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Why Tutankhamun's Mummy Baffles Historians To This Day (And Its Dark History) | Our History

Our History・33 minutes read

The death of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1323 BC sparked a succession race among three contenders vying for the throne, leading to an unfinished, rushed burial process with potentially recycled treasures and an unusual mummification process. Tutankhamun's tomb contained over 5,500 items, including four gilded shrines, with evidence suggesting that the burial items were repurposed from previous kings due to political and economic turmoil in ancient Egypt.

Insights

  • Tutankhamun's mummification process was rushed and potentially incompetently done due to political crises and his sudden death, leading to unusual methods and missing organs, indicating the impact of external factors on ancient Egyptian burial practices.
  • The presence of recycled treasures in Tutankhamun's tomb, potentially originally intended for others like Nefertiti, suggests a complex web of political and social dynamics influencing the burial process, highlighting the interconnected nature of ancient Egyptian royalty and the reuse of valuable artifacts for different rulers.

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Recent questions

  • How was Tutankhamun mummified?

    Tutankhamun's mummification process involved removing internal organs, embalming the body, and desiccating it using natron to dry it out. His mummification was unusual, with a large abdominal cut and a missing or hidden heart, possibly due to political crises and his sudden death. The body was then wrapped in linen after being dried out and covered in oil for flexibility before being sealed with heated resins, leading to a carbonized appearance. Despite the rushed or incompetent mummification process, Tutankhamun's body was mummified following traditional Egyptian practices.

  • Who vied for the throne after Tutankhamun's death?

    After Tutankhamun's death, three contenders vied for the throne: his widow Ankhesenamun, General Horemheb, and Chamberlain Ay. The succession race was sparked by a messenger's news of Tutankhamun's death in 1323 BC, leading to a high-stakes competition for the pharaoh's position. Each contender had their own claim to the throne, with Ankhesenamun's desperate attempt to secure her royal position by appealing to the Hittite king for marriage revealing the political turmoil in Egypt during that time.

  • What was Tutankhamun's tomb like?

    Tutankhamun's tomb was small and unimpressive, possibly indicating an unfinished burial due to political and economic turmoil. The tomb's size and lack of grandeur raised questions about the rushed or incomplete burial process, with Chamberlain Ay potentially switching tombs with Tutankhamun to legitimize his claim to the throne. Despite the tomb's unconventional layout, Tutankhamun's burial chamber contained almost 5,500 items, including the iconic gilded shrines crucial for protecting the mummy and aiding in his journey to the afterlife.

  • Why were there recycled treasures in Tutankhamun's tomb?

    Evidence suggests that up to 80% of King Tut's burial equipment was reused from previous owners, potentially making 8 out of 10 treasures in the tomb not originally intended for Tutankhamun. Nicholas Reeves found recycled treasures in the tomb, indicating that they were originally made for others, including Nefertiti. This reuse of burial items points to the economic and political challenges faced during Tutankhamun's reign, leading to a rushed burial process and potential pilfering of items.

  • What were the shrines in Tutankhamun's tomb used for?

    The four gilded shrines in Tutankhamun's tomb, the size of a large SUV, were crucial artifacts that protected the mummy and were part of the magical machinery for Tut's journey to the afterlife. These shrines were meticulously constructed within the cramped burial chamber, with hieroglyphs guiding the workers in assembling the 51-piece shrines, some weighing as much as half a ton. Despite potential reuse from previous kings, the shrines played a significant role in ensuring Tutankhamun's safe passage to the afterlife, reflecting the elaborate burial practices of ancient Egypt.

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Summary

00:00

Race for Pharaoh's Succession: Tutankhamun's Death

  • In 1323 BC, a messenger brings news of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's death, sparking a high-stakes race for succession.
  • Ancient Egyptians believed in elaborate burials for their pharaohs, involving mummification, a grand sarcophagus, and grave goods for the afterlife.
  • Proper burial was crucial for the pharaoh to ascend to the gods; failure could lead to catastrophic consequences.
  • Tutankhamun's mummification process was unusual, with a large abdominal cut and a missing or hidden heart.
  • Mummification involved removing internal organs, embalming, and desiccation using natron to dry out the body.
  • Tutankhamun's mummification may have been rushed or done incompetently due to political crises and his sudden death.
  • Three contenders vied for the throne after Tutankhamun's death: his widow Ankhesenamun, General Horemheb, and Chamberlain Ay.
  • Tutankhamun's tomb was small and unimpressive, possibly indicating an unfinished burial due to political and economic turmoil.
  • Chamberlain Ay may have switched tombs with Tutankhamun to legitimize his claim to the throne, despite the tomb's unconventional layout.
  • Ankhesenamun's desperate attempt to secure her royal position by appealing to the Hittite king for marriage reveals the political turmoil in Egypt.

18:26

King Tut's Mummification Process Revealed

  • Egyptologist Salima Ikram is mummifying a sheep to demonstrate King Tut's mummification process.
  • Tut's organs are removed, and his body is dried out before being covered in oil for flexibility.
  • The body is sealed with heated resins, excessive in Tut's case, leading to a carbonized appearance.
  • The body is wrapped in linen, showcasing lavish wrapping skills despite poor mummification.
  • Tut's sarcophagus, made of quartzite, raises questions about its intricate carving within a 70-day deadline.
  • Stone carver Dave Willett uses flint tools to estimate the time needed for the sarcophagus carving.
  • Marion Eaton Krauss discovers inconsistencies in the sarcophagus carving, hinting at earlier inscriptions.
  • The sarcophagus may have been made for Tut's predecessor, suggesting a hand-me-down tomb.
  • Anka Sanaman's attempt to secure a Hittite husband leads to a diplomatic fiasco and military attack.
  • Nicholas Reeves finds evidence of recycled treasures in Tut's tomb, suggesting they were originally made for others, including Nefertiti.

37:04

King Tut's Tomb: Reused Treasures and Shrines

  • Reeves estimates that up to 80% of King Tut's burial equipment was reused from previous owners, potentially making 8 out of 10 treasures in the tomb not originally intended for Tutankhamun.
  • The four gilded shrines in the tomb, the size of a large SUV, are crucial artifacts that protected the mummy and were part of the magical machinery for Tut's journey to the afterlife.
  • The shrines were meticulously constructed within the cramped burial chamber, with hieroglyphs guiding the workers in assembling the 51-piece shrines, some weighing as much as half a ton.
  • Some panels on the shrines feature the sun disk associated with Tut's father, Akhenaten, leading to the conclusion that the shrines may have been made for other kings, not Tutankhamun.
  • The tomb contained almost 5,500 items, with over 2,000 in the annex, some of which were hastily placed, indicating potential pilfering and a rushed burial process.
  • The wall paintings in the tomb, depicting Tutankhamun's journey to the afterlife, were done on a larger scale than usual, reflecting the artists' limited time to complete the task, resulting in what experts consider mediocre work.
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