Wednesday 4 November 2009

Opening of the Carter Dig House, Luxor, Egypt

Lord Carnarvon, the 8th Earl gave a speech whilst those on the top table listened. From right to left Samir Farag, Dr Zahi Hawas, Lady Carnarvon, and members of the Carter family.



The plebs enjoyed it too, my friend Ros Eavis-Oliveria and Michael Campbell-Smith (aka Michael on the roof).


They found original surveying equipment, seen here as you go in and in the display stand is one of the bricks that was sent out by Lord Carnarvon to Egypt to build the house for Carter. It is dated 1910. It was a joke between them that it was Castle Carter like Carnarvon had Highclere Castle. (Lady Fiona Carnarvon told me that story)



Harry Burton's camera just outside his darkroom, a tiny space, how he managed I can't imagine.

The original kitchen with some original equipment, don't worry if you come to the cafeteria there is a really posh new kitchen. But this is quite interesting as it had very little in it. Egyptians are amazing at making the most delicious food out of the simplest food and using minimal equipement.



This the dining room, some is original and some reproductions. There is a wonderful decanter and glasses disguised as a stack of three books. the photography of Lord Carnarvon relaxing in the deckchair was probably taken in the verander outside this room.




This is photos of Howard Carter's office, the setting for my photo with Lord and Lady Carnarvon. They had a wonderful letter set on the desk together with fascimilies of drawings and notes. The desk is original.




Dr Zahi Hawass annouced that you can stay in this bedroom for $20,000 USD on the night 4th November 2010 and $10,000 USD on some other selected nights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Fantastic Jane. Many thanks.

Marie said...

Thanks for sharing the experience, Jane! Somehow I don't think I'll be staying in that room, though!! ;]

Ben Morales-Correa said...

At that price is much less scary to spend the night in a tomb.

Unknown said...

Can you please quote anything about Hawass' declaration about KV55 mummy and Tut's parents? Thanx so much :-)

Jane Akshar said...

Nothing was said about the DNA results

Unknown said...

dear jane, thank you for the lovely photos, of carters house, a childhood dream come true for me, to see inside his house, many thanks, love mary.xx

Unknown said...

brilliant coverage, Jane!!! thank you :)

Unknown said...

Hi Jane
A great account & can't wait to see it when I come next February. But won't be paying Zahi's rates - think I'll stick with the Jolieville...
Jan

UKGILL said...

fANTASTIC! my family and sister visited early april - we had hired a private egyptologist to see the west bank temples etc (over and above the usual touristy things we had seen as part of our cruise). We were just gobsmacked at the House - to see the desk and teh diary copy of the day they found the first step to Tuts tomb, OMG totally fantabulous.... We had the house to ourselves and it was fabulous just to be there, it captured our imaginations.... MUST GO SEE and yes, we must go back....
Gill Hodkinson