Minister of Antiquities Dr. Khaled Al-Anani on Sunday inspected the restoration labs inside the Grand Egyptian Museum GEM to closely follow up the fumigation process for the boy-king Tutankhamun`s glided coffin.
The coffin is set to be displayed in the GEM along with other golden coffins which were placed at the Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square.
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Tutankhamun`s glided coffin[/caption]
Al-Anani said that the coffin is made of gilded wood portraying the king in the Osirian shape, with arms crossed upon his chest and holding an insignia and crook ornamented with blue and red glass. It has silver handles that are used to move the lid.
He added that the coffin's measurements are: 223.5cm in length, 83.8cm at its widest point and 105.5cm at its highest point.
The minister noted that the middle coffin is made of gilded wood inlaid with multicolored glass. It was found inside the outer gilded coffin and is currently exhibited at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
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Tutankhamun`s glided coffin[/caption]
“The innermost gold coffin was found wrapped in linen inside the middle one. It is a mummy shaped coffin made of solid gold that weighs 110.4 kg and is presently on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.” he added
“The coffin is now under restoration for the first time since its discovery inside the tomb in November 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter, along with two other coffins nested inside each other,” Al-Annani pointed out.
“The golden pharaoh’s three coffins will be displayed together for the first time since their discovery, and as Tutankhamun wished, too,” Al-Anani said.
He explained that the coffin was in a very bad condition, never before restored and simply left inside the tomb and subject to humidity, heat and erosion.
Restoration work is expected to last at least eight months.
Tutankhamun, also known worldwide as the Golden Pharaoh, was an 18th Dynasty king of the New Kingdom. He is best known for his intact tomb and treasured funerary collection. The king's mysterious death at a very young age has fascinated millions across the years.
Tutankhamun was buried within his tomb located in the Valley of the Kings, on the west bank of Luxor, discovered in November 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter. The discovery at that time received worldwide press coverage, capturing public imagination.
Translated by Hassanain Tayea
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