Egyptology: the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, architecture and art.
Egypt and its pharaohs have intrigued humans for centuries and made its way into the fabric of our society with fashion, cinema, and music.
There is Charlton Heston as Moses and the pharaoh who would not let his people go in Cecil B. Demille’s “Ten Commandments” that captivated us.
The topic of pharaohs, gods, and villains came to life on the big screen again in the 1994 feature film “Stargate” with James Spader.
Of course, we can’t forget the 1999 feature film “The Mummy” staring Brendan Fraser.
THE IMMERSIVE KING TUT
August 19th, 2022
Lighthouse ArtSpace
Los Angeles, California
In addition to cinematic pieces, the Valley of the Kings has impacted our music.
Steve Martin and his hilarious 1978 “SNL” performance of “King Tut” amused and interested us.
In somewhat more contemporary era, bands like Earth, Wind & Fire utilize Egyptian art in the marketing and logo.
Then there was Egyptian Lover with his 1994 hit “Egypt-Egypt,” plus Earth, Wind & Fire utilizes Egyptian art throughout their group identity.
Speaking of gods and pharaohs, we have been consumed by the life stories of Ramses, Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Nefertiti, and of course, Tutankhamun. Or as we best know him, King Tut.
We have all heard of the curse that overshadows the “Boy King’s” tomb. The archaeological find of our lifetime came to fruition in February of 1923 courtesy of Howard Carter. Carter and the Earl of Carnarvon teamed up in 1915, and the excavations took some time. But in the end, King Tut was revived. A day and time were selected to unseal the tomb with appointed witnesses that included Lord Carnarvon, several Egyptian officials, museum representatives, and the staff of the Government Press Bureau. On February 17th, 1923 at just after two o’clock, the seal was broken and an intact tomb was unearthed.
So who exactly was Tut? He is theorized to be the son of Pharaoh Akhenaten and was the last of his royal line of the 18th dynasty. He was made king/pharaoh at eight or nine years old, and depending on what story you go with, he died at about 18-19 years old and the cause remains under debate.
The curse is what fascinates us though. For over a century, rumors of the curse have some sense of reality versus innuendo. This is mainly due to the early deaths of some of those who had entered the tomb. Most prominent was the Earl of Carnarvon (George Herbert), who died within five months of the tomb being unsealed. Several others died within 10 years, but some from the excavation team lived full lives.
Separating fact from fiction and Hollywood sensationalism brings us to the new exhibit. It’s been a while since the Tut exhibit was here in Los Angeles, but now we have the immersive exhibit. According to the event website:
“100 years ago, the Boy King’s tomb was discovered. This summer, celebrate the anniversary by venturing into the Valley of the Kings at Immersive King Tut.”
The King Tut Experience promises to take you “on a mythical journey through the Egyptian afterlife.”
Immerse yourself experiences are definitely a hot ticket right now! After the popularity of the Immersive Van Gogh, Lighthouse ArtSpace is now offering tickets for the ultimate King Tut experience. The Immersive King Tut will open August 29th.
