Pharaoh Akhenaten
Best programmed inserts of the week
Archaeologists find Akhenaten-era tomb Reuters - February 14, 2007
Akhenaten, the 18th-dynasty pharaoh who ruled Egypt from 1379 to 1362 BC, abandoned most of the old gods and tried to imposed a monotheistic religion based on worship of the Aten, the disc of the sun. He built a new capital called Akhetaten at Tell el-Amarna, 250 km (160 miles) south of Cairo, and the find shows that high officials continued to build their tombs in Memphis near Cairo. "It is one of the most important finds in the Saqqara area because it goes back to the Akhenaten period," MENA quoted Hawass as saying.
Officials said the tomb had limestone walls with paintings of scenes from daily life and of Ptahemwi receiving offerings, MENA reported. "Some of the funniest scenes ... are those of a number of monkeys picking and eating fruit," said Osama el-Sheemi, head of Sakkara antiquities, quoted by MENA. The Dutch team has been working in Sakkara since the 1990s to find tombs dating from the New Kingdom. They had previously found the tomb of an Akhenaten-era priest.
I am always drawn to the character the Pharaoh Akhenaten. Before Zoroaster, Akhenaten allegedly was the first to preach monotheism, one god of light. This of course is the same soul. Allegedly this got Akhenaten into all sorts of trouble with the people of Egypt and he would be forgotten until the insert of his life was discovered in modern times. Or ... was this the only insert, but in thousands of years later for a great purpose?
Akhenaten is allegedly the father (?) of the famous Tutankhamun, King Tut.
Akhenaten is furthered mentioned in Sarah and Alexander ... the riddle of where he and his favorite, and most recognized wife, Nefertiti are buried, resolved. The current discovery signals to me that we are very close, as Akhenaten is mentioned at the end of the story. When I see an insert related to Akhenaten, I know how close we are getting to solving the mystery of reality which can only be done as our program allows/creates/evolves/closes.
Speaking of which ... George called me from sunny Florida, where he was relaxing on the beach. Looking out over the horizon, he noticed 12 figures of light moving around, as he sat there watching for some time. Perhaps this was meant for his eyes only, or perhaps others saw the same thing. This signaled to his soul that we are close to the end.
You will also see your signature signs in waking/physical/right time vs. dream time consciousness.
Back to archaeological inserts this week...
Nefertiti and Akhenaten were a famous couple as were Antony and Cleopatra VII. Nefertiti was considered the most beautiful woman in the world in her time line. Cleopatra was allegedly a great beauty as well ... or not. I think the coin is wrong.
Cleopatra No Beauty Queen, Coin Suggests National Geographic - February 15, 2007
Antony and Cleopatra: coin find changes the faces of history Guardian - February 14, 2007
Cleopatra, who also had an affair with legendary Roman emperor Julius Caesar, also inspired Shakespeare to write one of his most famous lines: "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale/Her infinite variety". But Lindsay Allason-Jones, the university's director of archaeological museums, said that the image of her as a great beauty is comparatively modern, dating back to medieval English poet Geoffrey Chaucer. "Roman writers tell us that Cleopatra was intelligent and charismatic and that she had a seductive voice, but, tellingly, they do not mention her beauty," she said. "It's one of those perpetual myths that has been perpetuated by having people like Elizabeth Taylor playing her and it's very difficult to get that out of peoples' psyches. "She does look as if she's forgotten to put her teeth in." The coin itself represents one three hundredth of a Roman soldier's salary and was probably minted to pay the wages of those stationed in Egypt.
February 15, 2007
With Egypt on my mind, after writing the blog above, I received a call from Sherif, the man I met in Egypt, on 12/12/00. Sherif lives in Philadelphia. When he came here a few weeks ago, he mentioned inviting me to meet his close friend of 30 years, Zahi Hawass, at the introduction of the "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia as the final of four venues scheduled during its current 27-month tour of the United States.
"Since the discovery of his tomb in 1922, Tutankhamun has captured the hearts of people around the world. Buried with him were treasures beyond the imagination, giving us a glittering glimpse into the past," said Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. "Philadelphia is an important city. I spent time working there and earned my doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. It's my time to tell the people of Philadelphia 'thank you.' It's my time to show to them the most beautiful and important exhibit that ever left Egypt; King Tut, the golden boy who has captured the hearts of everyone. Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" contains more than 130 treasures that are 3,300 to 3,500 years old. These include artifacts found in the tombs of King Tut, several of his relatives, and his 18th Dynasty (1555 B.C. to 1305 B.C.) contemporaries.
Since opening in June 2005, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" has drawn more than 2.5 million visitors, breaking records in each city it has visited, including Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and Chicago. Prior to opening in Philadelphia, 400,000 tickets have been sold, a record for the tour and for The Franklin Institute.
