The Mystery of King Tutankhamen's Death

VALLEY OF THE KINGS King Tut’s tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in November of 1922.

Why is King Tut so famous? The most famous of all the kings, found in the Valley of the Kings, was Tutankhamen, also known as King Tut. He died in mid-January, 1343 B.C. at the young age of 19. King Tut is famous because his tomb was left in almost perfect condition. His tomb was well hidden so it was never found by robbers. Therefore, it contained elaborate treasures. King Tut’s tomb opened many doors to discovering the world of Ancient Egypt. However, the most mysterious part about King Tut’s death remained a mystery for many years. How did this young pharaoh die?

You be the investigator! Years of DNA tests and CT scans on Egypt's famous pharaoh, King Tutankhamen, have given surprising results revealing how he died at the young age of 19. As you read three scenarios of how King Tut died, YOU decide what the true cause of death was.

MURDER? Some historians believe that King Tut was murdered. There are two main suspects that researchers discovered. The two principal suspects, Aye who succeeded him as king, and General Horemhab who in turn succeeded Aye to the throne, both appear to have been powerful men who, in effect, ruled Egypt while King Tut was a child. It would not be unreasonable at all to believe that, as King Tut grew into a young man, the two elder men would have resented losing much of their power. Furthermore, at the time of his death, King Tut was certainly old enough to have had a child that would eventually take the throne. Because of this, Aye and Horemhab would not have been able to ascend the throne. It is also noteworthy that the young King Tut was greatly loved in ancient Egypt for restoring the Amun priesthood after the death of his presumed heretic father, Akhenaton. However, this was almost certainly the work of Aye and General Horemhab, who could have even resented Tut receiving all the glory of their work. To add to the mystery, after King Tut died, his widow was apparently forced to marry Aye. After the marriage, his widow (Ankhespaton) disappeared from history records. This lead to more speculation about the King’s Murder and what happened to his wife. Maybe Tut’s widow was murdered too.

HUNTING ACCIDENT? King Tutankhamen likely died after falling from his chariot while hunting,. Tutankhamen is widely thought to have died of an infection stemming from a broken leg, after CT scans revealed a severe fracture in his left thighbone. The new theory stems largely from examinations of some of the 5,000 artifacts found in the king's tomb, which suggest he was an active, sporting young man and not the sheltered and fragile boy often portrayed by history. Among the evidence for the theory are at least two chariots entombed with the king that show signs of frequent use, presumably by Tut himself. Secondly, the clothing discovered in Tut's tomb included a specially designed corset that was likely worn as protection while riding at high speeds. Finally, the tomb contained hundreds of arrowheads that show evidence of having been fired and retrieved possibly by the king himself.

DISEASE? Scientists armed with DNA evidence believe they’ve discovered the long-mysterious cause of King Tut’s death: a combination of malaria and bone abnormalities. The study took two years to finish and shows that because of multiple disorders, the boy king was likely a "frail king who needed canes to walk." This investigation was unique in its access to royal mummies and its use of radiography, DNA technology, and other modern scientific tools. Ancient Egypt's most famous pharaoh likely died of a leg injury which was complicated by bone disease and a bout of malaria, according to the analysis of mummies in his royal family. A bone disease was apparently active at the time of death and may have caused a walking disability for some time. The diseases may explain the 130 canes and walking sticks -- some with traces of wear -- found in the boy king's tomb as well as the depictions of him seated for activities like hunting for which he normally should have been standing.

You Decide!

NEW RESEARCH REVEALS THE TRUTH OF KING TUT’S DEATH! Video Link Video Link is from an msnbc “King Tut’s Secret”