Discovered in 1954 by the Egyptian archaeologist Kamal el Mallak, the solar barque was in pieces in a pit at the foot of the Great Pyramid. The 144-foot long vessel may have transported the pharaoh's earthly remains across the river Nile for burial, or symbolically, transported the king to his afterlife.
In past extravagant exhibits of King Tut's burial chamber treasures, I recall a small gold solar barque, with a solitary figure standing in the bow. At first I thought it was a toy as he was the child king. But the longer I stood still, breathing, observing, I recognized it as a symbolic depiction of the journey across the river of consciousness, of a return to the source.
The lingering question: what survives to make this journey?
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Photo by Andy Parker
