King Tut’s treasures come alive at Biltmore
by Janice Lewine
Photos courtesy of The Biltmore Company
For more than 3,000 years, the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun lay in underground darkness in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. Determined to find his burial chamber—presumed to be intact unlike other royal tombs— British archaeologist Howard Carter located a hidden passage deep in the bedrock, not far from the resting place of another great ruler, Ramses VI.
“It was a thrilling moment for an excavator,” Carter wrote in his journal on November 5, 1922, “to suddenly find himself, after so many years of toilsome work, on the verge of what looked like a magnificent discovery—an untouched tomb.” After breaking through its plastered doorway, Carter was astounded to see gold treasures gleaming back at him.
Biltmore’s captivating exhibit, “Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures,” lifts the lid on the most famous ancient Egyptian finding of all time. King Tut—the boy who ascended the throne at just 9 years old but ruled for only 10—is memorialized in a stunning display of nearly 1,000 perfectly crafted replicas of his exquisite burial goods. Visitors can experience the three-dimensional recreation of the excavation site and the legendary tomb exactly as Carter found them. The exhibit also explores how Carter’s friendship with the Vanderbilt and Cecil families—Biltmore’s forebears— originally fostered his interest in Egyptian antiquities.
The discovery not only unsealed King Tut’s tomb but also heightened society’s fascination with ancient Egypt, expressed through art, architecture and literature. More than a century later, the boy king—and his vanished civilization—continue to hold the world spellbound.
A Feast for the Eyes
The treasures placed inside King Tut’s chambers were vast: six chariots, jewelry, furniture, weapons, games, musical instruments and foods like meat, dates and honey, all meant to provide him with everything he would need in the afterlife. A rich collection of artwork—including wall paintings, sculptures and smaller decorative objects—revealed ancient beliefs about religious practices and royal authority.
Though the original artifacts are now permanently housed in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza and are no longer available for international travel or display, “Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures,” enables visitors to relive Carter’s amazement as he entered the tomb’s antechamber, releasing hot, musty air and revealing “strange animals, statues, and gold—everywhere the glint of gold … surpassing all we could have imagined.”
Of all the artifacts, King Tut’s sarcophagus was the most impressive. The stone container held three coffins nestled within each other. The outer two, made of gilded wood, were inlaid with turquoise and lapis lazuli. King Tut’s mummy—adorned with the now-famous golden funerary mask believed to protect the pharaoh’s body from evil spirits in the afterworld—rested in the innermost coffin, crafted of solid gold.
Family Ties
In the Vanderbilts’ era, Egypt was a popular tourist destination, with Cairo as a cosmopolitan hub that attracted artists and academics from across the globe. Visitors like George and Edith Vanderbilt were fascinated by the country’s ancient history and made several trips to experience its wonders.
Their daughter, Cornelia Vanderbilt, married the Honorable John Francis Amherst Cecil of England, whose mother, Lady May Cecil, was a noted Egyptologist and travel writer. Her family estate held one of the finest Egyptological collections of its time, which led Carter, a family friend, to pursue a career in Egyptian archaeology—and eventually to the best-preserved pharaonic tomb ever found in the Valley of the Kings.
“By showcasing meticulously detailed replicas produced by expert Egyptian craftsmen, this exhibition provides an ethical, accessible and utterly fascinating way for you to experience this remarkable history up close and without traveling to Egypt,” says Lori Garst, curator of collections at Biltmore.
Plan Your Visit
“Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures” runs through January 4 at the estate’s exhibit center, Amherst at Deerpark. Tickets for ages 17 and older start at $115. Until September 1, tickets are free for kids ages 9 and younger and $10 for ages 10-16. Separate audio guides are available for adults and children. Biltmore is located at One Lodge Street in Asheville. Learn more at biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/tut.