Sandro Vannini.Renowned photographer Sandro Vannini has spent several years capturing beautiful images of the treasures held at the Cairo Museum in Egypt, and Heritage Key brings the results exclusively on the internet. Although it was the Golden Mask of Tutankhamun which captivated the world when KV62 was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, Tutankhamun’s tomb was adorned with several thousands of other artefacts including the External Trappings of the Mummy, sewn into the linen bandages. But why make that expensive trip to Cairo when you can see Sandro’s beautiful photography of them, or even view them in 3D in our King Tut Virtual exhibition for free.

‘King Tut’s External Trappings’ Slideshow

Heritage Key is working together with Sandro to make his stunning photography from Egypt for you to view, which we’re sure will please even the most hardcore Egyptomaniac, available on the internet. To watch a slideshow of King Tut’s External Trappings, just click the thumbnails below.

See it for yourself in King Tut VX

To get an immersing, 360 degree view of the External Trappings of the Mummy in 3D, all you need to do is register for your avatar in our quick and easy process, and you can start exploring King Tut Virtual. The video below holds a quick preview, but this is nothing compared to standing directly next to the external trappings, close enough to (virtually) touch it.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

caption Sandro Vannini, who has spent decades behind the lens, has developed an eye for details and the skill to make a photograph come to life. The photographs Sandro took with his Hasselblad ELD Ixpress 528C camera demonstrate the results of his experience, showing the gold and precious stones meticulously carved onto these artefacts in perfect light and angles.

It was these very photographs which were used as the base to recreate the fabulous external trappings of King Tutankhamun’s mummy in our King Tut Virtual exhibition which contains many of the key artefacts discovered in KV62.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

This post is part of a series focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

Suggest a Featured Artefact

We’re taking suggestions! which of King Tut’s treasures you would love to see highlighted on Heritage Key, and we’ll consult Sandro’s extensive archives to see what we can find for you!

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

The External Trappings of King Tutankhamun’s Mummy

Sewn into the outermost linen bandages, the trappings themselves consisted of eight golden mummy bands, a pair of life-like golden hands holding a crook and flail, a golden chain from which hung a scarab of black resin and a human-headed bird shaped pectoral.

caption Mummy Bands

The mummy bands held the final layers of linen bandages in place (whereby on a earlier or less wealthier mummy, normal linen would have been used), four of which were laid vertically from the throat/shoulder down to the toes, and the remaining four were wrapped around the body horizontally.

caption The mummy bands also had inscribed plaques bearing the name of King Tutankhamun, as well as protective spells from various gods and goddesses. Interestingly, Carter found that most of the king’s names (cartouches) on the underside of these bands had been cut out and replaced with plain gold. One that had been missed was Ankhkheperure, the co-regent of Tutankhamun’s successor and perhaps also Tutankhamun’s brother. This treatment of the bands reinforces the view that the burial arrangements for the boy king were very hurried as a result of his unexpected death.

captionGolden Hands and the Crook and Flail

The royal hands are made from burnished gold, similar to the Golden Mask, and decorated with wristlets of coloured glass and carnelian. The crook and flail represent the power of a Pharaoh, and are made from a silver core and covered with alternating bands of gold and coloured glass. The resin scarab is inscribed with hieroglyphs from the Book of the Dead, and again the bands from which it is hung were also orginally produced for Ankhkheperure.

Ba – The Human Headed Bird

caption A pectoral representing breadth and movement in the form of a winged human-headed bird represents the human soul as it escapes the body at the moment of death. Made of gold inlaid with glass, lapis lazuli and carnelian, the birds claws are grasping a shen sign, symbolising the eternal circuit of the sun. To round off this gorgeous artefact is the human face which has been crafted with sublime technique and sensitivity.

MOVIE: External Trapping of King Tut’s Mummy on display in Heritage Key VX

Click Play to watch a video of the External Trappings in Heritage Key VX.

King Tut Virtual is one of the greatest discoveries you can make online. Click your mouse to travel across time and place to explore King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the digital, online Valley of the Kings. Zoom-in and get up-close to some of the most amazing artefacts ever found. Wander the banks of Nile and enjoy a feeling of life in ancient times. The details and realism will astound you. You can invite your friends to join you on this adventure as well as meet people from all over the world in this exciting online environment. Explore the Boy King’s treasures, go virtual and visit the King Tut exhibition nowor learn more about Tutankhamun!

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – Tomb of Seti I (KV17): First Pillared Room

Seti I from the KV17 tomb, captured in this stunning photograph by Sandro Vannini One of the best preserved and most decorated tombs in the Valley of the Kings is that of Seti I, adorned with hieroglyphics and colourful paintings on every passageway and chamber wall. In this first post on the Seti I tomb, we look at stunning photography by Sandro Vannini taken in the First Pillared Hall section of the tomb.

