DFW International Airport to Host 26-Foot-Tall Anubis Statue in Celebration of King Tut Exhibit

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, (December 19, 2008) – DFW International Airport welcomed the ancient Egyptian jackal-headed god Anubis, guide and protector of the dead, to the Airport’s popular Founders’ Plaza today, celebrating the successful conclusion of the “Year of the International Traveler.” The 10-ton, 26-foot-tall statue, which will “deck the skyways” with a giant candy cane staff, will be on display to celebrate the “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” exhibit showing at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) through May of 2009. Santa and his helpful elves joined a crowd of well-wishers to greet Anubis at Founders’ Plaza today, and air passengers will get a unique view of the statue from the north end of the Airport on thousands of upcoming holiday flights.  

“The placement of Anubis at our highly popular Founders’ Plaza observation area highlights the cultural and economic significance of DFW International Airport to the North Texas region,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO for DFW. "This will allow thousands of local citizens and international tourists to get an up-close look at this unique statue and allow DFW a great opportunity to support the DMA as part of our Owner Cities Program." 

DFW adopted the "Owner Cities Program" in 1993 to promote the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth as the municipal owners of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The program is designed to promote Dallas and Fort Worth cultural and public events that attract tourism and economic development to the region.  

Anubis will overlook the Airport's 18,000 acres near Highway 114 at Texan Trail, where thousands of daily commuters will see the statue along with the daily visitors to Founders’ Plaza. 

Anubis has also served as the protector of King Tut's treasures in other major venues. Anubis has floated the River Thames in London, and earlier this year stood close to Big Tex at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. 

"Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," an extensive collection of more than 130 treasures from the tomb of King Tut, other Valley of the Kings tombs and additional ancient sites, will be on view at the Dallas Museum of Art through May 17, 2009. 

Organized by the National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, Northern Trust is the presenting sponsor of the encore tour, and American Airlines is the official airline of the exhibition. The Dallas engagement is presented in partnership with the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau. For ticket information, call 877-TUTTKTS or visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.dallasmuseumofart.org.