King Tut
dates of birth and death are unknown
Pharaoh of Egypt - grave robber's dream
by Rit Nosotro First Published:: 2003( )
Tutankhamun, the son of Akanotn, became Pharaoh of Egypt soon after his father
died. Tut was nine years old at the time he became Pharaoh, but nine years later
he was dead. Was he murdered? Was it by his half-sister/wife? The Treasurer?
The Chief of Police? Or his Prime Minister? Who murdered Tut?
At the age of nine, Tut married his half-sister, Ankhesanamum. They had two
girl children, who did not live very long. Because Tut was so young when he
became Pharaoh, he relied on the three men who were closest to him. The Chief
Treasurer, Chief of Police, and the Prime Minister of Egypt. They each taught
him what he needed to know as a Pharaoh. All of these men and Tut's wife, seemed
close to Tut, but who killed him and why?
Tut's tomb was found in the Valley of the Kings in 1922 by Howard Carter. Carter
had found many Egyptian tombs, but they had all been robbed. Tut's tomb seemed
to have been one that had not been robbed. However, Tut's tomb actually had
been robbed before. It seemed that the items that had been stolen had been replaced.
The tomb was then moved to a different location and the place where it had been
before was burned so Tut's tomb would not be found. Even with these precautions
Carter, searching for over five years, was able to discover the location of
Tut's tomb.
When Carter removed the coffin from the tomb, he discovered that it had been
sealed with glue. It took a long time, but they finally broke the casing around
the coffin. Carter then discovered that the mummy itself had been glued to the
bottom of the coffin! The body was glued so tight that Tut's body had to be
dismembered in order to get the body out. Arms, legs, and the head were removed
from the body. Then each part was X-rayed.
When the skull was x-rayed, scientists noticed a very strange dent on the side
of the skull. They also noticed a piece of bone that looked like it had been
chipped off from inside the skull. The scientists believed that it might have
happened during the mummification procedure, when the brain was being removed.
Soon after, however, evidence of a hemorrhage was discovered at the bottom part
of Tut's skull. Recently, scientists and doctors have discovered that King Tut
had Scoliosis or a disease called Klippel-feil syndrome, which is a disease
that causes a person not to be able to turn their head normally. It is a spinal
disease.
One hundred thirty walking sticks were found in Tut's tomb. Also, certain paintings
in Tut's tomb were discovered which showed Tut leaning on a cane with his legs
crossed awkwardly underneath him. There was a "U" shaped headrest
found. Scientists believe this was a headrest for King Tut in order for him
to keep his head and his spine in a straight line. Evidence showed that one
of Tut's children that were buried with him also had Scoliosis.
There are many ways that Tut could have died with his disease; still evidence
shows that it may not have been a natural death. Suspicion lies with King Tut's
Prime Minister, Ay. Ay was the closest to Tut other than Tut's wife. Tut's wife,
Ankhesanamun from paintings found, seemed to have truly loved her husband. She
would not have benefited from Tut's death. Ay, however, became Pharaoh upon
Tut's death. A wedding type ring was found that had the names of Ay and Ankhesanamun.
This may have been evidence of Ay forcing Tut's wife into marriage, which would
make him Pharaoh. Ankhesanamun disappeared and all evidence of her was destroyed.
King Tutankhamun had a hard, painful life with his diseases. The young Pharaoh,
who became King of Egypt at age nine, died an early, sudden death. We will never
know what this young Pharaoh could have done in Egypt.
Bibliography:
www.discovery.com
