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International Art Treasures Web Magazine July 2004 |
Tutankhamun:
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Switzerland is the only European destination of
this current tour of Egyptian Artifacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun.
The exhibition includes treasures from the Valley of the Kings. Tutankhamun, from the 18th Dynasty, died young. It is not his reign that brought him immortality, but the contents of his tomb when Howard Carter excavated it in 1922 and discovered objects of everyday life and the famous funerary mask of the boy King. |
Historical Importance
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What does the Pharaoh's tomb tell a student of history or ancient art capabilities? The ability of the Egyptian artisans to inlay various elements and work with metal and wood are among the important discoveries of this era. |
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The Egyptians possessed mirrors and mirror boxes. They were known to have developed early examples of cosmetics. Vanity does not belong only to the 20th Century and beyond. Left
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The tomb was found virtually untouched by Howard Carter, which was a rare achievement. Most of the tombs were looted well before the archaeologists and scientists began their work.
Title: Diadem of Tutankhamun
Medium: Gold, Glass with Semi Precious Stones
From the Tomb of Tutankhamun
Permanent Collection: Egyptian National Museum, Cairo
© Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig [ The Basel Museum of Ancient Art and Ludwig Collection] / Egyptian Museum Cairo
Image Courtesy: Tourism Basel
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Tutankhamun came to the throne when he was a mere child of 8, and within a decade he was dead. His tomb provided details on the life of an Egyptian Pharaoh but little is known about the life of the boy King. After he took the throne his name changed from Tutankhateh to Tutankhamun honoring the reinstatement of Amun as the the primary God of Egypt. |
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The New Kingdom, spanning the 18th through 20th Dynasties was a time of great prosperity in Egypt. The empire expanded, and with that came increased trading opportunities. The New Kingdom Pharaohs placed their monuments in the area known as the Valley of the Kings. The end of this time in Egyptian history coincided with the waning influence and dominance of the country. Treasures from some of the other tombs will also be on display as part of the exhibit. |
Basel Museum of Ancient Art
Each of the four major ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean are represented in the collections of the Basel Museum of Art: Greek, Etruscan, Roman and now Egyptian.
Currently the museum has dedicated its exhibitions to Tutankhamun: The Golden Beyond.
Title: Coffin of Tuya
Medium: Gilded wood, Inlaid with Red and Blue Glass, Calcite and Obsidian
From the Tomb of Yuya and Tuya, The Parents-in -Law of Amenophis III
Permanent Collection: Egyptian National Museum, Cairo
© Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig [ The Basel Museum of Ancient Art and Ludwig Collection] / Egyptian Museum Cairo
Image Courtesy: Tourism Basel
Basel, Switzerland
This beautiful city is in the North West of Switzerland and borders France and Germany.
Title: Sarcophagus of Tutankhamun
Medium: Gold, Inlaid with Glass, Crystal and Obsidian
From the Tomb of Tutankhamun
Permanent Collection: Egyptian National Museum, Cairo
© Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig [ The Basel Museum of Ancient Art and Ludwig Collection] / Egyptian Museum Cairo
Image Courtesy: Tourism Basel
Basel is home to the Museum of Fine Arts, which houses the oldest art collection that is publicly accessible. A good pair of walking shoes are necessary for a tour of the many outdoor artworks, including sculptures and murals.
A city resplendent with art, architecture, fine dining and a rare opportunity to view antiquities from the Valley of the Kings in Tutankhamun: The Golden Beyond. These are all reasons to make a summer trip to Basel, Switzerland.