What if someone handed you the keys to the kingdom at age 9? What would life look like, be like and end like? More than 100 years ago, in the Valley of the Kings along the Nile River in Egypt, archaeologist Howard Carter unearthed such a situation—the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Named the “boy king” because he ascended the throne at just 9 years old, King Tut’s life was both fabulous and devastating … and short; he died at 19 years old. Delve into the king’s life and the world around him when you visit Imagine Exhibition’s immersive attraction at Luxor, Discovering King Tut’s Tomb—The Experience. The self-guided exhibition re-creates the many treasures Carter unearthed, including the historic and phenomenal discovery of King Tut’s tomb. The exhibit is both educational and awe-mazing, and here’s just a small sampling of what you’ll get to discover yourself when you take the journey.

Photo by: Courtesy

• Every piece you view is a reproduction of actual artifacts discovered. Each piece is crafted by an Egyptian artisan to match the exact tradition of those found in the burial chamber.

• It turns out King Tut was consumed with ailments during his short life. Examination of the exhumed body shows that he was most likely crippled from inbreeding. He suffered from a clubbed foot, incomplete cleft palate that led to a speech impediment, a curved spine caused by kyphoscoliosis and had severe immune issues like malaria that was found in his bones. The theory has been put forth that Tut might have died from a possible infection from a broken leg cause by a chariot accident.

• Get schooled in the significance of gold, seen as a symbol of nobility and immortality. Learn how the mummification process works and why it was important to maintain the body for the afterlife so the soul could journey through the underworld.

• Carter and his crew unearthed four different rooms—the lower-level annex, treasury room, burial chamber and the room that contained Tut’s nested coffins. Inside the treasury room, a huge amount of gold was found, including a canopic shrine that held the king’s organs.

Photo by: Courtesy

• You can view a stunning replica of the boy king’s chariot and other kingly possessions.

• King Tut’s sarcophagus included three nested coffins made from gold, colored glass and semi-precious stones. In the final coffin, made entirely out of solid gold, the mummy of Tut revealed his body wrapped in linen and resin and donning the famous death mask. The death mask weighed 22 pounds and depicted Tut wearing the traditional striped Nemes headdress worn by pharaohs.

From Shawndra Talaga, sales and marketing manager for Imagine Exhibitions

“Look for the dagger made from meteoric iron—yes, metal from a meteorite. That kind of craftsmanship and knowledge of materials was incredibly advanced for its time. And don’t miss the simple, personal artifacts like (King Tut’s) childhood walking sticks—they remind you he was just a teenager when he died.

“The actual tomb of King Tut was considered modest in size, especially for a pharaoh. It’s believed his sudden death at a young age forced the burial to be rushed. Also, an insider tip—don’t skip the audio guide or guided tour if it’s available. There’s so much symbolism hidden in the artifacts and tomb layout that you might miss without that extra layer of context. And definitely take your time in the final gallery—it ties everything together beautifully.”

Luxor. kingtutvegas.com

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