Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues

                                   
Objectives:

• Learn about Egypt's claim to fame: the mummies and the pyramids
• Discuss the significance of history in establishing the identity of a culture
• Identify elements of science, archaeology and myth in the chapter
• Learn about some of the Egyptian Gods and their role in the story

Chapter Vocabulary:

• Forensic Reconstruction
• Casket grey
• Eerie
• Resurrection
• Circumvented
• Funerary treasures
• Computed Tomography

About King Tut

• Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th century
• Born with the name Tutankhaten (the living image of Aten)
• In his  third year after corronation, changes his name to Tutankhamen (living image of Amun-Ra)
• His tomb was discovered nearly intact, in 1922 by Howard Carter and George Herbert
• Buried with a now-iconic gold mask and sceptre
• Reversed his father's policy and worshiped Amun-ra rather than Aten whom his father pledged to
• Cause of death remains an enchanting mystery

The Changing Religious Attitudes
Tut's father: devoted to the Sun God 'Ra', the giver of life, creator and revealed dignity
Tut's devotion was towards Amun-ra, representiing the esential and hidden,champion of the poor, personal piety, king of Gods but not the creator of the world.

King Tut's Chamber

The box coffin

               

Murals on the wall

The Golden Shrine

Discovering Tut: the most intact mummy found

Forensic reconstruction of the boy king's face

Museums all over the world carry references to Tut

The iconic golden mask and sceptre

1922: the first discovery and extensive damage

The treasure chamber

Visit www.kingtutone.com/tutankhamun for a virtual tour of tomb

KEY POINTS FOR THE CHAPTER

• King Tut: His religious background, the nomenclature, reasons for popularity
• Howard Carter: The 1922 discovery, partner, methods of extracting Tut's body, damage done
• Speculation about the boy king's death
• The curse of the pharaoh
• Nature's role as depicted in the chapter
• CT scan: definition, its revelations, successes
• Why must such history be studied and understood

Bibliography:

• The National Geographic Magazine - July 1997, September 2008
• www.nationalgeographic.com
• www.google.com/images/kenneth_garret.htm
• www.kingtutone.com/tutankhamun