The tomb of King Tutankhamun was found in the Valley of Kings in 1922 and changed our understanding of ancient Egypt.
Tutankhamun only ruled Egypt for a decade. His tomb was full of never-before-seen treasures.
We are fascinated with mummies. Being close to the face of a prehistoric Egyptian king makes them look more real.
The discovery of Tutankhamun's original resting place makes us feel like we are in a primeval past. We are transported back to the funeral of a young king.
Tutankhamun's life is often overshadowed by the rumors surrounding his tomb, such as whispers of a curse.
We won't be able to see Tutankhamun the person if gossip gets in the way.
It's hard to understand why someone died. Tutankhamun is one of the exceptions.
In ancient Egypt, people lived longer lives because they didn't have the same healthcare as we do. Tutankhamun was young for ancient Egypt.
Studies using x-rays,CT scans, and DNA testing have shown that Tutankhamun has a number of medical conditions. Before he died, he broke his leg.
We can build a picture of Tutankhamun's health before he dies. We don't know how he died, but there is no sign of murder.
Tutankhamun wore a collar made of flowers when his tomb was opened. They were sealed in the coffin with him.
There are funeral bouquets on mummies. The only royal burial where all the flowers were found was in this one.
Ancient Egyptians painted pictures of flowers on the walls of their tombs. For symbolism, flowers were admired for their beauty.
The flowers and fruits used in the collar show that Tutankhamun was buried in the middle of March and April. It would take 70 days for Tutankhamun's body to be prepared for interment.
When the Egyptians mummified a person, they followed a recipe. Natron was used to dry the body after it had been removed. The mummy was able to survive for thousands of years but had a shrunken appearance.
The Ka had to be able to recognize its body in order to return to it's original state in the afterlife.
The substances were put under Tutankhamun's face to make it look more realistic.
It has been assumed that Tutankhamun died suddenly and was embalmed quickly.
This is not true, according to the most recent scans. It would take a lot of time and skill to put out the face.
It is difficult to escape the image of Tutankhamun in his tomb. He wasn't the only one in the tomb.
There were two miniature coffins in the treasury.
Two female fetuses were found in these coffins. The one that died at or around the time of birth was around five-to-six months pregnant.
The daughters of Tutankhamun and Ankhesenamun are most likely dead.
A mummified fetus is very rare. Some children were mummified by the ancient Egyptians, but this was rare.
Tutankhamun wanted his children to be with him when he died.
Fame isn't always good for you. Tutankhamun's renown has brought a lot of scientific study and injury to his body.
Tutankhamun is the most studied mummy in the world.
Tutankhamun's body is no longer complete according to the most recent studies.
The first study was done in 1925. The anatomists who studied Tutankhamun had to remove him from his coffin as he was stuck to it. His limbs and head were separated by the handling.
The tomb of Tutankhamun is the only one of its kind in the world. During the second world war, his tomb may have been entered by an unknown person.
Tutankhamun's ribs were cut and removed in order to find something.
Understanding Tutankhamun's health, life, and preparation for the afterlife has been aided by science.
His legacy is much more than a study of his life. Our fascination with the boy king is fueled by science.
Jenefer is a lecturer in Egyptology.
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