Egyptian Guests Visit Penn Museum

Penn Museum was host this morning to six Egyptians-five conservators and an archaeologist-in Philadelphia to help with the installation of the blockbuster exhibition, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" at The Franklin Institute.

Joining them was a film crew from the National Geographic Television and Film company, documenting the visit for use in an upcoming, PBS documentary, "Inside: The King Tut Exhibit" (working title) to run in the fall of 2007.

The Egyptian special guests, led by conservator Dr. Abla Omar, included Mrs. Azza Fathi, Mr. Tarek Mohammed, Mr. Ahmed Salama, Mr. Ali K. Elmekawy (conservators) and Mr. Omar Zaki (archaeologist). Dr. David Silverman, Curator-in-charge, Egyptian section, Penn Museum, provided them with a tour of "Amarna, Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun," the new exhibition designed to complement the King Tut exhibition at The Franklin Institute, as well as the Upper and Lower Egyptian galleries.

Dr. Jennifer Wegner, Research Specialist in the Egyptian section, and Dr. Joseph Wegner, Associate Curator, Egyptian section, greeted the visitors and signed copies with Dr. Silverman of Akhenaten and Tutankhamun: Revolution and Restoration for the guests, before they took off for another Philadelphia historical spot: the Liberty Bell.

The National Geographic Television and Film team included David Langer, Director, Deborah Freeman, Associate Producer, with Mike Nolan, cameraman, and Paul Alfe, sound man. -- www.museum.upenn.edu