The exhibit "The Golden Age of King Midas" opens Feb. 13 and be on display until November. For the opening day, Penn Museum has planned a themed-celebration with a fashion show, crafts, live music and other entertainment.
Midas was indisputably the most famous ruler of the Phrygian kingdom in central Turkey, and his "Golden Touch" made him a favorite topic of Greek legend. In 1957, the University of Pennsylvania excavated a tomb that he built for his father and those artifacts became the centerpiece of the exhibit.
On the opening day, there will be a schedule of events between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and also all-day activities surrounding the new exhibit.
At noon, a Phrygian fashion show begins, with costumes flown directly from Turkey. After the show, there will be a storytelling of the famous King Midas and the Golden Touch fable. Lecture at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. will round out the schedule of events. Live traditional Turkish music is set to start at 3 p.m.
As for all-day events, there will be a pebble mosaic craft, a “Gordian Knot” making craft and a golden-tattoo station.
Penn Museum’s third floor Pepper Hall will be transformed into a Kervansaray-inspired oasis reminiscent of the Turkish Kervansaray, or roadside inns, that offered travelers a place to recover from a journey on the Silk Road.
Tickets to Penn Museum are $10 to $15 and admission to the special exhibit is an additional $5.
"The Golden Age of King Midas" Opening Day Celebration
Saturday, Feb. 13
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | $10-$15 general admission
Penn Museum
3260 South St.
(215) 898-4000