Incredible images show the intricate designs on Tutankhamun’s golden coffin as it is taken out of its sterilisation tent after leaving the pharaoh’s tomb for the first time in 97 years for an eight month restoration project
- Tutankhamun, known as the ‘Golden Pharaoh’, was an 18th dynasty king who ruled from the age of eight to 19
- The sarcophagus of the Pharaoh now lies in the restoration lab of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt
- Outer coffin has been removed from the sterilisation tent and first time removed since discovery in 1922
- Stunning pictures reveal the intricate reliefs carved into the wood of the outer coffin which is on display
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The golden outer coffin of Tutankhamun has been removed from its sterilisation tent before it undergoes a painstaking eight-month restoration process.
The gilded sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh now lies in the restoration laboratory of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, which lies on the outskirts Cairo, Egypt.
Pictures reveal the intricate reliefs on the foot of the golden sarcophagus which were carved into the outer wood covering of the coffin.
Inside the box-like structure of the sarcophagus were three coffins to house the body of the king.
The innermost coffin is made of solid gold, while the middle coffin is made with gilded wood, inlaid with multi-coloured glass.
The golden sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. The Pharaoh reigned between 1342-1325 BC. The picture shows the outer golden coffin as it lies for restoration in the Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza, on the outskirts of the capital Cairo
The outer coffin is made from wood with a gold covering and stretches to 7.3 feet long.
This is the first time the outer coffin of ‘King Tut’ has been removed from the 3,300-year-old tomb since it was discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter.
Tutankhamun, known as the ‘Golden Pharaoh’, was an 18th dynasty king who ruled from the age of eight to 19. He died in 1324BC and is best known for being the first royal tomb to be discovered almost entirely intact.
He was buried in the Valley of the Kings and discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. His tomb was filled with royal treasures, including a dagger made from meteorite.
His tomb contained three coffins nestled within one another. Shortly after it was discovered both the inner and middle caskets were transferred to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, while the outer gilded coffin was left behind.
It is the first time the coffin of ‘King Tut’ has been removed from the 3,300-year-old tomb since it was discovered in 1922. The crook and flail (pictured) were symbols of the king’s right to rule
In July, the casket was removed in a tight security operation, and fumigated for seven days.
Restoration will now continue using non-invasive equipment to repair cracks to the golden layers and fix weakened areas
After mechanical and chemical engineering has taken place, any layers of plaster that have broken away will be replaced in their original location.
Once the work has been completed, the coffin will be on display in the Grand Egyptian Museum – the first time the three caskets have been displayed together since their discovery.
Some of the stunning artefacts are going on display at the Saatchi museum in London in November to raise funds for a new Egyptian museum, giving members of the public opportunity to see them before they are stowed away forever.
The sarcophagus, a box-like stone container, held three coffins for the body of the king. The outer coffins (pictured) were crafted in wood and covered in gold with the innermost coffin made of solid gold
A closer look at the reliefs on the foot of the golden sarcophagus of the ancient Pharaoh. Tutankhamun was buried in the Valley of the Kings and discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922
The restoration process of the tomb will last eight months as Egyptian archaeologists inspect the base of the coffin. Tutankhamun, known as the ‘Golden Pharaoh’, ruled from the age of eight to 19 and was known as the boy pharaoh
Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany (crouching) admires the gilded coffin. After the extensive restoration process, the golden coffin will be displayed among the treasured collection at the Grand Egyptian Museum, Cairo, which is due to open next year
Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany (left) looks underneath the gilded coffin. The coffin has suffered damage to the golden layers of plaster with a weakening of the golden layers. An Egyptian archaeologist (right) works on samples with the coffin behind. The tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered completely intact in 1922
The outer gilded coffin in the sterilization tent before it was opened to begin the extensive restoration process in the restoration laboratory of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza