Professor of the History of Visual Culture at Durham University, Christina Riggs, will discuss the century-long history of Tutankhamun’s travels through politics, culture, and commerce.
Christina is the author of eight books, including Treasured: How Tutankhamun Shaped a Century and Ancient Egyptian Magic: A Hands-On Guide. She is an expert on the history of photography, archaeology, and museums.
The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in November 1922 captured the world’s attention – and sparked a frenzy of interest in ancient Egypt. This little-known king made headlines not for anything he’d done, but because British archaeologist Howard Carter and his employer, the Earl of Carnarvon, used photography and the media to promote their work.
When a London sculpture studio made replicas of the tomb for the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924, it met a legal challenge from Carter – which failed to stop the fairground feature from opening. In this talk (with time for Q&A and book signing opportunity), Christina uses the tale of the replicas and their journey to Hull.
Standard ticket: (talk only) – £5.50
Cream tea and talk ticket – £12.50 – Cream tea includes Scone with jam and cream, and a drink served in the Ferens café (3pm-4pm)
Booking required
