On April 23rd, when Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs opened at the Discovery Times Square Exposition, it marked the first time in a generation -- 1979, to be exact -- that a collection of treasures from the young pharaoh’s tomb has visited the city. Not to mention, this National Geographic exhibition contains more than twice the number of artifacts shown previously, with more than 130 object of exceptional quality, rarity, and beauty that provide insight into the daily life and royal burial practices of the 18th Dynasty. Fifty of the objects are from Tutankhamun’s tomb -- only a handful of which were part of the 1979 exhibition -- and an additional 80 objects come from the tombs of his ancestors.

“More than 5,000 beautifully preserved artifacts were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb, and the 50 selected for this exhibition -- along with more than 80 from other royal tombs -- are among the most breathtaking objects of ancient Egypt. Tutankhamun’s remarkable treasures, from cosmetic containers and other everyday objects to fine works of art, illustrate what life was like for Tutankhamun and the people of Egypt,” remarks exhibition curator Dr. David P. Silverman, Eckley B. Coxe, Jr. professor of Egyptology and curator-in-charge of the Egyptian Section at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. “In addition to these stunning relics, our partnership with National Geographic allows us to explore in depth and put into context the mystery of Tutankhamun’s death using the marvels of modern CT scanning technology.”

In February of this year, Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, announced new discoveries about the lineage and cause of death of Tutankhamun. A new gallery exploring these revelations has been added to the New York presentation of Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. The new material will focus on the mystery surrounding Tut’s death and the recent findings from DNA testing that revealed further details about the boy king’s family. A portion of the proceeds from this exhibition are helping to fund antiquity conservation efforts in Egypt, including the building of a new Grand Museum in Cairo that will provide a world-class home for the country’s treasured artifacts.

“King Tut first traveled the world in the 1970s and 80s, bringing with him the thrill of discovery, the lure of gold and ‘wonderful things,’ and the mystery of the curse, capturing the hearts of everyone he met,” says Hawass. “Now the golden boy is back, and is coming to New York City. This time, he brings with him newly revealed information about his life, his family, and his death. The legend of this beloved pharaoh will never end -- it will continue, in the words of the ancient Egyptians, ‘forever and for eternity.’”

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs provides insight into the life of Tutankhamun and other royals of the 18th Dynasty (1555 B.C.-1305 B.C.). All of the treasures in the exhibition are between 3,300 and 3,500 years old.

Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty and ruled during a crucial, turmoil-filled period of Egyptian history. The boy king died under mysterious circumstances around age 18 or 19, in the ninth year of his reign (1323 B.C.).

The exhibition offers glimpses of that evolving period, including 50 of Tutankhamun’s burial objects, including his royal diadem -- the gold crown discovered encircling the head of his mummified body that he likely wore as king -- and one of the gold and precious stone inlaid canopic coffinettes that contained his mummified internal organs. More than 80 additional objects from tombs of 18th Dynasty royals, as well as several non-royal individuals, are also on exhibit. These stone, faience, and wooden pieces from burial sites before Tutankhamun’s reign will give visitors a sense of what the lost burials of other royalty and commoners may have been like.

The exhibition runs through Jan. 2nd, 2011. This will be the exhibition’s final stop on its U.S. tour.

Tickets to the King Tut exhibition are available by clicking here, at the Discovery TSX box office located at 226 W. 44th St., and by phone at 888-988-8692. The exhibition is open 7 days a week: Sun.-Wed., 10am-8pm; Thurs.-Sat., 10am-9:30pm. Last admission is 90 minutes prior to closing.