Egypt to close Tutankhamun's tomb
The Valley of the Kings is one of the highlights of any trip to Egypt. In this hot, dusty ravine are some of the most remarkable tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. Paintings adorn their walls, showing the soul's journey through the afterlife and the gods and goddesses described in the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
Now the most popular of those tombs is going to close. Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, has announced he will close Tutankhamun's tomb by the end of the year. Two others will also close. The brilliant paintings that make the tombs so attractive were preserved because the tombs were sealed. With thousands of people passing through every day, the tombs have become hotter and more humid. Paint is flaking off and mold is growing in some parts, as you can see from the above photo. It's sad, but to save the tombs they have to be shut from public view.
Dr. Hawass has commissioned an exact replica of King Tut's tomb so that visitors will get an idea what the original looked like.
[Photo courtesy user Hajor via Wikimedia Commons]
Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Africa, Egypt, News, Middle East
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dan Jan 19th 2011 3:04PM
Zahi Hawass......... ever heard of AC and dehumidifiers? With the amount of tourism dollars they collect and admission fees, they have more than enough to control the enviroment in the tombs. Just a thought!
WholelyOne Jan 19th 2011 3:24PM
they should never have opened them to any otside of the kings family anway!
Gordon Jan 19th 2011 4:21PM
The suggestions you make may seem valid, and in some cases they are, but installing HVAC systems does not resolve the problem of bacteria and mold brought into the tomb by tourists. While not ideal solutions, they could install virtual camera systems that scan the entire tomb and are projected into another building built specifically for viewing by tourists. Another solution would be, if possible, to glass off the tomb sort of like a reverse aquarioum, but leave a corridor tourists can pass through. Such a sysem if installed properly would isolate the walls, ceilings and other areas of the tomb and prevent outside air and contaminants from attacking the priceless wall paintings and other artifacts. The first option of cameras could be used until a proper protective structure is built. There is little doubt, they will lose plenty of tourist dollars with a fake display. People pay good money to see the real thing.
oceangirl1031 Jan 19th 2011 3:54PM
it doesnt cost that much for the fees at the tombs.. pocket change. like 4 bucks. and its in the desert.. they dont have the technology to do that. it is very hot in egypt can barely even walk to the tombs because of it.
Lizard Jan 19th 2011 5:01PM
Tut's tomb isn't really a big deal anyway. Where you want to go is the Historical Museum in Cairo. That is where they have all of Tut's burial artifacts, his jewelry, sarcophagus, crypts, and the famous gold funeral mask, etc. It takes days to see all of the stuff in this museum. You're not allowed to take pictures, but if you drop a few Egyptian pounds to the guards you can have the run of the place.
basketpam Jan 19th 2011 3:52PM
Very few original places are open anymore around the world. Same thing happened in Hershey, PA. When I was a small child Hersheypark was just that, a park. It was a place you went and had a picnic and they might have had a merry-go-round and a FEW small rides and that was it. I can barely remember touring the original factory but I was one of the lucky ones that got to go through it. By the time I was in middle school the factory was closed and Hershey Park was well on it's way to being the major amusement park it is today. As they say, all good things must come to an end. I won't say I'm not disappointed about King Tut's tomb. It was one of the things I have been hoping to see before I leave this world, but I understand how destructive huge amounts of tourists can be on places.
Bill Jan 19th 2011 3:47PM
I have alway's wondered if they didn't feel like they were grave robbing when they went in and took thing's from these "tomb's. It would seem to me that is exactly what they are doing, they are just doing it a lot of year's after the person's death.Time doesn't change it, it's still the same thing.
oceangirl1031 Jan 19th 2011 3:56PM
all the egyptians wanted was everlasting life.. so they did get it.
Jane Jan 19th 2011 5:03PM
I've thought of that, too, Bill. It's all very interesting, but it's grave robbing. They disrespectfully damaged King Tut's remains when they first found him trying to remove the gold from him. It's all grave robbing, archaeologists or not.
Dean Jan 19th 2011 4:20PM
I saw all of this when I was in Egypt and it is fascinating. However if the Egyptian government brought themselves into the 21st century, there is the ability to cordon off a part of the tomb behind temperature setting glass so the human factor would not interfere...and believe me all over the ancient worlds the artifacts are quickly disintegrating because of the tourist factor. they ere building a new museum in Cairo..the old one was a prehistoric disaster..other than running water and electricity , this culture has not advanced in 2000 years...sad!
seamonkey Jan 19th 2011 4:26PM
I have always thought finding ancient cities was something to marvel until archeologists out to make a name for themselves and the unsavory people out to make a buck started digging up the graves. Why bury people if others down the way are just going to dig them up to see what was eaten or what kind of dental hygiene was used. What does that teach us? All aspects of life change as the centuries go by and nothing remains the same except roaches and ants.
acetracer Jan 19th 2011 4:41PM
Italy has the same problem with The Last Supper, so they severely limit how many people can see it every day, and those people have to go through a process to dehumidify themselves and then only have 15 minutes to see the painting.
I don't see why Egypt can't do the same.
john giblin Jan 19th 2011 4:54PM
If you close the tombs off to save them no one will ever see them. What exactly are you saving them for? Something is only beautiful if someone looks at it and decides it is beautiful. Not well thought out.
JMb III Jan 19th 2011 4:52PM
I was fortunate to actually go to the Valley of the Kings and tour through all of the tombs open to tourists, and it was an amazing experience considering the massive amount of time since these tombs were first created and the circumstances under which the royal dynasties lived.
I see now problem whatsoever with "replica" tombs bering the only thing open to the public with easier access and climate control features, as large amounts of completely undeveloped land areas exist in that section of Luxor for this purpose.
All of the secrets of the tombs and the Kings may not have been discovered yet and the original sites should be preserved for the future, as new technologies come along to enable greater and more meaningful analysis.
On the matter of privacy of the tombs, just go to Cairo current day and take a tour of the "City of the Dead" to consider the sanctity of the dead in that culture, which may not have the same exact considerations as is most typical in western cultures.
Let the Egypti\ans live by their own beliefs!!!
TONY Jan 19th 2011 4:54PM
If they could preserve his body for 1000's of years why cant they preserve the tomb....In any case, they never should have gone in there in the first place....Would you want your tomb invaded by tourists sweating and drinking warm coca cola while walking thru your final resting place....sounds repulsive to me.....Make a TV special , show all the beauty and splendor of the era and then close it up...let the guy rest in peace.....
Lizard Jan 19th 2011 5:27PM
Obviously, you've never been there. If you go there, I guarantee it will be a life changing experience for you.
stephen Jan 19th 2011 6:09PM
Well which is it Liz, " isn't really a big deal " or " a life changing experience ".
yvaclare Jan 19th 2011 5:53PM
I visited the Valley of the Kings this past summer. They charge an extra $20 to visit the King Tut tomb on top of the regular admission price, so they will be losing a far amount of money when they close this tomb to the public. The new Cairo Museum is being built near the Pyramids in Giza and is scheduled to open in 2012.
dougie baby Jan 19th 2011 6:15PM
SO glad I went through all of those places years ago.....it's remarkable!
Anonymous Jan 19th 2011 8:08PM
Guess what's next? Can you say "The Great Pyramids?"