TUTANKHAMUN AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE PHARAOHS
Los Angeles County Museum of Art through Nov. 15. Exhibition hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. Group rates start at $6; individual tickets are $15 to $30. For more information, see www.lacma.org.
Even with all that elaborate stuff, King Tut’s tomb wasn’t as crowded as the L.A. County Museum of Art is for this exhibit. “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” is a big draw in its first stop on a 27-month U.S. tour. The exhibit includes some 130 items from the tomb of Tut and others in ancient Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. The displays,carved statues, ornate furniture and flashy jewelry (even a dog collar),date back more than 3,000 years. Their age and intricacy are a marvel. They show the ancient Egyptians to be both sophisticated and simple, capable of creating complex treasures yet thinking they somehow could take it all with them. The exhibit’s showpiece isn’t from Tut himself, but rather his great grandmother, Tjuya: a 7-foot glimmering gold coffin that stands out for its size and detail. Be forewarned, though, this is no leisurely museum visit. Security is tight, and about as pleasant as at the airport. Crowds are herded in and out, first through a staging tent. Admiring the artifacts amid the crowd isn’t easy. Those working the exhibit say there’s no slow time, though your best bet may be first thing in the morning.
RATING: THREE BRIEFCASES out of FOUR
Michael Lyster
