NILE Magazine

Because You Love Ancient Egypt
  • Home
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Subscribe
  • Past Issues
  • Free Samples
  • About NILE
  • Home
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Subscribe
  • Past Issues
  • Free Samples
  • About NILE

2015 December

X-Ray 1960s 1B - Photo courtesy of Francis Amin.png

Tutankhamun's golden mask is fixed and back on display.

Jeff Burzacott December 16, 2015

After a couple of months in rehab, Tutankhamun's golden mask is back on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Or should that be 'Nefertiti's mask'?

The mask fell victim to some sloppy handling in August 2014 when it was lifted from its glass display case stand to allow staff to change a light bulb. The mask's braided divine beard, precariously held in place by a small pin, came loose.

They panicked.

Desperate to ensure the mask was on display to receive the next morning's visitors, and fearing whatever punishment that breaking the country's greatest icon might attract, they made a terrible decision. Someone found some epoxy fast-acting glue and stuck the beard back on. And to make matters worse, it was a botched job; the glue smeared messily. When the staff tried scraping it off they left behind scratch marks on the 3,000 year-old golden face.

There was an international public outcry. Academics and museum curators however were silent; they had their own restoration horror stories and were in no hurry to throw stones.

A German-Egyptian team led by restoration expert, Christian  Eckman, spent two months assessing the damage using the latest high-tech gadgetry , and then carefully scraping away the epoxy - often with a small wooden stick.

While the reason behind mask being in the restoration lab in the first place wasn't great, it did present an unprecedented opportunity to examine the mask more closely than ever before.

It is all quite timely really. Tutankhamun's tomb underwent a radar scan in late November to test a theory by British Egyptologist, Dr. Nicholas Reeves. He believes that at least two of the Burial Chamber's walls hide secret chambers, and suggested that one of them could contain the untouched burial of Tutankhamun's step-mother; Queen Nefertiti. The radar results were positive, detecting a void large behind the masonry.

The examination of the mask in the restoration lab also supported Dr. Reeves other theory: that the mask was originally created for a female predecessor. Under the right light, slight traces of an earlier, erased royal name could be detected. Reeves believes that this royal woman was Queen Nefertiti, who firstly co-ruled with her husband, Akhenaten, and then in her own right for a short time before her death.

No doubt the Tutankhamun story will continue to get more intriguing as authorities probe further behind the wall in his tomb. And for now, Tutankhamun's golden mask is back on show in the Egyptian Museum, delighting visitors who will no doubt be taking an unprecedented interest in his chin.

This X-Ray of Tutankhamun's iconic mask was made during an examination in the 1960s.

  • 2015 December
  • Older
  • Newer
Satisfy your passion for ancient Egypt.NILE Magazine June-July 2017 is out now. Inside:- The Tomb-1000 years of robbery and reuse.- Egypt's first ever funerary garden discovered.- World Museum's new ancient Egypt gallery.- Art and Archaeol…

Satisfy your passion for ancient Egypt.
NILE Magazine June-July 2017 is out now. Inside:
- The Tomb-1000 years of robbery and reuse.
- Egypt's first ever funerary garden discovered.
- World Museum's new ancient Egypt gallery.
- Art and Archaeology meet: the two worlds of Susan Osgood.
- The Royal Tombs of Ancient Egypt.
- Aswan's powerful governors.
- On This Day in Egyptology history.
- Plus much more.

Click on the cover to subscribe.

Featured
Mar 25, 2017
Dark, isn't it? Happy Earth Hour!
Mar 25, 2017

I love that we know the Great Sphinx so well, we can pick it from just the silhouette.

Read More →
Mar 25, 2017
Mar 24, 2017
Intact Middle Kingdom tomb discovered in Aswan
Mar 24, 2017

Shemai was the younger brother of Sarenput II, the powerful governor of Elephantine.

Read More →
Mar 24, 2017
Mar 4, 2017
The Dream Stela restored
Mar 4, 2017

The Ministry of Antiquities is working to preserve Thutmose IV's fanciful story.

Read More →
Mar 4, 2017
  • Contact NILE
  • Index
  • Write for Nile
  • Join The Team
  • FAQs
  • Societies & Clubs

All rights reserved © Nile Magazine 2024

NILE Magazine

Because You Love Ancient Egypt