Travel & Leisure
The Pharaoh comes to Zurich: ‘Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures’ at Halle 622 Zurich
The exhibition ‘Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures’ is on show over an area of 2000 square
meters at Halle 622 in Zurich from 10th July until 1st November. The reproduction of the burial treasure
in its original archaeological context provides an insight into the historically unique discovery of the
Pharaoh’s tomb in the Egyptian Valley of the Kings 98 years ago.
The exhibition has been seen by more than six and a half million visitors in whole Europe. Tickets available now at www.tut-ausstellung.ch
According to his records, the British archaeologist Howard Carter exclaimed, “I see wonderful things!” on 26
November 1922 as he pushed a candle through a hole in the antechamber of the tomb of Pharaoh
Tutankhamun, who died more than 3,000 years ago. After five years of painstaking and initially fruitless
excavation work in the Valley of the Kings, and shortly before the abandonment of the dig, the British
archaeologist made a discovery that remains unparalleled to this day: a virtually intact pharaonic tomb with
all its treasures.
Almost 100 years after this sensational find, the exhibition ‘Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures’
brings this historic moment and the story of the burial treasure’s discovery to life in a unique way. With 1,000
objects, graphics, movies and an audio guide, the monumental complete context is presented in an
educational, exciting and entertaining manner. Six and a half million visitors have seen the exhibition so far in
cities ranging from Zurich to Munich, Madrid, Budapest, Dublin, Brussels, Paris and Seoul.
Virtual archaeology over 2000 square meters close up
The treasures of Tutankhamun still count among the most significant archaeological discoveries to this day.
Since Howard Carter stumbled upon the Pharaoh’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the fascination inspired
by the thousands of burial goods, the golden coffins and shrines, the masks, the jewellery and the fate of the
king who died young has remained unbroken.
10 July until 1 November 2020 Halle 622 Zurich
King Tut Golden Mummy Cases Press photo
In 1980 during an international tour, for conservation reasons only a few items of the burial treasure from the
Egyptian Museum in Cairo could be shown in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin. Among them was the king’s
famous gold mask, which is no longer available on loan from the Cairo Museum. The treasure trove as
Howard Carter discovered it in 1922 now only lives on in the excellent black-and-white photos taken by the
excavation photographer Harry Burton. Now ‘Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures’ offers you the
opportunity to experience Carter’s important find three-dimensionally in its original archaeological context.
Edutainment with a scientific basis
At the start of the exhibition, visitors will be introduced to the culture of ancient Egypt and the time of
Tutankhamun. Then in a documentary film they get to experience the desperate search for the tomb along
with the excavators. This search was rewarded on 4 November 1922 when the team at last discovered the
tomb. Afterwards, visitors enter a room in which they come across the treasures of the Pharaoh in two burial
chambers, just as they were found by Howard Carter, their discoverer.
In the second part of the exhibition, visitors are finally given the opportunity to immerse themselves deeply
the most beautiful and important objects of the burial treasure. The centrepieces are the large, gilded shrines
from the king’s burial chamber. The treasures are presented lined up in a tremendous highway starting from
the outer shrine, moving along to the coffins and then on to the famous gold mask. This was a bold move by
the exhibition architects that gives visitors an awe-inspiring experience that is unique in the world. Vivid and
scientifically-researched graphics and an integrated audio guide written by an author in collaboration with
Egyptologists explain the objects’ deeper meaning in the context of Egyptian beliefs surrounding the afterlife. A version for children is also available.
King Tut Golden Figures – Press photo
The magic of the authentic whole
The exhibition shows how fascinating it can be to regain a vivid impression of the most important
archaeological discovery in the Valley of the Kings with the help of carefully crafted reconstructions. This
exhibition successfully rises to the astounding challenge of reopening an original discovery site. The
exhibition brings together that which can only be seen separately, even in Egypt: While the king’s treasures
are kept in the Cairo Museum, today his tomb in the Valley of the Kings with its wall paintings has been
stripped of everything but his mummy, the outer coffin and the stone sarcophagus.
To achieve this exhibition idea, the use of replicas was inevitable in order to protect the fragile originals, and
because of the vast profusion of objects. The burial goods have been reproduced exactly down to the finest
detail by Egyptian craftsmen in consultation with Egyptologists – the completeness of the collection is unique
in the world. ‘Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures’ allows a wide audience to access the fascinating
world of the pharaohs without compromising the millennia-old originals.
Audio Guide for adults & kids
For a more immersive experience of the exhibition, an audio guide is handled out at the entrance. The audio
guide is included in the price of admission. The audio guide provides extensive additional information about
the objects of the exhibition. It is also necessary to understand the sound of the introduction films and the
burial chamber staging. A version for children is also available.
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Duration
09.07. – 1.11.2020
Venue
Halle 622 Zürich-Oerlikon
Website
http://www.tut-ausstellung.ch
Opening hours
daily 10.00 – 18.00 h (last entrance: 17.00 h)
Expected visitors
80‘000 Personen
Tickets
MAAG Hotline 0900 444 262 (CHF 1.19/min.), Ticketcorner
Tickets for groups and schools Tel. 044 444 26 26
Prices inkl. guided audio tour
Adults SF 28.00
Seniors (64/65), Students/Apprentices (until 24) SF 24.00
Children (6 – 16) SF 17.00
SF 4.00
Familyticket (2 adults/2 children 6 – 16) SF 65.00
Schools per person SF 14.00
Prices incl. advance booking, excl. handling-/service fees
Languages
The exhibition panels are in German and English. The audio tour is in German, English, French and Italian
available.
