Posted on 05/10/2005 6:41:42 PM PDT by SkyPilot
Egyptian scientists have finally lifted the veil of mystery surrounding famed pharaoh Tutankhamun's death, saying he died of a swift attack of gangrene after breaking his leg.
"After consultations with Italian and Swiss experts, Egyptian scientists ... have found that a fracture in the boy king's left leg a day before his death was infected with gangrene and led to his passing," Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said Tuesday.
"The fracture was not sustained during the mummification process or as a result of some damage to the mummy as claimed by (British archeologist Howard) Carter," who discovered the sarcophagus of the legendary pharaoh in 1922, it said.
"The Egyptian scientists found no evidence that he had been struck in the head ... and no other indication he was killed, as has been said before."
The team, aided by French and US scientists, also revealed Tutankhamun's features.
"A silicone mold bearing the features of the boy king and whose examination also confirms the size and shape of his skull," was obtained, the statement said, quoting Egypt's chief archeologist Zahi Hawas.
The mold was produced by placing silicone on a plastic replica of Tutankhamun's skull which was constructed from a previously available computerized X-ray of the 3,300-year-old mummy.
The experts differed on the shape of his nose and ears, whose details were obtained by superimposing clay on the plastic replica.
The scientists confirmed previous findings released in March that the king died aged 19, was in good health and did not suffer from any illnesses as a child.
Tutankhamun is thought to have been the 12th ruler of the 18th dynasty.
geez- if they would have only looked at the actuall STATUES buried with him they would have known what shape to give his nose and features- he looks almost exactly like tha gold statues of him
OMG that was one scary woman!
How?
Yes, that is why infected parts of the body are cut out/off.
That eye makeup was worn even by the poor to help block out the rays of the ever burning sun. Stick around, you might actually learn something.
look up gangrene!
feel better?
ping
The pictures on this thread are too funny.
I would feel better when people actually read the history threads because they are actually interested. I don't understand why adults come on the history threads to make lame jokes that are not the least bit funny. All you are doing is trashing a subject that many of us find interesting. This immature behavior is uncalled for! Now, I feel better.
Yes, I agree - this is immature behavior!
And I'm waiting for more pictures please.....
Boy George and Babs wins by a long nose, I mean - long shot.
And side profile shows he has quite the overbite. Could he have been a nerd?
King Nerd?
What's wrong with that boy's head? Malformed during childbirth? or did they wear some sort of head-gear while they were babies to create that shape?
He almost looks like he has a symbiant(sp) back there.
Needs to go on etreme makeover. I think he needs a chin implant and hair extensions.
I think the young man (Tut) is very handsome. (other than the head thing) The make-up was common for the times, so you can't blame him.
He does look exactly like the statue.
Finally, there wouldn't be enough soft tissue left on a mummy to determine whether or not it was necrotic. You could possibly suggest an episode of osteomyelitis (bone infection) in a mummy. Osteomyelitis after a fracture is not at all typical (particulary a closed fracture in an otherwise healty individual), and it also doesn't develop and kill you in a day. Either these scientists are weak, or their actual statements have been distorted by the reporters.
A pointy head was an indication of royalty. It was intentional.
Find a beach somewhere.
Fishing is nice.
LVM
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