Tomorrow, the Penn Museum will open its doors to its signature new exhibition: The Golden Age of King Midas, an interactive exhibition that brings to life the history of Turkey from thousands and thousands of years ago.

The exhibition centers in on the life and reign of King Midas, a ruler who is largely known from mythological stories about his golden touch. At the Penn Museum, though, visitors will learn about his real life, the society he ruled and the excavation of his father’s, Gordios, tomb.

Exhibition Fast Facts

A world-premiere exhibit on King Midas opens at the Penn Museum on February 13.

Opening weekend celebrates the exhibition with a fashion show, live music, crafts and much more.

The exhibition is made up from 120 ancient artifacts and a number of interactive displays.

On view through November 27, 2016.

The exhibition truly gives guests a broad portrait of what life was like more than 2500 years ago while also celebrating the Penn Museum’s excellent conservation efforts of some of the oldest items in the world. The exhibition is billed as one of the largest and most ancient collections of Turkish artifacts in the United States.

(Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia) More than 120 ancient artifacts make up the King Midas exhibition at the Penn Museum.

Opening Weekend Events

The Penn Museum celebrates the opening of The Golden Age of King Midas with a bevy of opening-day events that celebrate Phrygian culture on Saturday, February 13.

Throughout the day, the Penn Museum hosts a Phrygian fashion show featuring clothing from Turkey, live traditional Turkish music, lectures from the curators of King Midas, storytelling, a Golden Touch temporary tattoo station, a pebble mosaic craft and more.

During opening weekend and opening weekend only, the space that is known as Pebble Hall will be transformed into a Kervansaray-inspired oasis — a space that is complete with beautiful rugs and cozy seating that is inspired by a Turkish Kervansaray, which were covered roadside inns that offered guests refuge from their travels.

(Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia) a Phrygian fashion show

live traditional Turkish music

lectures

and more In celebration of opening weekend for the exhibition, the Penn Museum hosts…

The Exhibition

The highly visual and highly interactive exhibition brings visitors back in time to Turkey when King Midas ruled.

The artifacts — and the exhibition — centers around the excavation of Gordios’ tomb in 1957 — impressively, the tomb is the oldest standing wood building in the world.

More than 120 objects found within the final resting place of Gordios will be on display, gathered from four museums in Turkey. Many of the items on view are in the United States for the first time ever, which makes the exhibition one of the largest and most ancient collections of Turkish artifacts in the United States.

In addition to ancient artifacts, knowledge about Phrygian society is also brought light throughout the exhibition including a section about the food and drinks found in King Midas’ father’s tomb that was discovered due to residue found in bowls and cups. Remnants of honey and grapes were both found in the tomb.

The interactive elements of the exhibition include a digital look into Gordios’ tomb upon its discovery that guests can use a controller to explore and an interactive display of the citadel at Phrygia that teaches guests about the different areas of the living quarters including the throne rooms, where the elite were housed, areas for work and more.

Food and Drink Specials

In addition to the items on display in the gallery, the Penn Museum also honors the exhibition with a special Turkish-inspired menu in its Pepper Mill Cafe. The food specials will be available from Friday through Sunday and menu items include stuffed grape leaves, toasted pita, chickpea fritters, and lamb-stuffed eggplant. Also for sale is Dogfish Head’s Midas Touch beer, a drink that was developed to resemble residue of alcoholic beverages found in the tomb.

(Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia) The exhibition centers on the excavation of Gordios’ tomb, which is the oldest standing wood building in the world.

Tickets

Admission to The Golden Age of King Midas is an added $5 cost on top of general admission to the museum.

Tickets are $20 adults, $18 senior citizens, $15 for children and students, $5 for active military and free for members, PennCard holders and children under 5.

Tickets for the exhibition are available online.