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We met at the Tutankhamun exhibition We met at the Tutankhamun exhibition
(1 day later)
The exhitibition attracted 1.7 million visitorsLast week the Magazine looked at the lasting legacy of the 1972 Tutankhamun exhibition, soon to return to London. In our Reader's Column, Rod Coustan explains why it is particularly significant for him. Their eyes locked in queueLast week the Magazine looked at the lasting legacy of the 1972 Tutankhamun exhibition, soon to return to London. In our Reader's Column, Rod Coustan explains why it is particularly significant for him.
I guess I've always enjoyed the question about how I met my wife, it was in the queue to the Tutankhamun exhibition in 1972.I guess I've always enjoyed the question about how I met my wife, it was in the queue to the Tutankhamun exhibition in 1972.
I was 26 and had been working in Iran, which in those days was very western looking. I was looking for a new job and had just been to an interview before joining the queue.I was 26 and had been working in Iran, which in those days was very western looking. I was looking for a new job and had just been to an interview before joining the queue.
The excitement of the exhibition drew me in as soon as I heard about it. It put on show the very best artefacts uncovered by archaeologist Howard Carter - who unearthed the Tutankhamun tomb in 1922 - and brought them to Britain for the first time.
CurseCurse
The excitement of the exhibition drew me in as soon as I heard about it. It put on show the very best artefacts uncovered by archaeologist Howard Carter - who unearthed the Tutankhamun tomb in 1922 - and brought them to Britain for the first time.
I knew the story of the opening of the tomb, the apparent Pharaoh's curse which killed Lord Carnarvon - patron of Mr Carter's archaeological excavations - within six months of it being opened. The cult of the dead and protective curses had also killed Howard's canary it was said.I knew the story of the opening of the tomb, the apparent Pharaoh's curse which killed Lord Carnarvon - patron of Mr Carter's archaeological excavations - within six months of it being opened. The cult of the dead and protective curses had also killed Howard's canary it was said.
She was there with a friend, she was 18, from Denmark and learning English in London. It was a long queue, about two hours I guess, and I was just unwinding - reading The Times and eating a bar of Cadbury's fruit and nut chocolate. class="" href="/1/hi/magazine/6445783.stm"> A glowing legacy She was there with a friend, she was 18, from Denmark and learning English in London. It was a long queue, about two hours I guess, and I was just unwinding - reading The Times and eating a bar of Cadbury's fruit and nut chocolate.
class="" href="/1/hi/magazine/6445783.stm"> A glowing legacy She says she talked to several people, a vicar from Norwich, a mother and daughter from Surrey but kept a sharp look-out for handsome young men. She says she talked to several people, a vicar from Norwich, a mother and daughter from Surrey but kept a sharp look-out for handsome young men.
I saw her big smile and long blonde hair looking back along the queue, although she claims I looked at her friend first.I saw her big smile and long blonde hair looking back along the queue, although she claims I looked at her friend first.
Death mask
I offered her a bit of chocolate and we got talking. I loved her voice and her Danish accent. We ended up going through the exhibition together.I offered her a bit of chocolate and we got talking. I loved her voice and her Danish accent. We ended up going through the exhibition together.
When we finally got in there the gold was spectacular. It was not just the death mask, there was a dramatic dazzle of gold and the presentation took nothing away from the atmosphere of something from long ago - mysterious, regal, protected, forbidden, perhaps even dangerous and romantic.When we finally got in there the gold was spectacular. It was not just the death mask, there was a dramatic dazzle of gold and the presentation took nothing away from the atmosphere of something from long ago - mysterious, regal, protected, forbidden, perhaps even dangerous and romantic.
Death mask Still happily marriedI invited her to a party. I had travelled, two years in Botswana, had been to the Isle of Wight festival in 1970 with Bob Dylan, The Doors, The Who, Joan Baez, so we had lots to talk about.
I invited her to a party. I had travelled, two years in Botswana, had been to the Isle of Wight festival in 1970 with Bob Dylan, The Doors, The Who, Joan Baez, so we had lots to talk about.
We settled in Devon with our family of three, now in their 20s, after they were born in Austria and grew up in Switzerland.We settled in Devon with our family of three, now in their 20s, after they were born in Austria and grew up in Switzerland.
I can still see the queue in my mind's eye, I can still see her face and I can still see his death mask 35 years on. We'll be going back to this year's exhibition.I can still see the queue in my mind's eye, I can still see her face and I can still see his death mask 35 years on. We'll be going back to this year's exhibition.
Tutankhamun's name lives on in the afterlife 3,340 years after he began his short rule. That's quite an achievement. The curse was just media hype - wasn't it?Tutankhamun's name lives on in the afterlife 3,340 years after he began his short rule. That's quite an achievement. The curse was just media hype - wasn't it?
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