Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh Presented by Viking Cruises Opens to Sold Out Crowds at Saatchi Gallery
TUTANKHAMUN: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh presented by Viking Cruises officially opened to the public and welcomed an enthusiastic crowd that filled the galleries and queue lines all day.
With more than 250,000 tickets sold, the show is continuing to live up to its title as the hottest ticket intown. Produced by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and IMG, this exhibition of Tutankhamun’s treasures is open at Saatchi Gallery until Sunday 3 May 2020.
World-renowned archaeologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass, said: “The UK has long had an affinity for the Boy King ever since his discovery by British archaeologist Howard Carter on 4 Nov 1922. Massive crowds are already preparing for the opportunity to behold his treasures one last time before they return to Egypt and their final home in the Grand Egyptian Museum.”
Ahead of the 97th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb this Monday 4th November, CityLights, an immersive entertainment company, have partnered with IMG to debut a ground-breaking art virtual reality experience Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb at the Saatchi Gallery from tomorrow (Sunday 3rd November).
Audiences who opt for the add-on experience will experience the impossible – flying through a photorealistic version of the legendary pharaoh’s tomb, as Howard Carter would have uncovered it in 1922. The 8-minute experience is narrated by Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville, in a nod to the fictional role he played and the equivalent real Lord Carnarvon, who funded Carter’s archaeological pursuit in the same era as the iconic TV series.
“We are so delighted to have the opportunity to glimpse at these “wonderful things” in London. This extraordinary discovery, nearly 100 years ago, was the first global media event, capturing the imagination and fascination of every generation in every country. It is about exploration, works of art and the passion for antiquity,” commented George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon and his wife, Lady Fiona Carnarvon.
London is the third stop in a ten-city world tour, which broke records in Los Angeles before becoming France’s most attended exhibition of all time with more than 1.4 million attendees.
TUTANKHAMUN: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh presented by Viking Cruises is the final chance to see these glittering world heritage artefacts before they return to Egypt forever. Visitors will explore the life of King Tutankhamun, and the storied discovery that captivated the world, through more than 150 authentic pieces from the tomb – three times the quantity that has travelled in previous exhibitions and more than 60 of which are travelling outside of Egypt for the first time. At the conclusion of the tour, the artefacts will go on permanent display at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking UK, said: “As part of our commitment to providing culturally enriching experiences and in line with our destination focus, we are thrilled to present the London leg of the TUTANKHAMUN: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh world tour. At Viking we are very passionate about connecting cultures from all around the world so we are thrilled to be giving visitors from the UK the chance to see this priceless collection of treasures, especially as it is the last time they will travel outside of Egypt.”
‘TUTANKHAMUN: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh’ presented by Viking Cruises will run