Centrepiece of the exhibition, and inevitably its most popular haunt, are the galleries devoted to items from the tomb of Tutankhamun. His luxurious and opulent grave goods survived robberies when those of his more significant ancestors and successors did not. Outside the boy king s private display, the features of his gold mask are mirrored in some of the faces of the modern day guides, who take the tourists around the exhibits with fluid ease and only the occasional disagreement as they jostle for spots by the best items. Four mighty gold shrines, the greatest larger than a caravan, were placed around the body of King Tutankhamun to protect him from harm. Gold, immutable, imperishable, the noblest of metals, had magical significance and was used in royal burials only, although lesser mortals could aspire, particularly in later times, to gilded coffins and face masks.
Gold decorates the hilts of daggers.
Gold jewellery contains shaped stones of red carnelian, deep blue lapiz, and brilliant turquoise signifying respectively strength, eternity and happiness. Ancient symbols of life and protection from evil such as the ankh and the eye of Horus are still potent as the huge quantity of gold jewellery bought by visitors shows. The official is quick to quiet them. They are, after all, in the presence of the illustrious and justified dead, and Sety s son, Ramesses II, lays claim to being the greatest king of all time. His hands and lower arms, released from the tight pressure of the bandages intended to keep his body shapely and upright, have risen slightly.