November 5, 2007

A Face From the Past

Archeologists reveal the face of ancient Egypt's King Tut

By David Bjerklie

More than 3,000 years ago a teen-aged boy named Tutankhamun ruled over ancient Egypt. This week, for the first time, the public can actually view the young king's face. On November 4th, archaeologists took the mummy of King Tut from its stone coffin and moved it to a climate-controlled glass case and invited the public to take a look. The move was part of a plan to protect the remains of the pharaoh. Thousands of people visit the tomb each year and the moisture and heat from their bodies is a threat to the fragile mummy.

BEN CURTIS—AP Researchers look at the preserved, or mummified, body of King Tut, the boy king who ruled ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago.

Since its discovery in 1922, the body of Tut has been x-rayed three times by researchers who have tried to figure out how he died. The mummy’s most recent medical exam was in 2005, when archaeologists determined that Tut most likely died from complications from a broken leg. At that time, scientists created what they thought was an accurate picture of Tut's face. It was based on their studies of the three-thousand-year old body. But this week, Tut's face was actually unveiled. Tut's skin looks like hardened black clay and he appears to have had buck teeth. "The face of the golden boy is amazing," said Egypt's chief archaeologist, Zahi Hawass. "It has magic, and it has mystery"

A Pharaoh for the Imagination

In 1922, the British explorer Howard Carter uncovered King Tut's tomb, or burial place, in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. It was a remarkable discovery. King Tut was buried in a tomb filled with treasures and his face was covered by a solid gold burial mask.

Tut was not the most powerful or important king, or pharaoh, of ancient Egypt. But he has captured our imagination. Tut became king when he was just nine years old and he ruled for only another 10 years until he died at age 19. For years, some experts believe he was killed.

The ancient Egyptians tried to preserve the bodies of important people who died through a process known as mummification. They used spices, salts, minerals and oils to treat the body and then wrapped it in strips of cloth. Mummification was practiced because Egyptians believed that the body must be preserved as a home for the person's spirit. Good luck charms were buried with the person. And food and drink were also placed in the burial vault to nourish the dead person in his or her journey through the afterlife.

The Curse of Tutankhamun

For many years, there has been a legend that there is curse on King Tut's tomb. According to the curse, people who have come into contact with the remains of King Tut have died mysteriously. That, says Hawass, is nonsense. "It was made up by journalists many years ago who were not allowed into the tomb."

The face of Egypt's most famous ruler will now be on display for thousands of visitors. The legend of King Tut has already inspired generations of kids and adults. Archaeologists hope that by unveiling the boy king's face, even more people will be fascinated by the history of ancient Egypt.

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