Tutankhamen Death Still Remains a Mystery, Essay Example

The main reasons for public interest to Egyptian pharaoh from 18^th Dynasty, Tutankhamen, were not his historical figure and contribution to the development of Egyptian state but the richness of his tomb and young age of the Earthly embodiment of Amun-Ra (Doherty, 2003). The mystery of his death was in difficulty to examine the mummy without destroying it. Various theories of his death were developed by historians and scientists of various disciplines and times. In this essay, historical and recent scientific theories are represented. From a historical perspective, some theories suggest that Tutankhamen was over-cherished, weak-willed and sickly child in hands of court intriguers, who were either poisoning him during all his life or assassinated him by a single blow to a head (Doherty, 2003). Those theories were mainly based on the available descriptions of the time of Tutankhamen’s life and political situation in the country.

More credible and up-to-date is a scientific explanation of Pharaoh’s death. According to it, he was not murdered but died of a natural cause. CT scan and DNA analysis of the recent decade showed that the cause of death was a broken legs and blood poisoning with infection of malaria (Than Ker, 2010). Detailed analysis of the tomb gave a rise for a theory that Tutankhamen fell from his chariot while hunting. The clothes found in the tomb showed that he was riding a chariot by himself and that he was quit accustomed to hunting and chariot racing. In its turn, this theory rejects previous historical interpretations of possible events (Than Ker, 2010).

There are several reasons why scientific theory is the main in this essay. First of all, it is based on the scientific facts and analysis, in other words on bare facts, which in their turn were supported by tomb artifacts. Secondly, this theory is supported by officials like Zahi Hawass who is general secretary of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and academic scholars in the field. Finally, it is based on new technologies, which were not available before; this makes other theories look incomplete and outdated.

References

Doherty, P.C. (2003). The Mysterious Death of Tutankhamun: Re-opening the Case of Egypt’s Boy-King. New York, NY: Caroll&Graf.

Than Ker (2010). King Tut Mysteries Solved: Was Disabled, Malarial, and Inbred. National Geographic. 16 Feb. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/02/100216-king-tut-malaria-bones-inbred-tutankhamun/