Discovery of Tutankhamun 100 years ago celebrated with Egypt Month at The Atkinson in Southport

Today marks exactly 100 years since the discovery of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun in Egypt. 

To celebrate, The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. 

For the next four weeks there will be some unique courses, talks, tours and family friendly fun. I

You can discover the full list here: Egyptology Archives – The AtkinsonThe Atkinson 

The Atkinson Museum is home to one of the most impressive Egyptology collections in the UK, with many of the artefacts sourced by Anne Goodison, a wealthy Victorian lady who lived in Waterloo. 

A keen explorer, she loved travel, adventure, and was particularly fascinated by ancient Egypt. 

The Museum is open – with free entry – 10am-4pm Monday to Saturday (closed Sundays and Bank Holidays). The Goodison collection is both varied and well preserved. It illustrates the rituals that were at the heart of Egyptian beliefs, as well as the creation of personal beauty and communication through language and imagery. The collection also tells us about everyday life and allows us to imagine life as an ancient Egyptian, rich and poor.

Visitors can see an intricately decorated coffin lid, the Mummy of Nes-Amun, a wooden Ba-bird and rare paddle dolls, amongst many other artefacts. A range of interactive displays include the ‘Weighing of the Heart’ ceremony, X-raying an Ibis mummy and a hieroglyphic jigsaw wall. 

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. Egyptology Gallery Tour

As part of The Atkinson’s Egypt month you can enjoy a series of free tours of the Goodison collection on display in the Egyptology gallery. The tours are free but pre-booking is essential.

This tour is delivered by one of the knowledgeable Atkinson team members. You will have the opportunity to learn more about Mrs Goodison’s extensive Egyptology than ever before and ask questions to our Egyptian experts.

The talks take place on: 5th, 12th and 26th November. 

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. Unwrapping Bob The Dummy Mummy

On Saturdays 5th, 12th and 26th November, families can enjoy Unwrapping ‘Bob’ The Dummy Mummy.

Join The Atkinson’s Egyptology expert Molly to learn all about the ancient Egyptian craft of mummification and what it meant to journey into the Afterlife.

This family friendly event is suitable for children and completely free.

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. Egyptology: Family Puppet Show

You can also book for the Egyptology: Family Puppet Show on 5th, 12th and 26th November. 

This family friendly puppet show depicts the legendary discovery of Tutankhamun in 1922.

This free drop-in event is a fun way to learn and engage with Egyptology especially for little ones!

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. Great Discoveries of Ancient Egypt with Dr Joanne Backhouse

Classes are taking place on Great Discoveries of Ancient Egypt with Dr Joanne Backhouse.

From treasure filled tombs, deciphering ancient texts and caches of mummies,  the secrets of ancient Egypt have been revealed from the 19th Century onwards.

This short course will examine some of the most breath-taking discoveries.  This includes George Reisner’s excavation of the burial shaft of Queen Hetepheres in 1925, found at Giza, the mother of Khufu, builder of the great pyramid.

Also, Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, which made headlines worldwide in 1922, to date, a unique find.  

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages.

An Ancient Egyptian Shabti History and Craft Workshop will be held on 11th, 18th and 25th November. 

A shabti (also known as shawabti or ushabti) is a figurine found in many ancient Egyptian tombs. They are commonly made of blue or green glazed Egyptian faience, but can also consist of stone, wood, clay, metal, and glass. The meaning of the Egyptian term is still debated, however one possible translation is ‘answerer’, as they were believed to answer their master’s call to work in the afterlife.

Join Molly for a 3 week course to learn about the amazing story behind these fascinating objects and have a go at making your very own version to take home.

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. Travel back in time to meet our very own Mrs Goodison at the Atkinson in Southport

There is lots to enjoy on Saturday 19th November! 

You won’t want to miss the chance to travel back in time to meet our very own Mrs Goodison. The intrepid explorer will be on hand in the Egyptology gallery at The Atkinson to say hello and tell you about her adventure in Egypt.

This is a family friendly activity with no booking required.

Mrs Goodison’s Meeting Times are:

11am – 11.45am,

1pm – 1.45pm,

3pm – 3.45pm.

