King Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, was one of the most famous pharaohs whose reign lasted from about 1332 to 1323 BC. He became king at just nine years old; at the time, his leadership was fairly unimportant. However, after he died and his tomb was found, he became vital to history. One of the most critical achievements during his lifetime was resurrecting the cult of Amun-Ra and returning Egypt to polytheism, which overturned the religious reforms of his father, Akhenaten.
In 1922, both his tomb and mummy were discovered, still in good shape. Since he wasn’t a well-known pharaoh, no one tried to uncover his tomb or research it. Unlike other tombs of famous kings, his was still in great condition, which helped scientists learn more about Egypt’s past.
King Tut died at around 18 or 19 years old, but the cause is still unknown. Many believe that it is possible that he was murdered because an x-ray showed there was an area with a bump. Dr. Harrison stated, “It could have been caused by a hemorrhage under the membranes overlaying the brain in this region. It could have been caused by a blow to the back of the head, which in turn could have caused death.” Later, King Tut’s wife, Ankhesenamen, writes to the Hittite King asking for one of his sons to marry and finishes the letter by saying she is scared. She also says, “Never will I marry a servant of mine.” It almost seems as if she was compelled to marry a commoner. The Hittite King sent a prince, who ended up being murdered on the border of the country.
Although people think that King Tut was murdered, 3D scanning revealed that he already had poor health. He most likely passed away from malaria or a broken leg after falling out of a chariot.
Knowing how to analyze various theories and objects is a large part of art history, which can be helpful in order to understand the past.
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