Tutankhamun

"King Tut" redirects here because this article is about Tutankhamun the Pharaoh. For the Batman villain, see King Tut (Batman), For the Steve Martin song, see King Tut (song)

Tutankhamun is the world's best known pharaoh, partly because his tomb is among the best preserved, and his image and associated artifacts the most-exhibited. He has also entered popular culture - he has, for example, been commemorated in the whimsical song "King Tut" by the American comedian Steve Martin, and in a series of historical novels by the American author Lynda Robinson. He is the focus of the light hearted song "Dead Egyptian Blues" by the band Trout Fishing in America from their "Over the Limit" album. He was also the namesake of one of Batman's arch enemies in the 1960s American television series "Batman" with Adam West. As Jon Manchip White writes, in his forward to the 1977 edition of Carter's The Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun, "The pharaoh who in life was one of the least esteemed of Egypt's kings has become in death the most renowned."

Perhaps we will never know what exactly happened to him in a cold winter day in year 1325 BC (based on the types of flowers found in his tomb, it can be assumed that he was interred on March/April, so he would have died between 70-90 days before that, as that much time is required for mummification and other related funeral processes). The most likely reason could be the injuries from a chariot accident.

The major contribution of the boy king could easily be his hastily-prepared tomb, resulting from his untimely death. The spectacular discovery, the sheer size of wealth uncovered, the beautiful artifacts that depicted the love and affection between the ill-fated young royal couple and the flowers placed on the golden mask of the mummy - about which Carter wrote that he would like to imagine them as placed by Ankhesenamun just before the closing of the casket- the list can be endless. All this fueled the imagination of the global public and raised interest in Egypt and its culture to an unprecedented level throughout the world.

Discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb

Tutankhamun seems to have faded from public consciousness in ancient Egypt within a short time after his death, and he remained virtually unknown until the early 20th century. His tomb is thought to have been opened hurriedly by grave robbers within a few days after his death, but few items of value were stolen and the tomb was resealed, possibly by priests.

In 1907, just before his discovery of the tomb of Horemheb, Theodore M. Davis's team uncovered a small site containing funerary artifacts with Tutankhamun's name. Assuming that the site was Tutankhamun's complete tomb, Davis concluded the dig. The details of both findings are documented in Davis's 1912 publication, The Tombs of Harmhabi and Touatânkhamanou; the book closes with the comment, "I fear that the Valley of Kings is now exhausted." But Davis was to be proven spectacularly wrong.

The British Egyptologist Howard Carter (employed by Lord Carnarvon) discovered Tutankhamun's tomb (since designated KV62) in The Valley of The Kings on November 4, 1922 near the entrance to the tomb of Ramses VI, thereby setting off a renewed interest in all things Egyptian in the modern world. Carter contacted his patron, and on November 26 that year both men became the first people to enter Tutankhamun's tomb in over 3000 years. After many weeks of careful excavation, on February 16, 1923 Carter opened the inner chamber and first saw the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun.

For many years, rumors of a "curse" (probably fueled by newspapers at the time of the discovery) persisted, emphasizing the early death of some of those who had first entered the tomb. However, a recent study of journals and death records indicates no statistical difference between the age of death of those who entered the tomb and those on the expedition who did not. Indeed, most lived past 70.

Ancient Egyptian senet games were found in the tomb.

Tutankhamun's appearance and controversy

see also Controversy over race of ancient Egyptians - Reconstruction of King Tutankhamun

The controversial rendering of Tutankhamun exhibiting hazel eyes and a "mid-range" skin tone, as shown on the cover of National Geographic in 2005.

In 2005, three teams of scientists (Egyptian, French and American), in partnership with the National Geographic Society, developed a new facial likeness of Tutankhamun. The Egyptian team worked from 1,700 three-dimensional CT scans of the pharaoh's skull. The French and American teams worked plastic molds created from these – but the Americans were never told whom they were reconstructing.
* Controversy over race of Ancient Egyptians
* Marfan's syndrome

References

Further reading

* Howard Carter, Arthur C. Mace, The Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamen. Courier Dover Publications, June 1, 1977, ISBN 0486235009 The semi-popular account of the discover and opening of the tomb written by the archaeologist responsible
* C. Nicholas Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun: The King, the Tomb, the Royal Treasure. London: Thames & Hudson, November 1, 1990, ISBN 0500050589 (hardcover)/ISBN 0500278105 (paperback) Fully covers the complete contents of his tomb
* T. G. H. James, Tutankhamun. New York: Friedman/Fairfax, September 1, 2000, ISBN 1586630326 (hardcover) A large-format volume by the former Keeper of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum, filled with colour illustrations of the funerary furnishings of Tutankhamun, and related objects
* Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, Sarwat Okasha (Preface), Tutankhamen: Life and Death of a Pharaoh. New York: New York Graphic Society, 1963, ISBN 0821201514 (1976 reprint, hardcover) /ISBN 0140116656 (1990 reprint, paperback)
* Thomas Hoving, The search for Tutankhamun: The untold story of adventure and intrigue surrounding the greatest modern archeological find. New York: Simon & Schuster, October 15, 1978, ISBN 0671243055 (hardcover)/ISBN 0815411863 (paperback) This book details a number of interesting anecdotes about the discovery and excavation of the tomb
* Bob Brier, The Murder of Tutankhamen: A True Story. Putnam Adult, April 13, 1998, ISBN 0425166899 (paperback)/ISBN 0399143831 (hardcover)/ISBN 0613289676 (School & Library Binding)
* Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen Edwards, Treasures of Tutankhamun. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1976, ISBN 0345273494 (paperback)/ISBN 0670727237 (hardcover)
* Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, The Mummy of Tutankhamun: the CT Scan Report, as printed in Ancient Egypt, June/July 2005.
* Michael Haag, "The Rough Guide to Tutankhamun: The King: The Treasure: The Dynasty". London 2005. ISBN 1-84353-554-8.

External links

* End Paper: A New Take on Tut's Parents by Dennis Forbes (KMT 8:3 . FALL . 1997 ? KMT Communications)
* The mummy's curse: historical cohort study (Mark R Nelson, British Medical Journal 2002;325:1482-1484)
*Tutankhamun profile
*Life of King Tut
*Mummy Mania - King Tut info and current exhibit itinerary
*Theban Mapping Project - Includes detailed maps of this and most of the other tombs.
*William Max Miller's Theban Royal Mummy Project
*Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation (The Griffith Institute)
*Self Improvement Wednesday - ABC 702 Drive audio

Appearance/death
* Putting a Face on King Tut Wired Magazine
* The Face of King Tut: The controversy over skin color NPR
*Tutankhamun Examined in a CT Scanner
*King Tut - National Geographic magazine
*King Tut's skin color a topic of controversy
*Researchers propose new theory on his death