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In 1323 BC, Egypt was thrown into turmoil by the sudden death of its young King, Tutankhamun. It was a risky time both spiritually and politically. The Pharaoh had not prepared anything for his journey to the afterlife, nor had he named a successor. Tradition dictated that he must be buried within 70 days, and there were several pretenders to his throne. Using an effective combination of narration, atmospheric re-enactments and expert contributions, this exciting programme captures the full drama of The Race to Bury King Tut.
Work was quickly done to prepare a tomb for Tutankhamun. Funerary equipment was hurriedly prepared and a large majority of it was re-purposed from other royals that had died before him.
Another tomb in the Valley of the Kings may hold some clues.
In 1907, a mysterious tomb known as KV55, the tomb contained a variety of artifacts and a single body. Identification of the body has been complicated by the fact that the artifacts appear to belong to several different individuals. It has been speculated that the tomb was created in a hurry, and that the individual buried there had been previously laid to rest elsewhere. With many different possibilities for the identity of the mummy – ranging from Queen Tiye (Akhenaten’s mother), to King Smenkhkare – researchers who set out to identify the mummy were presented with a puzzling challenge.
In January 1907, financier Theodore M. Davis had hired archaeologist Edward R. Ayrton and his team to conduct excavations in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. The Valley of the Kings is an area in Egypt located on the West bank of the Nile River, across from the city of Thebes. Almost all of the pharaohs from Egypt’s “Golden Age” are buried in this famous valley.
Historians know Tutankhamun was responsible to filling this tomb because his seals were on the door. The tomb contained an unidentified male body. The tomb had been attacked during antiquity and the face and name on it ripped off. The tomb also contained equipment belonging to Tut's grandmother Queen Tiye and his father Akhenaten's magic bricks. This mystery identity of the male mummy has been proven to have a first degree relationship with Tutankhamun, either his brother or father. Did Tutankhamun move the bodies of his Amarnan family when he relocated to Thebes.
Burial practice of Tutankhamun.
He was given a very poor mummification.
His tomb was tiny compared to others in the Valley and it was not the usual design.
What does this documentary reveal about Tutankhamun's burial equipment?
What does this suggest about his death and the problems that occurred as a result?
LINK to Metropolitan Museum article
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