The Pharaoh of ancient Egypt popularly known as ‘King Tut’ became ruler when he was only 9 years old. At age 18, after ruling 9 years he suddenly died and the cause of his death has never been identified. Some historians believe he died of an injury to the leg which turned gangrenous, and others believe he was murdered by a blow to the head. Adding to the suspicion of murder was the fact that he was the last ruler of the 18th dynasty, and the high priest who took his place as Pharaoh also married his young widow.
Also mysterious has been the definite identity of King Tut’s mother. His father has long been believed to have been Pharaoh Akhnaton, although some historians believe it was another, but his mother remains unknown. Some have suggested it could be Kiya, one of Akhnaton’s several wives. These mysteries have continued unsolved for 3000 years, but new developments may soon change all that.
Egyptian authorities are now turning to modern medical technology to further investigate. King Tut has now gone through a battery of computerised axial tomography (CAT) scans and genetic tests done on his DNA at the Cairo Museum. The DNA samples were obtained last year by Egyptian scientists not only from the mummy of the king, but also from two stillborn infants who were inexplicably buried with him. The tests will attempt to determine if the infants were fathered by King Tut with his wife Ankhesenpamon, the daughter of Nefertiti.
DNA testing on Egyptian mummies by foreign experts has long been forbidden, and only recently have authorities allowed such projects to go ahead on the strict condition that they be carried out exclusively by Egyptian scientists. An extraordinary DNA laboratory was created on site at the Egyptian Museum, costing $A5.6 million and funded by the Discovery Television Channel.
King Tut’s untouched tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922 by the British archaeologist Howard Carter. The find created a worldwide sensation from the wealth of the 30000 objects found including extraordinary jewels, solid gold sarcophagi, and beautiful artwork.
Egyptian antiquities chief, Zahi Hawass, will announce the findings on 17 February 2010. The genetic report is expected to include the background of Tut’s family, which will be compared to those of King Amenhotep III, supposedly King Tut’s grandfather. Also included in the project have been DNA tests on all the royal mummies at the museum, which will help identify the remains of Nefertiti, one of the most beautiful women who ever lived according to legend. Hawass has inferred that the tests may reveal that some of the royal mummies on display are not who archaeologists have thought them to be all this time. We await the results with great anticipation.
Rev the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes AC MLC