Anne Goodison was one of a handful of wealthy Victorian ladies in the North West who were fascinated by ancient Egypt. 

Anne was married to a successful civil engineer, George Goodison, who devised the drainage system in the Everton area of Liverpool. 

Everton Football Club’s ground was later named after him. 

Anne was a student of hieroglyphics and an avid collector of Egyptology. She put together a wide ranging collection which presents a snapshot of her view of Egyptian life and exhibited it in her own ‘Museum Room’ in her home in Waterloo.

In 2014, Heritage Lottery Funding allowed The Atkinson to develop her collection into an Egyptology museum. 

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. Egyptology Dig

Also on Saturday 19th November, you can enjoy an Egyptology Dig (10am-12pm). 

This is your chance to become a mini Egyptologist and have a go at excavating an ‘ancient site’.

Have a go at excavating at The Atkinson and work out what objects from the past can tell us!

This is perfect for children, no booking required and free! First come first served.

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. Arty Egypt

Also on Saturday 19th November, have a go at Arty Egypt (1pm-3pm). 

It is time to get creative as The Atkinson invites all visitors to make your own ancient Egyptian artefact. Materials all provided, no booking required.

Bring history to life by being creative. Fun activities for kids and adults alike.

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. Egyptology Themed Construction Club

LEGO lovers will love Saturday 26th November when an Egyptology Themed Construction Club

Takes place 10.30am – 12.30pm. 

Young inventors, creators and builders are invited to drop in and play with our massive supply of LEGO.

To coincide with our Egyptology Month,The Atkinson is encouraging all builders to create Egypt themed builds. 

Last entry is at 12pm. Ages 5+. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Atkinson in Southport is holding an Egypt month with a whole host of events and activities for people of all ages. The Mummies of 8 Colquitt Street, Liverpool: Joseph Mayer’s Egyptian Museum 1852-1867

Also on Saturday 26th November (11am) is The Mummies of 8 Colquitt Street, Liverpool: Joseph Mayer’s Egyptian Museum 1852-1867. 

In this extra special talk to celebrate The Atkinson’s Egyptology month,  Dr Cooke will be talking about the mummy’s in the collection at National Museums Liverpool and putting the mummy currently on display at The Atkinson into context with these.

Dr Ashley Cooke is Senior Curator of Antiquities at National Museums Liverpool, one of the largest Egyptology collections in the UK. Tomb architecture is one of his research interests, which also include ancient Egyptian material culture and the history of collecting. He has worked on fieldwork projects in Egypt since 1997 and has excavated at Saqqara, Tell Abqa’in, the Valley of the Kings and Zawiyet Umm el-Rackham. 

The mix of events at The Atkinson will all celebrate the centenary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun by renowned British archaeologist Howard Carter 100 years ago today in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. 

He had started his excavations in early November 1922, before the height of the tourist season. The first step of the tomb’s entrance staircase was uncovered on 4th November 1922. 

By February 1923 the antechamber had been cleared of everything but two sentinel statues. A day and time were selected to unseal the tomb with about 20 appointed witnesses that included Lord Carnarvon, several Egyptian officials, museum representatives and the staff of the Government Press Bureau. 

On 17 February 1923 at just after 2pm the seal was broken.

There were 5,398 items found in the tomb, including a solid gold coffin, face mask, thrones, archery bows, trumpets, a lotus chalice, gold toe stalls, furniture, food, wine, sandals, and fresh linen underwear. Howard Carter took 10 years to catalogue the items.

The find, first reported by The Times, was hailed as the most spectacular of the century. 

Tutankhamen (c. 1341 – c. 1323 BC), sometimes referred to as King Tut, was an Egyptian Pharaoh who was the last of his royal family to rule during the end of the 18th Dynasty.

The 1922 discovery by Howard Carter of Tutankhamun’s nearly intact tomb received worldwide press coverage. With over 5,000 artefacts, it gave rise to renewed public interest in ancient Egypt, for which Tutankhamun’s mask, now in the Egyptian Museum, remains a popular symbol. The deaths of some involved in the discovery of Tutankhamun’s mummy have been popularly attributed to the ‘Curse of the Pharaohs’. 

Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com