Years of archaeological excavations have damaged the tomb and as a result, it has now been closed to the public. That means the only way to enjoy the beauty of Tomb KV17 is through photography, and who better to send down there than world-class photographer Sandro Vannini! An expert in photography of some of Egypt’s most valuable treasures, such as the Golden Mask of Tutankhamun, Sandro has mastered the art of capturing ancient artefacts at their best.

Heritage Key is working with Sandro to bring his photography online for you to enjoy, and be able to see the artefacts from the comfort of your own chair. You can also find out the latest news from the excavations of Seti I’s tomb in a video with Dr. Zahi Hawass at the bottom of the page.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

Using a vast array of professional (and expensive!) photography equipment as well as years of experience and skill, Sandro has the unique ability of being able to make a photograph come to life through his use of lighting and attention for detail. In the Tomb of Seti I, Sandro uses both a Hasselblad ELD Ixpress 528C and a Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n to capture the colourful artworks on the interior walls of the tomb. Although the tomb has now been closed, we can still admire the ancient wonder of KV17’s artworks through Sandro’s lens.

Pharaoh Seti I’s Tomb (KV17)

The tomb of Seti I was discovered by Giovanni Battista Belzoni in 1817, and is the longest (at 136m found so far) and the deepest of the royal tombs from the New Kingdom. With more detailed and refined decorations than in those tombs preceding it, this tomb dedicated to the Nineteenth Dynasty Pharaoh reflected the rich cultural and artistic merits that characterised his reign.

caption

The above infomap shows the layout of the tomb, which has several passages and chambers. This week, we’re looking at the First Pillared Hall, which is decorated with the Osiris shrine and the Book of Gates. The hall had 14 columns onto which the image of many Gods were carved and painted, some of which were the first time they had appeared in a royal tomb.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

This post is part of a series focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

Suggest a Featured Artefact

We’re taking suggestions! which of King Tut’s treasures you would love to see highlighted on Heritage Key, and we’ll consult Sandro’s extensive archives to see what we can find for you!

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

The Celestial Cow

The Celestial Cow was engraved on the sarcophaus of King Tutankhamun, but in the tomb of Seti I, it was the first tomb where it was inscribed on the wall paintings. In the legend, the sun god Re was angry at mankind, and so the Celestial Cow carried him to the heavens on his back, aided by other gods.

Re-Horakhty

The tomb of Seti I was the first to hold this image of the king making offerings to the Morning Sun God Re-Horakhty, which has been repeated in all subsequent tombs built for the remainder of the New Kingdom. The detail in Sandro’s photograph shows the king wearing a nemes headdress whilst being embraced by the falcon-headed god.

The Bark of the Sun God

Taken from the Book of Gates, this scene was commonly depicted on the walls of tombs and Sandro’s fantastic photograph shows the intricate details of the version in Seti I’s tomb. At the top of the inscriptions are a series of mummies, stood with domed shrines and protected by a snake above them. They stand before the Gods who are wrapped up with their details obscured, separated by the symbol of Osiris – sheaths of wheat. The Gods stand in the Lake of Fire, where those who have been blessed will be saved, and the damned are destroyed.

Thoth and Seti I

Sandro has captured the great detail in this wall painting depicting Thoth, the patron of scribes and wisdom, with Seti I. Shown as an ibis-headed man, Thoth was an important figure as far back as Pre-dynastic times, and often appears in pyramidic texts alongside Re. Sandro chooses to detail on this image as it shows Thoth embracing Seti and welcoming him into the realm of the blessed.

The Book of Gates

The Book of Gates is depicted on the walls of Seti I’s tomb, alongside the Book of Amduat. Some Egyptologists believe the Book of Gates was offered as an alternative to Amduat as a safe passage to the Afterlife. the two books have many similarities, although there are distinct differences – for example, Amduat focuses around the concept of time, whereas Gates concentrates on space. Seti I’s sarcophagus is engraved with the text from the Book of Gates, which coincidently is more favourable to the king, giving them more prominence.

MOVIE: Dr Zahi Hawass Inside the Mysterious Tunnel in the Tomb of Seti I

Dr Hawass has spent the last two years leading an all-Egyptian team and excavating a mysterious tunnel leading from the burial chamber of King Seti I that goes deep into the Theban cliffs. Nobody has ever reached the end, and the tunnel’s purpose is as of yet unknown. Watch the video to see what Dr Hawass has to say about the excavations, and what he thinks may lay there.

You can see the transcript of the movie over on our Video Page, as well as seeing other fascinating films from the Valley of the Kings shot by Sandro in our weekly series. Additionally, you can find out more about Ancient Egypt right here at Heritage Key, as well as being able to explore KV62 – King Tutankhaman’s tomb – in 3D in our exciting virtual experience! Also be sure to keep up to date on all new postings about Sandro’s photography from Egypt by subscribing to our feed, simply by entering your email address above.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – King Tut’s Golden Death Mask

The Golden Mask of King Tutankhamun may just be the most stunning artefact from ancient times that archaeologists have ever excavated. The fact that King Tut was a mere minor Pharaoh leaves the funerary gifts offered to the great ones up to our imagination, insofar as imagining such splendour and richness both in value and craftsmanship. As the golden death mask is too fragile to travel, there is no way to see the famous mask unless you travel to Cairo – or is there? The closest you’ll get to experiencing the real thing online is a collection of amazingly detailed photographs by Sandro Vannini, who has over time become an expert in capturing ancient Egyptian artefacts on film, and the virtual experience based on Sandro’s photographs, the King Tut Virtual exhibition.