"We are thrilled to host this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition," states Dennis M. Wint, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute. "As the first and only science museum to do so, we can offer our visitors unique insight into the newly discovered scientific aspects as well as the mysteries of King Tut. This exhibit engages people of all ages, bridging science with history and art. Egypt's ancient treasures are among the world's greatest cultural legacies," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president for mission programs. "Not only does this tour provide a rare opportunity to view these amazing artifacts from ancient Egyptian sites, but visitors are participating in the conservation of important world history, as proceeds from this exhibition are helping fund antiquities preservation efforts in Egypt."
The exhibition's layout, flow and scholarly conception is organized by Philadelphia resident David Silverman, the Eckley B. Coxe Jr. professor of Egyptology and curator-in-charge, Egyptian Section, University of Pennsylvania Museum, who also helped curate the 1970s tour. The artifacts are presented with background about the social and political backdrop of the time in which their owners lived and ruled. Each gallery focuses on a specific theme, such as "Daily Life in Ancient Egypt," "Traditional Religion" and "Death, Burial and the Afterlife," and builds to the final galleries where King Tut's treasures reside. This includes a gallery dedicated to five items that were found on the Pharaoh's body when Howard Carter entered the tomb in 1922. A projection of the objects depicts where the items were positioned on King Tut's body when his coffin was opened.
The final gallery of the exhibition features scans of King Tut's mummy that were obtained as part of a landmark, Egyptian research and conservation project, partially funded by National Geographic, that will CT-scan the ancient mummies of Egypt. The scans were captured through the use of a portable CT scanner, donated by Siemens Medical Solutions, which allowed researchers to compile the first three-dimensional picture of Tutankhamun.
Presenting sponsor Mellon Financial Corporation is underwriting a Tut-related educational program designed by The Franklin Institute to provide curriculum material to teachers whose classes are visiting the exhibition, and facilitate access to the exhibition for children whose schools would not otherwise be able to afford the expenses associated with field trips to the museum.
"The Franklin Institute has done a tremendous job mounting this extraordinary exhibit, and the educational value they've added has taken the Tut experience to an entirely new level. Our congratulations to everyone connected with the exhibition for making Philadelphia a must-visit cultural destination for 2007," said David B. Kutch, Senior Vice President and Chairman of Mellon's Philadelphia-based Mid-Atlantic Region. Philadelphia is offering varied activities that celebrate King Tut and Egypt during the exhibition's run, including hotel packages, restaurant meals and Egyptian themed seminars and family activities.
Treasures from Tutankhamun's tomb were last displayed in the United States during a seven-city tour from 1976 to 1979 that set traveling exhibition attendance records with some eight million visitors. PECO's associate sponsorship of the exhibition reflects the company's long standing commitment to The Franklin Institute and the greater Philadelphia region. "PECO, on behalf of its customers and employees, is proud to be a part of 'Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs' at The Franklin Institute. The exhibition will help the museum meet one of its core missions, which is to inspire people of all ages to have a passion for learning," said PECO President Denis O'Brien. "The exhibition's success in prior markets foretells great things for the museum and the city of Philadelphia."
Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt's 18th Dynasty and ruled during a crucial, turmoil-filled period of Egyptian history. The boy king died under mysterious circumstances around age 18 or 19 in the ninth year of his reign (1323 B.C.). "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" offers glimpses of that evolving period. On display are 50 of Tutankhamun's burial objects including his royal diadem -- the gold crown discovered encircling the head of his mummified body that he likely wore as king -- and one of the gold and precious stone inlaid canopic coffinettes that contained his mummified internal organs. More than 70 objects from tombs of other 18th Dynasty royals as well as several non-royal individuals are exhibited. These stone, faience and wooden pieces from burials before Tut's reign give visitors a sense of what the lost burials of other royalty and commoners may have been like.
Time did not work out for me to attend, though I felt I missed nothing. I don't connect with artifacts, and not into sight seeing. Sherif said he could get me in free to see the tour over the next months if I want to go, but I declined. Too much going on here.
Sherif told me an interesting story about Zahi. One day when Zahi was in a tomb, a stone fell, hitting his helmet and making him dizzy. A check-up revealed something far more serious, internal damage to the retina of one of his eyes, a hole, that if not taken care of immediately could lead to blindness. Apparently this happened weeks before. The tricky operation took place recently in Florida. The first attempt failed. The doctors said a second attempt had a low success rate, but he went ahead. Much to everyone's surprise, it worked and his eye is restored.
If the stone did not hit his head, he would not have discovered the eye problem, and would have lost vision in one eye. He told Sherif, he believes the Pharaohs saved him. The way I see it, his soul set up the synchronicity with the rock, to save his eyesight. One day we will all meet by the pyramid and discover the truth.
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