The legendary tomb of King Tutankhamun (Ancient Egypt) has captivated archaeologists and the public alike since its discovery and excavation, surrounded by strange rumors and fascinating mysteries. Today, some of the mysteries within this tomb have been decoded by experts.
Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, is one of the most renowned and significant pharaohs to have ruled Ancient Egypt. Tutankhamun ascended to the throne at the age of 8 or 9 after the death of his father, Akhenaten, around 1334 BC.
Since its discovery and excavation, King Tut’s tomb has fascinated archaeologists and the public. (Photo: Express).
Tutankhamun ruled Ancient Egypt for 10 years until his death at the age of 19 – in 1324 BC.
The great king of Ancient Egypt remained largely unknown to the modern world until 1922 when British archaeologist Howard Carter unearthed and entered a tomb that had been sealed for about 3,200 years. What greeted the archaeologists was a dazzling sight.
King Tut’s tomb contained a vast treasure of burial goods, including many valuable gold and silver artifacts. This has puzzled archaeologists for many years.
A documentary by the Smithsonian Channel has revealed answers to some of the mysteries inside the tomb that made King Tut the most famous of all the pharaohs of Egypt.
The first question is why the tomb contains so many burial items?
According to experts, the ancient Egyptians held a strong belief in the afterlife, and the mummies of pharaohs were buried in tombs filled with items they would need for the world beyond – including everyday tools, food, wine, perfumes, and household items. King Tut was no exception.
This explains why King Tut’s tomb contains approximately 5,398 burial items.
Professor Salima Ikram, an Egyptologist at the American University in Cairo, shared in the Smithsonian Channel documentary that: “The ancient Egyptians valued insurance. Therefore, they had many safety nets in case something did not go as planned. For example, a spell might fail. So, there was a backup spell.”
“If this item is destroyed, there will be another backup, so you always have things to help you reach where you want to go. Therefore, Egyptologists believe this is why Tutankhamun took 5,000 items with him to the afterlife,” the professor added.
“The more burial goods he had, the more opportunities he had to defeat demons and overcome obstacles ahead,” Professor Ikram explained.
The second mystery is why King Tut was buried in an unusually small tomb for his status.
Archaeologists speculate that his death may have come unexpectedly, leading to him being buried in a tomb that was originally constructed for someone else.
The circumstances surrounding King Tut’s death have been considered a mystery for a long time since his tomb was discovered. Later, based on numerous studies, experts found that this great king was actually in poor health.
DNA analysis in 2010 revealed that his parents were siblings, and Tutankhamun’s wife was also his half-sister.
CT scans showed that Tutankhamun had a fractured left leg and an infection, while DNA analysis revealed evidence that the king had contracted malaria.
After his death, Tutankhamun’s tomb was filled with burial goods that reflected the wealth reserved for a king.
However, a shocking discovery in the tomb left archaeologists stunned – the mummies of two female fetuses.
King Tut was buried with two fetuses – his two daughters who died before birth. (Image: Smithsonian Channel)
DNA analysis of the two bodies showed that both were daughters of Tutankhamun.
One fetus is believed to have died at about four months of gestation, while the other was full-term, as it had eyebrows, eyelashes, and fine hair on its head.
Despite their father being a king, Professor Ikram noted that the careful mummification of the fetuses was quite “extraordinary.”
Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley suggested that Tutankhamun’s daughters were his “final insurance policy.”
“Tutankhamun was very wealthy. He could have built a separate tomb for his daughters if he wanted to. Therefore, the fact that their bodies were mummified to be buried with him suggests there might be some deeper reason behind it,” the Egyptologist said.
Women and girls were often chosen as protectors in Ancient Egypt. (Photo: Smithsonian Channel)
In Ancient Egypt, women and girls often played protective roles when arranged to stand beside their fathers or gods.
Ms. Tyldesley noted that Tutankhamun’s daughters might have played an active role in their father’s journey to the afterlife.
“By being on the boat with King Tut or having their souls protect him, King Tut would be safe,” she said.
The mummy of King Tutankhamun is currently displayed in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings in chamber KV62.
