Short Reign

 Tutankhamun was a pharaoh during the “Egypt’s New Kingdom” era, around 3000 years ago. He became Pharaoh at the young age of nine. Unfortunately his reign was short and he died 10 years later (1324 BC) aged just 19.

 King Tut is best known for the beautiful artefacts and treasures that were discovered when they excavated his tomb in 1922. The best known and possibly the most beautiful of all is the solid gold funeral mask which can be seen today in Cairo.

 Up until recently the reason for King Tuts early death was unknown. Historians guessed at reasons including a hunting accident, a blood infection, a blow to the head and poisoning.

 King Tut required a cane and suffered from Malaria

 The Examination of King Tut revealed previously unknown details of his former life. The researchers found that the Pharaoh had a deformed left food caused by necrosis of bone tissue. This deformity would have been painful and would have required king Tut to have walked with an aid. Found with him (at the burial site) were several canes, which only solidifies this new finding.

 The scientist also found DNA of a malaria parasite in the young Pharaohs body. This would have weakened his immune system and would have meant his foot would have been hard to heal. These factors combined together (including a fracture in his left thigh bone, discovered in 2005) may have been what lead to his death.

 Tutankhamun’s family tree – DNA poof

 Up until recently the family tree of the young Pharaoh was generally unknown. Researchers and historians had suspected many things about the Pharaohs family but very little was known for sure.

 Only recently DNA testing has been allowed to take place on the mummies. Taking DNA samples from the bones, the scientists were able to create a family tree, stretching back over 5 generations.

 Using this technique the scientists were able to find out that the Heretic King Akhenaten (previously known as mummy KV55, due to lack of identification) was King Tuts father. King Tuts mother has also been found, but not yet identified. What was found however, was that Kings Tuts mother and father were in fact brother and sister which may have been the result of King Tuts ill health and deformities.

 As well as this the two new born fetuses entombed with King Tut were his daughters, whom he most likely fathered with his wife queen Ankhensenamun.

With discoveries being made every day, it makes you wonder what will they find next? Possibly the identification of King Tuts mother? To see King Tuts famous burial mask and the other ancient sites of ancient Egypt take a luxury Nile Cruise, on one of our exclusive dahabiyyas.

About Tessa Biddulph

Other articles by Tessa Biddulph

Tessa Biddulph works in the marketing department and is new to Bales Worldwide. She is spending a year at Bales Worldwide before heading back to university to complete a PR degree. Tessa’s favourite destination she has travelled to is Sydney, Australia, but since working at Bales she has already drawn up a long list of places she’d like to visit (number 1 being Machu Picchu, in Peru).