This week’s MotD theme: Crowning Glory
Doreen, of NYC Day Trippers, captured this image of King Tut’s gold diadem during the 2010-2011 King Tut Exhibit at the Times Square Discovery Center. In her blog post, Doreen described the exhibit and what to expect if you go.
Tut’s mummified body was wearing this headband crown when Howard Carter and his team discovered the tomb in the Valley of the Kings, near Luxor Egypt. What an exquisite piece of artistry containing many mandala-like shapes.
From TourEgypt.net they describe this diadem:
Apart from the obsidian eyes, the vulture’s head is made of solid gold, its wrinkled occiput, and short, stiff parietal feathers at the back of the neck giving it a most lifelike appearance. The cobra’s head and hood are inlaid with lapis lazuli, faience, carnelian, and glass, and the long, curly tail, chase to imitate the serpent’s scales, is curved to fit over the top of the wig.
About Doreen and her cousin, Annmarie:
If you’re anything like us, you love to spend some of your free time exploring the historic sights, museums and other points of interest in NYC. While not everyone has a lot of free time to spare, most of us have a few hours or if lucky, a whole day, to sightsee. We are two cousins and native New Yorkers setting out in search of some great day trips.
I’m ever so grateful that my husband and I traveled to Egypt in 1999 and had the extreme pleasure of visiting the Tut exhibit at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to see extraordinary pieces such as this one while there.
We can view more images of the King Tut tomb collection at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities via Tour Egypt’s website.
Inspiration for Today
Circlets of rope or fabric served a utilitarian purpose of being worn around the head, by men and women alike, to keep their hair from falling into their eyes. Those of influence and power sought after more permanent and more ornate versions (diadems) to denote their wealth and class.
Both versions serve the same purpose. And while we certainly appreciate the beauty, quality, and artisanship of this extraordinary crown, it reminds us of the fine line between creating something for the ego and creating something for the sheer joy and beauty of it.
Happy Coloring!
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