As the Ashmolean opens its Discovering Tutankhamun display, Katherine MacAlister finds out more about the ancient Egyptian king

Tutmania is about to begin as the Ashmolean opens its doors to the tides of visitors expected to pour in and explore the fascinating story of the ancient Egyptian king.

Discovering Tutankhamun is the result of two years of painstaking work in what has been feted as one of the Ashmolean’s greatest achievements to date.

Already fully booked to school tours, it’s aimed primarily at families and aims to appeal to absolutely everybody. Dr Paul Collins and Liam McNamara, who curated the exhibition, are adamant that introducing us all to the incredible story of Tutankhamun is the most important factor.

Dr Collins said: “It needed to be totally accessible so is a very interactive show with music and film, both 2D and 3D, allowing the narrative to speak out. It is a journey that’s still going on. Only 30 per cent of the tomb’s content has been properly studied, leaving 70 per cent, or about 5,000 objects, which still need to be examined more closely.

“So I hope Discovering Tutankhamun will inspire the next generation to develop Tutankhamun’s story further, and that all the 12 year-olds who come to see it are as excited by the story as I was at that age.”

Now 50, Dr Collins, a fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, vividly remembers when he first got Tutmania.

“The mask of Tutankhamun was toured globally from 1972-1979, but I lived in Devon which was too far away, so instead I collected the press cuttings and The Times foldout. I suppose I’ve come full circle,” he smiles.

So what’s the enduring attraction? “The fact that the tomb was discovered during the Roaring ’20s meant that explorer Howard Carter and Tutankhamun were treated like film stars and it was very Hollywood, with films made about them and sacks full of fanmail.

“But it’s the visitors who will decide whether this exhibition is a success. If they like it and appreciate it then, yes, it’s a job well done.”

Originally intended as a 75th anniversary tribute to The Griffith Institute, Oxford’s centre for Egyptology, the exhibition soon exceeded its guidelines by transforming into one of the biggest the Oxford museum has ever held.

“It just grew and grew and became a narrative which was very exciting because it’s such a wonderful story and luckily the Ashmolean also saw it as a wonderful opportunity. So it’s exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time.

“But what we hope, more than anything, is that Discovering Tutankhamun paves a way to generate new material in the Ashmolean, because this show is unlike anything they have done before.

“So while it has been all-consuming, I think it’s been worthwhile.”

CHECK IT OUT
Discovering Tutankhamun runs until November 2. £9, concs: £7, under-12s: free. www.ashmolean.org/exhibitions/tickets/ or call 01865 305305