Day 2 ~ blog-a-day keeps cabin-fever at bay.

This is where I was on Saturday. Visiting the Travelling Tomb of Tutankhamun, in replicate.

It re-kindled the fascination I had as a child when I came across the story and pictures of this boy King. I don't know, maybe I was dazzled by the gold, the mystery, the antiquity, the beauty, the loftiness of royalty. Yes, all those things. But more than that, there is something very self-contained and comforting about the finding of the tomb. A tomb which, if it hadn't been for the persistence of one man, might still be lying in all it's glory, undiscovered under the hot Egyptian desert possibly for time infinitum. It gives me comfort in that it makes me wonder what else is buried in time, physically or ethereally, which nobody will ever know about or see. Oddly or not, I love that thought. I love the idea of the unknown, the never to be known. But I also love this teaser which highlights the sense of the unknown for me.

Here is another picture. This is a template of the burial chamber.

It kind of reminded me of the Babushka Russian dolls:

It actually looked like this, only they had separated each chamber and had me wondering how on earth they had fitted them into each other. My son explained. They had started with the smallest one and had built the others around it,. like you might build the bottle around the ship. After a few giggles we realised that would be impossible, and tried to imagine the glass-blower blowing melted glass around a tiny toy ship. The attention deficit continued and the mystery remained...

The man's name was Howard Carter and he looked like this:

I do have some reservations about it all. But then I have reservations about everything.

Here they are:

• The Tomb's right to privacy.

Mr Howard Carter didn't come upon this tomb accidentally. He actively went out searching for it. I'd do the same, who wouldn't? But there are some moral issues involved. It has to be made clear that grave-robbery is a crime, should be. But suddenly it became kosher to rob this grave because the government 'gave the go-ahead'. As I write this I am beginning to see why. If it hadn't been Carter, who found the tomb, it may have been someone else, who may have completely disrespected it. The integrity of Tutankhamun's tomb is currently intact. This is definitely the most satisfactory out-come. Compromise had to be made for the tomb's very survival, is one argument. But then, there is also the odds betting on, that the tomb may have never been found, in which case it would still be there undiscovered in it's ultimate untarnished glory. I would not be writing this, or have feasted my eyes and mind on the beautiful artifacts which conjured the images of a life, far beyond any we could emulate for ourselves today. It may not have in reality been a bed of roses all the time for this young family. I imagine that they were very much controlled and pretty well isolated in their existence too. But the initial reaction of coming face to face with a life size replica of these lives long past, fires and fuels the imagination, which then has to be put into perspective, by discovering and knowing the history behind these glittering gold and marble artifacts we saw in front of us.

Here is a picture of his friend Lord Canarvon who funded the expedition:

He was unwell at the time and been sent to Egypt to recuperate. Nice for him...

• Respect for the dead.

I can only imagine what I would say if someone asked me how I'd feel if my dead body went on tour around the world in replicate. I would probably say: "Why ask me? If you are going to do such a thing, I'd rather not know about it. Do what you want, you will anyway."

Well, no one got to ask King Tut, so we will never know whether he is being disrespected or not. I wonder what the ethics behind that is? If someone isn't around to be asked, should you do it anyway? I am not sure on that one. I am leaning towards, probably not.

• Tutankhamun's right to some post-death dignity.

Ok, so the grave was discovered. Even if it was an accident, what's the protocol? Jump up and down with glee and shout; "This is mine, all mine!!". ??

Let's get back to your grandmother. No. I wouldn't want someone to do that to her. I would want them to go: "Oops, my bad. Tip-toe back out, re-seal the door and place it under guard."

There is no way of knowing how he would have felt about his remains being put on public display all over the world, and viewed by everybody and anybody. All I know is how I would have felt if it had been my Grandmother's body, touring the world year in year out. But then my grandmother, as wonderful as she was, wasn't a goddess who lived in a palace made of marble and gold.... Never mind all that....I still and always will find it incredible that this one boy's tomb is such am rich and fascinating historical document.

I would like to dedicate this particular blog to Bex, Leo, Stephen and Jane (The Awesome Four-some) who helped me celebrate my (50th) birthday early and in such style. They are also the reason I have missed the past few days of the promised blog-a-day marathon. But are totally forgiven! Partly because they surprised me with a replica of the Cat Goddess Bast.

Bast represents protection, motherhood and fertility. here is a picture:

Well that is blog No 2 taken care of...I hope some of it was interesting. If not, the good news is tomorrow's will be completely different.

Happy Tuesday all!