PHAROAH’S TOMB

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4008, 14 July 1931, Page 7

PHAROAH’S TOMB

TREASURES FOR LONDON The ‘ Sunday Express ’ states that plans are being made to bring to London the finest treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamen—those marvellous relies of art, more than 8,000 years old, which were discovered by the late Lord Carnavon and Mr Howard Carter beneath the sands of Egypt nine years

ago. These treasures, priceless because oi their rarity and beauty, are to form part of a great Egyptian art exhibition similar to the Persian Exhibition, but far wider in scope and interest. It is hoped to hold the exhibition at Burlington House, Piccadilly. Experts are busy with the problem of transporting the relics, many of them of gold, silver, and wood, and fragile with age. The wonderful carved and painted tomb furniture is irreplacable, and the risks of loss or damage are great. The scheme at present favoured by the Egyptian authorities is to send the exhibits under armed escort across Europe to avoid a long sea passage and its dangers. The idea of the exhibition originated with Dr Hafez Afifi Pasha, Egyptian Minister in London, whose object is to give the British public an opportunity of seeing the famous treasures of the magnificent museums of Cairo. He drew up a detailed proposal for submission to his King and Government, and this was despatched to Cairo some weeks ago. He has received a reply from the Government of Ismail Pasha Sidky announcing the acceptance in principle of lhe proposal and the setting up of a commission in Cairo to work out the details of the scheme. The exhibits to be brought over will not be confined to the relics of Tutankhamen, which include his gilded chair, alabaster cups and vases, statues, and ihe great golden coffin of the King, with his jewels, garments, furniture, and gold mask. It will contain examples of the Greco-Roman, Coptic, and .Moslem periods. ft is also hoped to obtain from the Berlin -Museum the famous heads of Queen Nefertiti and King Akhnaton. TRANSPORT PROBLEM. The exhibition will bring to Europe a wealth and wonder of ancient art such as has never before in history been seen at one time. If no hitch occurs the exhibition will take place at Burlington House in 193 L The problem of safe transport and insurance for such immense and incalculably valuable treasure will involve elaborate arrangements with the different countries concerned. Whichever overland route across Europe might be chosen, the journey through Asia Minor to the Bosphorus would be the same. From Cairo the exhibits would go by rail or road to Kantara, where they would cross the Suez Canal and be loaded on the Palestine Railway built by Lord Allenby’s army during the war. From there they would proceed to Haifa, at the foot of Mount Carmel, where they would lie transferred to the narrow-gauge railway connecting with the Hedjaz line for Mecca pilgrims at Deraa, in French Syria. Thence they would pass through Damascus, the most ancient city in the world, and then past the colossal temples of Baalbek to Aleppo. Here would begin the journey Anatolia, on the Turkish Railway to Scutari, on the Bosphorus. The Bosphorus would have to be crossed, and then there would be the crossing of Europe. . '. . It is expected that the exhibition in London will draw people not only from all parts of Europe, but also from every corner of the world. It will be recalled that after the death of Lord Caruavon in 1923, following the bite of an insect, legends grew up of a terrible curse on all who should touch Tutankhamen’s tomb. Egyptologists and antiquaries generally have ridiculed the idea, but apart from such superstititions and rumours the discoveries made at the tomb of the long-dead King stirred the learned world as no other find has done before or since.