King Tut's Tomb Discovered

On November 4, 1922, the British archaeologist Howard Carter and his crew discovered the step which led them to the tomb of King Tutankhamen in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. This created a huge media storm, and interest in Egypt ran at an all-time high. Tutankhamen was in the 18th Egyptian dynasty and ruled from about 1332-1323 BC. He is also known as "the boy king," because he came to the throne at age ten, and died at nineteen.

King Tut married his half-sister, Ankhesenpaaten, which was not uncommon in most parts of the known world at this time. Some biblical figures, like Abraham, married relatives. Tutankhamen had two daughters, but they were both stillborn and buried with him. Most historians believe this king had powerful advisers, due to his young age. He sought to restore diplomatic relations with other countries, which had weakened under prior rulers.

Standing at 5 feet and 11 inches tall, when he died, Tut was lean and trim. Busts found in his tomb gives us some idea of what he may have looked like. No one knows for sure the reason for his death. Some have wondered if he wasn't killed, but more think it happened due to an accident. He had a broken leg shortly before death that became infected. There's also evidence he had malaria. Some have speculated that the fall, which broke his leg, may have caused an internal brain injury as well. Regardless, this ended his family's line to the throne.

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