The Golden Mask of King Tutankhamun
King Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden MaskKing Tutankhamun's Golden Mask

‘King Tut Mask’ Slideshow

Heritage Key is working together with Sandro in making these images, that will arouse any Egyptophile, available on the internet. To watch a slideshow of King Tut’s Death Mask, just click the image on the right.

See it for yourself in King Tut VX

To get an immersing, 360 degree view of the golden mask in 3D, all you need to do is get your avatar, go virtual and start exploring King Tut Virtual. The video below holds a quick preview, but this is nothing compared to standing directly next to the mask, close enough to (virtually) touch it.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

What makes Sandro’s pics so sublime? Attention for detail and skills gathered over the years in snapping the Gold Mask of King Tut bring out its stunning gold and beautiful precious stones. Of course, the equipment Sandro uses plays a role too: a Hasselblad ELD Ixpress 528C camera. And, of course, the light setup: Gold is a difficult material to photograph correctly, such as in this beautiful Golden Mask, says Sandro. There are so many different alloys, depending on the amount of gold and the combined metal used. All gold is a unique shade, requiring specific lighting set-ups.

So for those of you who cant make the trip to Cairo, we at Heritage Key offer these stunning photographs by world-class photographer Sandro Vannini which capture the beauty and magnificence of King Tutankhamuns Golden Mask. But it doesnt stop there: you can visit virtual replicas of the Golden Mask and other Tutankhamun treasures in the Heritage Key VX King Tut exhibition, which features a digital recreation of the breath-taking artefact.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

This post is just the first of many focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

Suggest a Featured Artefact

We’re taking suggestions! which of King Tut’s treasures you would love to see highlighted on Heritage Key, and we’ll consult Sandro’s extensive archives to see what we can find for you!

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

The Golden Mask:Facts &Figures

The Golden Mask, created in 1324 BC for the 18th Dynasty boy-king, was discovered when Howard Carter unearthed Tomb KV62 in the Valley of the Kings on his Lord Carnarvon-funded 1922 expedition. Carter had to make a decision whether to remove the mask and risk damaging the mummy, or leave it in place and exhibit the mummy with the mask. In the end the mask was removed and put on display, and its radiating beauty shines through these spectacular pictures.

Gold is the main element of the mask, with the bulk formed by two sheets hammered together; thought by the Ancient Egyptians to emulate the flesh of the gods. It was then shaped into a likeness of King Tut, replete with striped nemes headcloth. The headcloth was formed using inlays of semi-precious stones and coloured glass, which bring out its detail and vibrant colours.

The white eyes were made from quartz, while the pupils were produced from obsidian – with a little red paint used on the corners of the eyes to give them that edge of realism. The radiance of the mask was further enhanced by a sheer layer of silver-rich gold, added to the burnished surface of the face. These images by Sandro show very well the Lapis lazuli in the mask, responsible for the Pharaoh’s deep blue eyebrows.

Upon discovery the earlobes of King Tuts death mask were covered in gold foil, but this was later removed. The mask’s forehead is adorned with a vulture and cobra made of solid gold with inlays of lapis lazuli, carnelian, faence and glass, and represents the protective goddesses of Egypt (The vulture represented Upper Egypt, the cobra Lower). The long, curling beard of the mask, representing divinity, is made from blue glass with a frame of gold.

Engraved into the back and shoulders of the mask are ten lines of hieroglyphic text. These scribe a protection formula, referring to different parts of the body and how they relate to the mask – and its connection to gods and goddesses, thereby protecting King Tuts body in the afterlife. Translated, the text reads:

Your face is Anubis, your right eye is the night boat,
your left eye is the diurnal boat,
your eyebrows correspond to the companion of the nine gods.

King Tutankhamuns Mask has remained in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo since the 1980s, from where Dr. Zahi Hawass insists itll never be moved again due to its fragility. It remains the star attraction for the thousands who flock to the famed museum.

MOVIE: King Tut’s Death Mask on display in Heritage Key VX

Click Play to watch a video of the Golden Mask in Heritage Key VX.

King Tut Virtual is one of the greatest discoveries you can make online. Click your mouse to travel across time and place to explore King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the digital, online Valley of the Kings. Zoom-in and get up-close to some of the most amazing artefacts ever found. Wander the banks of Nile and enjoy a feeling of life in ancient times. The details and realism will astound you. You can invite your friends to join you on this adventure as well as meet people from all over the world in this exciting online environment. Explore the Boy King’s treasures, go virtual and visit the King Tut exhibition nowor learn more about Tutankhamun!