Museum of Idaho hosts King Tut, other rare Egyptian artifacts
This Friday, June 15, the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls celebrates the opening of its newest exhibit, King Tut: Treasures of the Tomb.
Exact replicas of 131 ancient artifacts fill the museum, and some of them can’t be seen anywhere else in the world.
“It’s really cool cause I recognize most of these things,” said 7th grader Justin Shadley.
For Shadley, the chance to see the the artifacts is priceless.
“It’s like seeing something I’ve read over and over again,” said Shadley.
Shadley has read so much about King Tut, he knows most of these Egyptian relics simply by sight.
But if not for the forward-thinking of museum curators in the United States, some of the figures glimmering under soft light in the Museum of Idaho may have been lost forever.
“Anyone in the world who wants to see those artifacts now, has to come to Idaho Falls to see them,” said exhibit curator Marty Martin.
The original versions of two unassuming Tut statuettes fell into the hands of Egyptian protesters during an uprising earlier in 2012.
“Lost forever, the original artifacts,” said Martin. “Destroyed.”
Replicas made especially for American curators, are the only representations of the pieces remaining on earth. The replicas are on display as part of the exhibit.
“Here, he’s harpooning a demon, and here, he’s riding through a very dangerous area on the back of a leopard,” said Martin, as he pointed to the statues.
For Shadley, it couldn’t mean more to see the artifacts in person. Martin said it ties Tut to America forever.
“One way or another, he’s never going to leave,” said Martin.
Admission to the exhibit is $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors over 62, $6.00 for youth ages 4-17, and $25.00 for families. Groups rates are also available.
