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[David Whitehouse]: “One of the smallest objects in this case is one of the most precious.
We’re looking at the sculpted head of an ancient Egyptian king. This is truly a miniature
masterpiece.”
[Kid 1]: How can you tell it’s a King?
[David]: “We know that because of the kind of headdress the figure is wearing. We think
it’s the king whose name was Amenhotep II, and he was Pharaoh, that is king of Egypt
between 1436 and 1411 (B.C.).”
[Kid 2]: I thought we were in a glass museum. Why does Amenhotep’s head look like it was
made out of stone?
David: “The reason it isn’t clear like we expect glass to be is it’s been buried
for centuries. And during the time it’s been buried in the ground, a chemical reaction
has taken place between the surface of the glass, and minerals in the ground, and most
especially moisture in the ground, and the glass has begun to deteriorate. In this particular
case, it’s deteriorated by assuming a non-glassy, rather stone-like appearance. But it is glass
and we do know from a little glimpse of it at the back, that it was actually bright blue
when it was new. (He’s one of our great treasures).”
[Narrator]: Well, he might be a treasure, but he’s still missing his nose! (giggling)
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