Tutankhamun and the Cold War

FAIN: FT-298810-24

Vivian Ibrahim-Dinius
University of Mississippi (University, MS 38677-1848)

Research and writing leading to a book on the Tutankhamun traveling exhibits as gateways to examining Egypt’s global diplomacy and tourism during the 1960s and 1970s.

This project explores how cultural heritage becomes mobile, embodying and shaping the political ambitions of the modern Egyptian state. Antiquities rarely travelled prior to the Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibitions of the 1960s and 70s. Commonly, displays remained at the museum where they were held. However, between 1961 and 1981, objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun housed at the Egyptian National Museum in Cairo, toured the world in unprecedented blockbuster exhibitions. Tokyo (1965), Paris (1967), London (1972) and Moscow (1974-5) marveled as the ‘boy-king’ was brought to their doorstep. In the US, 8 million people saw the exhibition when it toured six cities between 1976-9. These exhibitions were initiated and conceived by the newly decolonized and independent Egyptian state. The tours promoted cultural diplomacy, raised financial aid for Egypt and were extraordinary because they precipitated a change in worldwide museum practice to now embrace traveling collections. (Edited by staff)