This spring, head to the Art Gallery of Ontario and enter a time of opulence, grandeur and mystery. King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs features over 100 artifacts — some of which came from the tomb of the Boy King himself.

The exhibition was organized by the National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International (AEI) and AEG Exhibitions, and is meant to give viewers a glimpse of how the lifestyle and culture in Ancient Egypt evolved over a span of nearly 2,000 years.

For one month in 1979, King Tut made his way to the AGO, but if you were one of the lucky 750,000 people who got to witness that spectacular exhibit, don’t think you’re not missing anything new by skipping this event. This time around, there are more than twice as many artifacts to see and learn about — including: a 10-foot statue of King Tut, a colossal bust of Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten), who was the supposed father of King Tut, and a miniature canopic coffin, which contained King Tut’s mummified stomach.

According to AGO officials, many of these new-found treasures, like the multiple figures of Inty-shedu at various stages throughout his life, which were discovered by Dr. Zahi Hawass in 1992, have never before been seen in North America. And if that doesn’t spark some intrigue, maybe King Tut’s gold will. More than 30 of the artifacts in the exhibit are all gold, or partially gold. Precious jewelry, like elaborate necklaces, earrings and pendants that were given to King Tut to wear as he entered the afterlife are all on display. There is even a pair of solid gold slippers, as well as golden toe and finger covers made especially for King Tut to wear.

Take the audio tour and imagine yourself as a part of the archeological team with Howard Carter, the man who made the 1922 discovery in Egypt. All of the artifacts are displayed in a maze-like configuration, adding to the effect of feeling like you are actually excavating the famous tomb of the Boy King.

Because of the fragility of the actual remains of King Tut, as well as his famous “death mask,” they will not be showcased in the exhibit. The death mask is now housed inside Cairo’s Egyptian Museum. And, although there are no mummies at the exhibit, a CT scan of King Tut’s mummy will be viewable.

However, even through actual mummies won’t be part of the exhibit, it extends beyond the other amazing artifacts. There is also a virtual tour called, Egypt 3D: Secrets of the Mummies.This 3D experience answers questions about why Egyptians mummified the dead. It also takes audiences through how archaeologists discovered the tombs of lost pharaohs. Egypt in the Western Imagination is made up of nine historic prints that depict the ongoing attraction Europeans have had with everything “Egypt.”

Philanthropic art enthusiasts and supporters of cultural events and exhibits like The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs can support a great cause, just by taking in the sights that this exhibit has to offer. A portion of proceeds from this exhibition will go toward antiquities preservation and conservation in Egypt, as well as the construction of a new museum in Cairo.

King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will come to a close on April 18, 2010, and you won’t want to miss it. A finalized schedule for which U.S. cities the exhibit will be making an appearance in is currently in the works. However, its only Canadian stop is in Toronto. •

Photo by Steve Evans