The Golden Age of King Midas was open from February 13 through November 27, 2016
What was behind the legendary story of King Midas and his Golden Touch?
The historical King Midas lived in the prosperous city of Gordion, the political and cultural capital of the Phrygians nearly 3,000 years ago. In 1957, Penn Museum archaeologists excavated a spectacular royal tomb believed to be the final resting place of King Midas’ father Gordios. Dating to ca. 740 BCE, the tomb contained a treasure trove of magnificent objects from the time of Midas. This world-exclusive exhibition, developed by the Penn Museum in partnership with the Republic of Turkey, is your chance to view more than 120 dazzling objects, including those from the royal tomb, on special loan from Turkish museums in Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, and Gordion.
The Penn Museum’s discovery of the royal tomb created an international sensation in the late 1950s. The height of the burial mound, which is one of the largest in Turkey, is equivalent to a 17-story building. The tomb chamber within still ranks as the oldest standing wooden building in the world. The exhibition includes many of the bronze vessels from the tomb—most of which will be shown in the U.S. for the first time— that had been used by the mourners at his funerary feast.
Also featured are jewelry, statuary, exquisitely painted pottery, and architectural decoration—including the oldest colored stone mosaic ever made. Ivory furniture panels from northern Iraq (8th c BCE) and elaborate gold jewelry that once decorated a shroud from the Caucasus Mountains (5th c BCE) are among the outstanding artifacts from neighboring realms, all of which demonstrate a legendary king’s extraordinary power and golden touch.
In The Golden Age of King Midas you will discover:
The truth behind the golden touch myth
Life in Phrygia during and after Midas
The history of the Penn Museum’s excavation
The legacy of Midas and the ancient Phrygians
Live like a king (or queen!) for a day when you book an overnight package at one of two hotels in University City. (Please see hotels below for individual prices and availability.)
Midas Hotel Package Includes:
- Two adult tickets to The Golden Age of King Midas (additional tickets are also available for purchase.)
- One or two nights in The Inn at Penn, A Hilton Hotel or the Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel (NOTE: These will link directly to hotel webpages.)
- Full Free breakfast (Inn at Penn only)
- Free hotel parking
- A Midas welcome gift from the Penn Museum
The Golden Age of King Midas is made possible with support from the 1984 Foundation; the Selz Foundation; Frederick J. Manning, W69, and the Manning Family; the Susan Drossman Sokoloff and Adam D. Sokoloff Exhibitions Fund; and the Turkish Cultural Foundation.