Zahi Hawass, World Renowned Egyptian Archaeologist, Egyptologist, and former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs, aka ‘Mr. Egypt’ to Host Rare Guest Lecture and Book Signing January 15, 2016 at The Discovery of King Tut New York

Hawass Part of Esteemed Lecture Series “Tut Talks” Beginning Fridays in December at Premier Exhibitions 5th Avenue

Blockbuster exhibition, The Discovery of King Tut New York, is pleased to present “Tut Talks” a series of public lectures by nationally and internationally-recognized Egyptologists and archaeologists starting December 4, 2015 and concluding with Dr. Zahi Hawass on January 15, 2016. The series offers the public a unique opportunity to tour The Discovery of King Tut as well as participate in intimate programs with some of the world’s most esteemed speakers on Tutankhamun.starting December 4, 2015 and concluding with Dr. Zahi Hawass on January 15, 2016. The series offers the public a unique opportunity to tour The Discovery of King Tut New York as well as participate in intimate programs with some of the world’s most esteemed speakers on Tutankhamun.

Seating is limited and visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at http://www.tutnyc.com. The Discovery of King Tut New York is located at Premier Exhibitions 5th Avenue, 417 5th Avenue at 37th Street.

Occurring Fridays throughout December and into January, “Tut Talks” will feature ‘Mr. Mummy’ Dr. Bob Brier (Author, Lecturer at Long Island University), Dr. Catharine Roehrig (Author, Curator at the Egyptian Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art), Dr. Kara Cooney (Author, Professor at the University of California in Los Angeles) and former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs, aka ‘Mr. Egypt’, Dr. Zahi Hawass.

During “Tut Talks” evenings, Egyptologist Dr. Phyllis Saretta, Visiting Scholar, Department of Egyptian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, N.Y. (and longtime curator there) will serve as moderator and exhibition host.

“Tut Talks” open at 6 pm with entry to The Discovery of King Tut New York until 7 pm. Lectures will begin at 8:00pm. Each program concludes with a book signing by the respective speaker. Tickets start at $39 and include admission to the exhibition as well as the designated lecture. Tickets are available at https://tickets.premier5th.com/Info.aspx?EventID=25.

Schedule and “Tut Talks” Programs:

  •     December 4: Egyptologist Dr. Bob Brier, Senior Research Fellow at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville, New York, and one of the world's foremost experts on mummies.

At 8 pm, Dr. Brier’s lecture, The Murder of Tutankhamun. Three thousand years ago, King Tutankhamun, aged only 19, died mysteriously. Using an examination of the king’s skull, a letter from Tutankhamun’s widowed queen and a royal ring, in this talk Dr. Brier will unravel the mystery of the boy king's death and present his theory that the young pharaoh was murdered.

  •     December 11: Dr. Catharine H. Roehrig, curator in the Department of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

At 8 pm, Dr. Roehrig will give her lecture, Excavations of the Metropolitan Museum of Art as Recorded by Photographer Harry Burton. Working first for Theodore M. Davis in the Valley of the Kings, and from 1914 with the Graphic Section of the Met's Egyptian Expedition, through his photographs Harry Burton documented some of the most important archaeological finds made in Egypt during the first half of the 20th century. He was so well respected that in November 1922, when Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, Carter contacted the Met and asked for Burton’s assistance. Using Burton's photographs, in this lecture Dr. Roehrig will recount some of the Metropolitan Museum’s exceptional discoveries, discussing both the objects themselves and Burton’s ability to highlight their artistic significance.

  •      December 18: Egyptologist Dr. Kara Cooney, associate professor of Egyptology at UCLA, and author of the bestselling book The Woman Who Would Be King.

Starting at 8 pm, Dr. Cooney will give her lecture, Worship of the Aten Sun God: The Religion of Tutankhamun's Youth. The precious and well-crafted objects found in Tutankhamun's tomb might blind us to the fact that the boy king grew up amidst the most fanatical and radical religious changes the world had ever seen, spending his early life within what is perhaps the first monotheistic religions system known, developed by his father Akhenaten. In this talk, Dr. Cooney shines a light on these fascinating times, and takes us on a journey through King Tut's boyhood religion.

