Who was King Tut
Amidst the golden sands of Egypt, the tale of a young pharaoh rises like a mirage, capturing the imagination of historians, archaeologists, and enthusiasts alike for over a century. That pharaoh is Tutankhamun, commonly referred to as King Tut. His unexpected discovery in 1922 sparked a global sensation, making Tutankhamun the most famous of all the pharaohs and the emblem of ancient Egyptian grandeur.
From Obscurity to Iconic Status
Although his reign was short-lived, King Tut’s impact has been eternal. Born around 1342 B.C., Tutankhamun ascended the throne when he was just a boy, approximately nine or ten years old. He ruled during the 18th dynasty, a period of Egyptian history marked by religious upheaval and restoration.
Before Tutankhamun, his predecessor, Akhenaten, had introduced the worship of a single deity, the sun god Aten, displacing the traditional pantheon of gods. After Akhenaten’s death, the young King Tut steered the nation back to its polytheistic roots, which was not only a religious transition but also a political maneuver to appease the powerful priests of Amun.
Discovery of the Century
However, for all his efforts in life, it was in death that King Tut achieved eternal fame. The discovery of his tomb by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922 was nothing short of miraculous. While most royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings had been plundered over millennia, Tutankhamun’s final resting place remained nearly intact.
Carter and his sponsor, Lord Carnarvon, spent years searching for the tomb, and just when they were on the brink of giving up, they stumbled upon a set of steps that led to this historic find. Behind the sealed entrance was a trove of over 5,000 artifacts, a glimpse into the splendor of ancient Egyptian royalty: gilded chariots, intricate jewelry, statues, and of course, the iconic golden death mask that has become synonymous with King Tut.
King Tut’s life started amidst a whirlwind of religious and political change. The boy named Tutankhaten, which means “Living Image of Aten,” was born in the middle of a religious revolution. His father, Pharaoh Akhenaten, had controversially shifted Egypt’s religious focus from a pantheon of deities to the worship of a single god, Aten. When King Tut became the pharaoh, one of his first “adventures” was reversing his father’s policies. His name was changed to Tutankhamun, “Living Image of Amun,” aligning him with the god Amun, a chief deity in the Egyptian pantheon.
His reign saw the restoration of traditional religious practices, which was an adventure in itself. Imagine the boy king, possibly under the guidance of older advisers, re-opening temples, and re-establishing religious ceremonies. The priests of Amun, previously disenfranchised by Akhenaten, would have seen a revival in their importance and would have been instrumental in guiding the young pharaoh. The reinvigoration of these ceremonies and processions would have been grand events, teeming with festivity and religious fervor.
The king’s reign wasn’t devoid of diplomatic endeavors. There are records of correspondence between King Tutankhamun and the rulers of neighboring kingdoms. In these letters, we see glimpses of a pharaoh maintaining and forging alliances, negotiating marriages, and ensuring the prosperity of Egypt.
Despite his young age, might have led or at least been symbolically involved in military campaigns. Artifacts depict the young pharaoh on a chariot, shooting arrows, hinting at some military involvement. Though it’s debatable whether he actually participated in battles or if these were merely symbolic representations, the idea of a boy king leading his troops into battle is a tantalizing thought.
His death is, in itself, a part of his adventure. Dying young, his passing remains a subject of much speculation. Did he suffer from health issues? Was it an accident? Or was it something more sinister? Various theories, from a chariot crash to murder, have been proposed. Each theory adds another layer to the adventurous life of this pharaoh.
While his life was short, his adventure didn’t end with his death. He was buried with an immense treasure, meant to serve him in the afterlife. The discovery of his tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 reignited King Tut’s adventure, this time involving the modern world’s fascination with him. His treasures toured the world, and millions have looked upon the face of the golden mask that once rested upon the mummy of the boy king.
Beyond the glitz and glamour of his burial goods, King Tut was, after all, a young boy thrust into a position of immense power. Recent studies, including CT scans and genetic analysis, have provided a more intimate look into his life. These investigations have suggested that he may have had a slight limp due to a necrotic foot, which is supported by the numerous walking sticks found in his tomb.
Furthermore, genetic studies have indicated that Tutankhamun’s parents were likely siblings, a common practice among Egyptian royalty to maintain the purity of the bloodline. This inbreeding may have led to various congenital defects and health issues that could have contributed to his early demise around the age of 19.
The Curse of the Pharaoh?
The concept of a curse befalling those who disturb the dead is not new and can be found in various
cultures around the world. In Ancient Egypt, tombs were sometimes inscribed with curses to deter potential grave robbers, but these were not necessarily linked to any actual belief in magical retribution. Rather, they were intended as warnings or deterrents.
The modern concept of the Pharaoh’s Curse is largely a creation of Western media, especially from the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Egyptomania gripped Europe and North America. The allure of ancient treasures and the mysteries of the desert created a fertile ground for legends and tales of the supernatural.
The Curse of the Pharaoh is most famously linked to the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. While the tomb itself did not contain a specific curse inscription, the media soon became entranced by the idea that the tomb’s opening could unleash a curse.
A series of deaths and misfortunes associated with people connected to the tomb’s discovery fed into the narrative:
Lord Carnarvon: The financial backer of the excavation died of an infected mosquito bite in 1923. His death, in particular, is often cited as evidence of the curse because it occurred in a high-profile and unexpected manner.
George Jay Gould I: After visiting the tomb, he died of a fever.
Others: Several other individuals connected in some way to the tomb or its artifacts also died under circumstances deemed premature or unusual, further fueling the curse legend.
It’s worth noting, however, that Howard Carter, the man who actually opened the tomb and the sarcophagus, lived for a decade after the discovery and died of natural causes at the age of 64.
Science and Skepticism
Many of the deaths and misfortunes attributed to the curse can be explained through other means. Lord Carnarvon’s death, for instance, can be attributed to poor medical practices of the era. Others might have suffered from pre-existing conditions or mere coincidences.
Furthermore, tombs, especially sealed ones, can contain pathogens. When exposed to the open air after thousands of years, they might have the potential to cause illnesses. This has been suggested as a possible explanation for some of the sicknesses reported by those entering ancient tombs.
