King Tutankhamun's Tomb Has Secrets To Reveal Even 100 Years After Its Discovery
Archaeologist Howard Carter, around a hundred years ago, had unexpectedly uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Carter's life was forever altered - and so was the young king’s afterlife.
On November 4, 1922, archaeologists headed by Carter uncovered a stair carved into the valley floor in a mostly undiscovered portion of the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. The crew discovered steps leading to a door on November 23. On the entrance was a hieroglyphic seal identifying the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
A Brief History
Tutankhamun gained authority when he was around 10 years old, around 1334 B.C. His rule lasted nearly a decade until he met an unfortunate end. Although a minor character among Egyptian pharaohs, Tutankhamun is one of the few whose elaborately designed burial chamber was recovered entirely intact.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tut's tomb, here are someamazing facts for history-lovers.
Tut was maybe not frail
Tutankhamun is reputed to have been a frail young man with a clubfoot. Some studies believe that his impaired immune system contributed to his untimely demise.
Now,there is new evidence that reveals it is incorrect to portray Tut as a weak king. Clues from Tutankhamun's body and tomb objects bolster his physical status. The youthful pharaoh may have even engaged in combat.
X-rays of the 1960s mummies reveal no indication of an ankle deformity that would have created a limp. Neither did CT pictures analysed in 2005.
Tut's initial anonymity contributed to his subsequent renown
After Tutankhamun's death, ancient Egyptian kings attempted to eliminate any historical references and documentation related to him. This was because his father, Akhenaten, was considered a "heretic monarch" who prohibited the worship of all but one Egyptian deity. According to scholars, Akhenaten is the first monotheist documented in history. Ordinary Egyptians, who had previously worshipped to hundreds of gods, were suddenly restricted to worshipping just Aten, a sun god traditionally considered a lesser divinity.
Tutankhamun and his queen are shown on the backrest of his gilded throne
The backrest of Tutankhamun's gold throne features a picture of the monarch and his queen, Ankhesenamun, in a stance that is remarkably casual for Egyptian royal art. Changes to the royals' names on the throne show that efforts were made to obliterate the memory of King Akhenaten, Tutankhamun's contentious father, and his family.
Tut's tomb was constructed in a hurry
Tutankhamun's untimely death prevented him from making extensive tomb preparations. And the 70-day burial custom left artisans with little time to complete important tomb goods, many of which needed at least a year to create. These items include a carved stone sarcophagus containing three nested coffins, four shrines, hundreds of servant sculptures, a gold mask, chariots, jewels, beds, and chairs, as well as an alabaster casket containing tiny gold coffins for Tutankhamun's internal organs extracted during mummification.