  •     January 14 and 15: Dr. Zahi Hawass, is the former Minister of Antiquities and Director of Excavations at Giza, Saqqara, Bahariya Oasis, and the Valley of the Kings. Dr. Hawass received his PhD in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied as a Fulbright Fellow. He has written numerous scholarly articles and books, including Silent Images – Women in Pharaonic Egypt; Hidden Treasures of Ancient Egypt; Secrets from the Sand; Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs; Tutankhamun – The Treasures of the Tomb; Royal Tombs of Egypt – The Art of Thebes Revealed. Dr. Hawass has made a number of major discoveries over the course of his career, including the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya Oasis.

Dr. Hawass will present a two part lecture series on January 14 and 15, 2016.

January 14th’s lecture and book signing will take place at the Society of Ethical Culture New York. Starting at 7:00 pm the program will focus on the Magic and the Mystery of Tutankhamen: Recent Discoveries. The talk will not include admission to The Discovery of King Tut New York. Tickets for the lecture are $29 plus tax.

January 15th’s lecture, exhibition tour and book signing will take place at The Discovery of King Tut New York, 417 5th Avenue. Starting with exhibition admittance at 6:00 pm, the lecture will begin at 8:00 pm and focus on Pyramids, King Tut and Cleopatra: Recent Discoveries. The program includes Dr. Hawass book “Discovering Tutankhamun- From Howard Carter to DNA” as well as admittance to The Discovery of King Tut New York. Tickets are $59 plus tax.

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About The Discovery of King Tut New York
The home of Saturday Night Live: The Exhibition at 417 5th Avenue, will open its second experience on November 21st with The Discovery of King Tut New York, the blockbuster exhibition seen by more than six million visitors on its worldwide tour. With the aid of exquisite, precisely crafted replicas and reconstructions, the exhibition allows visitors to step right into the wonder of the most famous archaeological discovery of the twentieth century. It is as if the original excavation in the Valley of the Kings has been reopened.

The exhibition experience culminates in exact reconstructions of three tomb chambers that reveal themselves just as the discoverers saw them. A radioplay-like audio tour based on Howard Carter's diaries, video documentaries, extensive texts and object descriptions and unhindered access to the objects together provide an exciting, as well as informative, experience for all the senses. A series of lectures by renowned Egyptologists, and a gallery featuring the special relationship between New York and King Tut will also accompany the exhibition. The Discovery of King Tut New York is scheduled to run through May 1, 2016.

About Premier Exhibitions, Inc. and SC Exhibitions
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. located in Atlanta, Georgia, is a foremost presenter of museum quality exhibitions throughout the world. Premier is a recognized leader in developing and displaying unique exhibitions for education and entertainment, including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, BODIES...The Exhibition, Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs, Pompeii The Exhibition, Extreme Dinosaurs and Real Pirates in partnership with National Geographic, as well as Saturday Night Live: The Exhibition. The success of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. lies in its ability to produce, manage, and market exhibitions. Additional information about Premier Exhibitions, Inc. is available at the Company's website http://www.PremierExhibitions.com.

Premier Exhibitions presents The Discovery of King Tut New York in partnership with SC Exhibitions, a division of Semmel Concerts Entertainment, a leading European live entertainment producer. The Discovery of King Tut New York is a project by SC Exhibitions, conceived and curated by a team of leading European museum specialists. The scientific circle consulting the exhibition and its international programming consists of Wolfgang Wettengel, Wilfried Seipel, Jaromir Malek and Zahi Hawass. The exhibition supports several projects in Egypt, and contributed to the renovation of the Tutankhamun galleries in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The Discovery of King Tut New York is the official replica exhibition endorsed by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.

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