Tutankhamun

Historical context of Tutankamun

In this brief biography of Tutankhamun, we begin by discussing his social environment. Another one-of-a-kind ruler who ruled before Tutankhamun was Amenofis IV, who ruled between the years 1352 and 1336 a.c. and changed his name to Akenatón.

This was the catalyst for a change in Egyptian religion because it led to the monotheistic cult of Atón, who was elevated to the status of the universe's creator and ordered the destruction of all the ancient records and monuments honoring the previous deity, Amon. However, this reform only lasted for the duration of his reign.

After Amenofis IV passed away, there was a period of time when it was believed that he had died without having male offspring, which forced his heirs, Semenkera and Tutankamun, to ascend to the throne around the year 1336 B.C. Recent studies based on ADN tests have indicated that Tutankamun was the son of Amenofis IV himself rather than his wife Nefertiti, who was his wife by ancestry.

The first thing Tutankamón did after ascending to the throne was to reestablish the worship of Amon and Tebas as the center of government, since Tell el Amarna had been the capital during the reign of Akenaton. It is possible to say that this was the most notable event of his reign since, at the age of just 18 years and six months, he passed away with the causes of his death still unknown; however, it is thought that an assassination was most likely the cause.

The death of Tutankhamun

We'll continue this brief biography of Tutankhamun to put his mysterious death in context right now. If we know anything about this character, it is thanks to British archaeologist Howard Carter, who discovered his tomb in the Valle de los Reyes in 1922.

No authentic, undamaged tombs had been reached as of the time, and their discovery contributed such graphic and written information that it had a significant impact on the news community. Due to the perseverance of Howard (who, after six years of labor, was on the verge of giving up) and the financial support of a mechanic named Lord Carnavon, a staircase leading to the best mausoleum ever discovered in history was built, which is an invaluable archaeological treasure.

Arthropodically speaking, this is a little tumulus because it only has 100 meters of gallery space. If we had seen some of the more significant faraon tombs, we would have been even more astounded.

The tomb was divided into four sections: the entrance, the treasure chamber, the burial chamber, and a small annex. All of these sections appeared to be filled with priceless items that were arranged in an organized manner, as if a tomb were being discussed. They made up the majority of the faraon's funeral ajuar.

The authentic trono, which is constructed of wood that has been covered in gold leaf and decorated with precious stone incrustations, stands out among the more than 5,000 pieces that were cataloged. The majority of these pieces are currently housed in the Cairo Museum, and a visit there would take many hours to fully appreciate them.

The disease of Tutankamun

The discovery of the tomb brought with it the biggest archaeological discovery to date, igniting global interest and giving rise to legends and mysteries. One of these is Tutankhamon's malady, which is really just his belief that anybody who hurts the faraon will die tragically soon.

It is believed that the tombs of the faraons included defects warning that they would perish if they advanced in their intermarriage. In the case of Tutankhamun's tomb, it is reported that Howard Carter himself discovered a ceramic fragment at the entranceway bearing the inscription, "Death will come with fear to all who disturb the faraon's rest."

It is true that many more people connected to the hallazgo perished after the death of the Lord Carnavon, but their deaths weren't as tragic as that of one of the mecenas himself, who passed away in April 1923 after contracting an insect bite. A more scientific explanation was given for this long-standing urban legend, blaming the deaths on poisonous germs that were found in the tumba's own air.