By Jonathan Copsey / STAFF

We all know King Tut. The boy-king of one of the most powerful nations in the Ancient World has become synonymous with the power and opulence of Egypt as well as the wonder at their strange and advanced culture.

Currently, King Tut is on display at the Atlanta Civic Center, in a massive exhibition containing thousands of artifacts and more information about the ancient country than you could ever want.

When entering the exhibit, guests are confronted with the large golden death mask of King Tutankhamen, the vacant expression juxtaposed with the intricate delicacy of the craftsmanship. A short video narrated by Harrison Ford (Indy himself!) begins the exhibit with a quick overview of Egypt and Tut’s discovery.

What follows is a truly in-depth look at Egypt, its people and its culture, using Tut as the entry-vehicle. Why was Tut buried in such extravagance? Why did the Egyptians believe in the afterlife? Why does his bed look so strange?  

Those expecting a sarcophagus or mummy will be disappointed; there are none at the exhibit. However, if intricate jewelry, colossal statues and curious objects sound like a good time, this will be worth the ticket. 

Perhaps the most startling lesson learned from the exhibit is that Tut was supposed to have been forgotten. He was part of a dynasty of kings who pushed aside the litany of ancient gods and goddesses, replacing them with one god, the sun king Aten. Tut went along with the unpopular reforms, although he did reinstate some of the gods.

When the dynasty fell, efforts were made by its successors to erase all history and markings referring to the kings. Statues were torn down or reinscribed and all mention of the kings’ existence was wiped clean.

Before Tut’s tomb was discovered, the boy-king would have been at best a footnote in the long line of Pharaohs, at worst one of the many blank spaces in the 2000 years of pharaohs. Since the discovery of the tomb in 1922, Tutankhamen went from absolute obscurity to capturing the imagination and wonder of the world, easily becoming one of the most recognized names in history. 

The surprise of the discovery, the amount and quality of artifacts in the small tomb and the young age of his death all made him a superstar.

And now Atlanta can view his life.

King Tut is on display at the Civic Center until May 17. There is also a display at the Carlos Museum at Emory University. For more information, visit The Atlanta Civic Center at www.atlantaciviccenter.com.