The solution to the mystery of King Tut's death has been revealed 3,336 years after his death. The legendary Tutankhamun became Pharaoh at nine years of age. He was only 18 years old when he died.
It was one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world as to whether the Egyptian boy pharaoh was murdered, contracted leprosy or even died from snakebite. Now, 91 years after English archaeologist Howard Carter discovered his tomb in the Valley of the Kings, there is new evidence to suggest the pharaoh died after being struck in the torso by a speeding chariot. The chariot discovery was made by Dr Chris Naunton, director of the Egypt Exploration Society, after reading Carter’s notes, which were never published. Read more.
It was one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world as to whether the Egyptian boy pharaoh was murdered, contracted leprosy or even died from snakebite. Now, 91 years after English archaeologist Howard Carter discovered his tomb in the Valley of the Kings, there is new evidence to suggest the pharaoh died after being struck in the torso by a speeding chariot. The chariot discovery was made by Dr Chris Naunton, director of the Egypt Exploration Society, after reading Carter’s notes, which were never published. Read more.
After his death in 1323 BC, Tutankhamun was rapidly embalmed and buried, causing his mummified body to spontaneously combust in his sarcophagus. The embalmers would have been faced with the problem of a mangled body, rather than a clean one.
In 1922 the revelation of the virtually intact tomb of Tutankhamun became probably the best known and most spectacular archaeological find anywhere in the world. His sarcophagus was covered in gold that would be needed by the king in his afterlife. The small tomb contained hundreds of objects now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Many of the tomb goods that would be needed by the king in his afterlife were richly decorated and covered in gold.
After passing an inspection before being allowed entry, my husband and I visited the Cairo museum in 1988 and stared open-mouthed at the treasures on display. At that time, guards armed with old rifles stood around the room and occupied every doorway. I don't know which part of the exhibition raised more goose bumps—treasure or danger.
In 1922 the revelation of the virtually intact tomb of Tutankhamun became probably the best known and most spectacular archaeological find anywhere in the world. His sarcophagus was covered in gold that would be needed by the king in his afterlife. The small tomb contained hundreds of objects now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Many of the tomb goods that would be needed by the king in his afterlife were richly decorated and covered in gold.
After passing an inspection before being allowed entry, my husband and I visited the Cairo museum in 1988 and stared open-mouthed at the treasures on display. At that time, guards armed with old rifles stood around the room and occupied every doorway. I don't know which part of the exhibition raised more goose bumps—treasure or danger.
Back in 1968, after a photographer from Liverpool University took 50 X-rays of the mummy, researchers discovered a chunk of Tutankhamun’s skull had floated loose, leading to four decades of murder theories. But now it is believed that the head injury was caused after his death and that the clues to his demise lie in his chest. Not only did Tut's skeleton have broken ribs on its left-hand side but it was lacking a sternum, or breastbone, and heart.
So—the death could have been a simple accident or a convenient way to dispose of the king and revert to the old ways without arousing suspicions.
I don't know about you, but I'm fascinated by ancient Egypt. My lead figure, Liliha in the Moonstone series of novels, wears an ancient Egyptian ring which causes visions. In the co-written futuristic Higher Ground series, the band of unlikely adventurers from Cornworld (Cornwall) travel all the way to Long Doom (London) to find the ring in the British Museum.
According to my research, the mysterious Princess Meritaten, Tut's sister, arrived in Ireland shortly after his death. Ireland is across a short stretch of water from Cornwall. In the novel Still Rock Water, Liliha's grandmother gifted the ancient ring to her. From tales like these, myths are made.
So—the death could have been a simple accident or a convenient way to dispose of the king and revert to the old ways without arousing suspicions.
I don't know about you, but I'm fascinated by ancient Egypt. My lead figure, Liliha in the Moonstone series of novels, wears an ancient Egyptian ring which causes visions. In the co-written futuristic Higher Ground series, the band of unlikely adventurers from Cornworld (Cornwall) travel all the way to Long Doom (London) to find the ring in the British Museum.
According to my research, the mysterious Princess Meritaten, Tut's sister, arrived in Ireland shortly after his death. Ireland is across a short stretch of water from Cornwall. In the novel Still Rock Water, Liliha's grandmother gifted the ancient ring to her. From tales like these, myths are made.
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