A photo from my "pre-COVID world" archives.
From back when I was still a world traveler.
Yes, I have visited King Tutankhamun's original tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt.
Without crowds...
Yes, I have photographed his sarcophagus still in that tomb.
Yes, I have also photographed Tut's Gold Mask & varied, original artifacts (in a museum) taken from his tomb.
There was a time (not that long ago) when I was fortunate to be in the position to gain personal experiences beyond what the average person will ever know. I was more than the average "tourist". My earliest visits to the Valley of the Kings left me with a lasting fascination about ancient Egypt. Of all the places worldwide (that I've visited from antiquity) the Valley of the Kings still remains my most memorable. That was sans tourist crowds and before the walled off "Disney-like" atmosphere that it has taken on in more recent years.
Yes, I have some very, unique stories I could tell.
But that is all another story.
Today's story is that November 4, 2022 is the Centennial Anniversary of one of the greatest archaeological finds in history.
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Above is a close up that I took (with a very simple camera) of the detailed artwork of the eyes and nose of Tutankhamun's Gold Burial Mask.
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The mask is inlaid with colored glass and gemstones, including lapis lazuli (the eye surrounds and eyebrows), quartz (the eyes), obsidian (the pupils), carnelian, amazonite, turquoise, and faience. A protective spell is inscribed with Egyptian hieroglyphs on the back of the mask. It was used in Chapter 151 of the Book of the Dead.
"Thy right eye is the night bark (of the sun-god), thy left eye is the day-bark, thy eyebrows are (those of) the Ennead of the Gods, thy forehead is (that of) Anubis, the nape of thy neck is (that of) Horus, thy locks of hair are (those of) Ptah-Sokar. (Thou art) in front of the Osiris (Tutankhamun). He sees thanks to thee, thou guidest him to the goodly ways, thou smitest for him the confederates of Seth so that he may overthrow thine enemies before the Ennead of the Gods in the great Castle of the Prince, which is in Heliopolis … the Osiris, the King of Upper Egypt Nebkheperure [Tutankhamun's throne-name], deceased, given life by Re." Wiki
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