Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs

There is still time to see the glorious treasures from the tomb of ancient Egypt’s “boy king,” Tutankhamun, as well as the tombs of his royal predecessors, his family, and officials of the court. More than 130 objects—50 from Tutankhamun’s tomb—are on view in the de Young’s special exhibition galleries through March 28.

Tutankhamun ruled during the 18th Dynasty, more than 3,000 years ago, when Egypt was the strongest and richest civilization the world had ever known. His tomb in the Valley of the Kings reflects the magnificent treasures of this time that were meant to ensure his divine immortality. Many objects were exquisite personal items used in his daily life, while other objects, including a wide variety of superb sculpture, ceremonial objects, dazzling jewelry and amulets, and funerary figures, were prepared specifically for Tutankhamun’s tomb and his afterlife. The tomb was both a storehouse for eternity and a portal to the afterlife, and it is thanks to Egyptian funerary practices that we have the impression of lifestyles of royalty and the elite, as well as the spectacular accomplishments of ancient Egypt.