Jeremy Biddle January 22nd, 2014 Period 1 & 2 Exploratory Essay: King Tut Mystery

When British archaeologist, Howard Carter, excavated Pharaoh Tutankhamens tomb in the Valley of the Kings, he discovered lavish rooms filled with golden treasure and ancient relics of days gone by. Sadly, when Carter was finally able to exhume Tut's remains, he discovered a frail, boy king whose reign over Egypt was tragically shortlived. Tutankhamen died before the age of 19. Historians are still unclear about the young pharaoh's accomplishments; however, it was clear that Tutankhamen ruled during a tumultuous time in Egyptian history. Indeed, much of Tut's legacy was undoing the damage his father Akhenaten had caused. With that said, many questions still remain regarding the boy king. In truth, Carter's discovery opened Pandora's Box, unlocking a mystery that has baffled historians to this day. Egyptologists and forensic scientists alike have several plausible theories. Some claim a blow to the back of the head was the ultimate cause of his death; others believe he suffered from malaria and a severely broken leg that refused to heal. So, how did the pharaoh die at such a young age? In 2005, Dr. Zahi Hawass, the Minister of State of Egyptian Antiquities, exhumed Tuts remains in order to piece together this ancient mystery. Interestingly, he and a team of international scientists discovered the young boy pharaoh had a severely broken leg. Could a broken femur have killed King Tut? The answer can be explained

in the severity of his break. Recent x-rays by Hawass show that his left femur had a compound fracture near the knee. 3000 years ago, a break such as this could have easily become infected and killed a person in just a few days. Dr. Hawass believes that Tut had an active lifestyle and may have suffered an accident in which he broke his leg badly, leaving an open wound,(National Geographic, 2005). Indeed, Tut's tomb was filled with several of his favorite chariots. Even more, many images left behind depict a young man who enjoyed archery, hunting, and the outdoors. Clearly, a tragic fall could easily explain the compound leg fracture found on Tut's body and give a conceivable explanation for his premature death. Conversely, some Egyptologists believe that Tut was the victim of foul play. In 1968, Dr. R.G. Harrison, a professor of anatomy from the University of Liverpool, xrayed King Tuts skull. Controversy soon erupted when he discovered the back of his Tuts cranium appeared to several anomalies. Specifically, Harrison discovered a large, dark mass near the base of the skull that resembled a blood clot. Could Tut have been struck in the back of the head with a blunt object? Famed Egyptologist, Dr.Bob Brier, believes these x-rays point to homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Brier speculates that somebody very close to King Tut could have easily murdered the young pharaoh (The Murder of King Tut, 1999). With the possibility of foul play in mind, the primary suspect would have had to been deep in Tut's inner circle. Brier claims that the most likely suspect was his advisor Aye (The Murder of King Tut, 1999). Indeed, Aye would have had the motive and the means to assassinate King Tut. And yet, there is little hard evidence to support these claims. Most of Briers

assertions, plausible as they may seem to some, are primarily based on circumstantial evidence. All in all, King Tutankhamen left behind an extraordinary treasure trove of ancient relics from Egyptian antiquity. Consequently, he also left historians with more questions than answers in regards to his untimely death. The world can only guess what King Tutankhamen would have been able to accomplish had he lived beyond his teenage years. Neverthless, the discovery of King Tut's glorious tomb has given the world an extraordinary view into the past; a story that illuminates the captivating life of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. Even more, the archaeological artifacts that Tut left behind 3000 years ago has granted him the one wish that all pharaohs yearned for: immortality.