Question

Give reasons for the following.
(i) King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny.
(ii) Howard Carter’s investigation was resented.
(iii) Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s remains.
(iv) Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.
(v) The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.

Answer 1

(i) King Tut's body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny because he was the last heir of a powerful family that ruled over Egypt for centuries and was just a teenager when he died. He was laid to rest with a large quantity of gold. It was when his tomb was discovered that the world speculated about the manner and the time of his death.

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(ii) Howard Carter, the British archaeologist discovered Tut’s tomb in 1922. However, his investigation was resented because he used unscientific methods to cut the body away from the wooden base. He also focused more on the discovery of gold than on the fascinating details of Tut's life and the mystery of his death.

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(iii) Carter found that the ritual resin that was used as a polish had hardened. The result was that the mummy was cemented to the bottom of the solid gold coffin. Neither the strongest force could move the mummy nor could the heat of the burning sun loosen the remains of the king. So the solidified material had to be cut away from below the limbs and the chest to raise King Tut out.

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(iv) The ancient royals of Egypt were fabulously wealthy. They believed in the afterlife. They also believed that they could take their wealth with them. So gilded treasures were buried with them.

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(v) Tutankhamun means ‘Living image of Amun’. He was a major god in ancient Egypt. King Amenhotep smashed the images of Amun and closed his temples. Tut oversaw a restoration of the old ways. He also changed his name to express his belief in Amun.