Probably the most stunning artefact from ancient times ever excavated, the golden mask of King Tutankhamun, on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
"I widened the breach and by means of the candle looked in ........
It was sometime before one could see, the hot air escaping caused the candle to flicker, but as soon as one's eyes became accustomed to the glimmer of light the interior of the chamber gradually loomed before one, with its strange and wonderful medley of extraordinary and beautiful objects heaped upon one another.
There was naturally short suspense for those present who could not see, when Lord Carnarvon said to me 'Can you see anything?'
I replied to him 'Yes, it is wonderful'."
Howard Carter opening King Tutankhamen's Tomb (26 November 1922)
