News

Beard Of 3,300-Year-Old King Tut Mask ‘Glued Back On’ After Being Broken Off

Beard Of 3,300-Year-Old King Tut Mask ‘Glued Back On’ After Being Broken Off

Credit: Al-Araby Al-Jedeed
Credit: Al-Araby Al-Jedeed

The Associated Press has reported that the the famous King Tutankhamun’s Mask was damaged and repaired hastily with basic tools.

According to the report, the beard on the Pharaoh’s mask was detached during cleaning at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and was “hastily” glued back on with epoxy.

Meanwhile, according to Al Araby Al Jadeed, the mask was damaged by Museum employees and the damage was not reported to the Ministry of Antiquities.

The Associated Press reported that sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, confirmed the damage but did not clarify whether it occurred in 2015 or 2014.

What the beard should look like. Credit: Profimedia
What the beard should look like. Credit: Profimedia

“Unfortunately he used a very irreversible material — epoxy has a very high property for attaching and is used on metal or stone but I think it wasn’t suitable for an outstanding object like Tutankhamun’s golden mask,” said one conservator who works at the museum.

“The mask should have been taken to the conservation lab but they were in a rush to get it displayed quickly again and used this quick-drying, irreversible material,” added the conservator, saying that there is now a layer of transparent yellow between the beard and the mask.

kt
The mask in an official photograph.

Another conservator told AP that a museum employee attempted to remove the epoxy with a spatula, leaving scratches on the ancient mask.

The report added that “orders came from the top to fix [the mask] quickly and that an inappropriate adhesive was used.”

If reports by the Associated Press are true, it remains to be seen what action the Ministry of Antiquities will take. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo has often been accused of being run negligently.

Just weeks ago, the government announced renovations of the Museum would commence.

The Mask of King Tut is made of gold inlaid with coloured glass and semiprecious stone. The Pharaoh ruled during ancient Egypt’s 18th dynasty more than 3,300 years ago.

[Link to the AP report as published in Egypt’s state media Al-Ahram]

Egypt's President Sisi Talks Islam, Terrorism At World Economic Forum
Egyptian-American Activist 'Dying' In Prison


Subscribe to our newsletter


News
@egyptianstreets

Quick clicks. Making it lighter.

More in News

Egyptian Court Denies Adoptive Family Custody of ‘Baby Shenouda’, Citing Lack of Jurisdiction

Egyptian Streets19 March 2023

Khaled El-Balshy Elected as Head of Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate

Farah Rafik18 March 2023

Egypt’s Giza and Saqqara Among 2023 World’s Greatest Places: TIME

Egyptian Streets17 March 2023

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities: Egypt Recorded 11.7 Million Tourists in 2022

Dina Khadr16 March 2023

By 2024, Egyptians May Be Required to Speak French by Law

Dina Khadr15 March 2023

Egypt to Provide EGP 1,000 Annually for Egyptian Women to Curb Population Growth

Egyptian Streets15 March 2023

RiseUp Summit’s 10th Edition at the Grand Egyptian Museum: What You Need to Know

Farah Rafik14 March 2023

National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics: Ramadan 2023 to Start on 23 March

Marina Makary12 March 2023