A young man who ruled Egypt more than 3,200 years ago continues to dazzle the world from beyond the grave. For the first time since his tomb was discovered in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, King Tut’s mummy is now on public display there. The tomb is on the west bank of the Nile, just outside the southern Egyptian city of Luxor, known as Thebes in Tut’s time.

The world first met the pharoah Tutankhamun 85 years ago when British archaeologist Howard Carter found his treasure trove of a tomb. It is in that same tomb where Tut’s mummy has been moved into a specially designed climate-controlled display case to keep it protected from dust and the elements.

The boy king, who’s golden death mask has made him one of the most famous of the Egyptian pharoahs, was only 19 when he died. He had rested inside an ornate sarcophagus before being moved to the display case this weekend. Egyptian officials describe the mummy as being in poor condition, except for the head and feet.

Thousands are expected to visit Tut’s tomb daily for a first-hand look at his royal remains.

An exhibit of his tomb artifacts had been on display in the U. S. before the show came to a close in Philadelphia in September. The Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit is now in London, and will return to the U. S. in 2008.

Photo Credit: KingTut.org