What Killed King Tut?

When Howard Carter, British archaeologist opened a sarcophagus in the valley of the kings of Egypt for the first time on 16th February 1923, he stoked intrigue and mystery over an ancient Egyptian boy king. This raises a question that who was King Tutankhamun, the occupant of the burial chamber who ruled 3,300 years ago, and how did he die at the age of just 19?

He didn’t have an answer back then, but with the help of modern forensic and medical technologies, he is able to find now the uncovered details which provide clues as to what may have plagued King Tut before his death. The DNA tests and computerized tomography (CT) exams of King Tut showed that he suffered from malaria, a fractured lower leg, and congenital deformities. HIs health problems are associated with inbreeding that was common among Egyptian royalty.

In 2014, Swiss mummy expert Frank Rühli noted that in the years since the King Tut’s tomb is discovered, many researchers, academics, and amateur Egyptologists have come up with different theories about what ultimately killed the boy king. In each case, however, the evidence was interesting but not that much compelling.

The CT scans of Tutankhamun found various conditions including a cleft palate, fairly long head, as well as a curved spine and fusion of the upper vertebrae. All these conditions are associated with Marfan’s syndrome. But DNA tests in 2010 proved negative for that diagnosis.

The Chariot Crash Theory

Producers of a BBC television in 2014 documentary postulated that Tut died in chariot crash which broke his legs and pelvis. This resulted in an infection and perhaps death by blood poisoning. Supporters of this theory note that Tut was depicted riding on chariots and also suffered from a deformed left foot, making it possible that he fell and broke his leg.

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https://www.history.com/news/king-tut-death-mystery