“King Tutankhamun is credited with a curse that touched all those involved in the discovery of his tomb. New research suggests, though, that he was under a curse himself: one embedded in his genes.
The boy king was the product of an incestuous relationship that may have led to a weakened constitution and his early death, the first DNA study of the pharaoh’s remains has concluded.
Rather than being murdered, hurled from his chariot or struck down by an animal, as has been suggested, researchers have shown that the pharaoh was a sickly teenager with a club foot who probably died of complications related to malaria. ”
Read more at The Times (thanks, Tammy)
Yes, the DNA analysis on Tut and his near relatives makes him a much more interesting character now he was before. Reality is always stranger!
I find it fascinating how DNA can still be used to provide clues about someone’s life many centuries after they have passed away.
I don’t really care from what he died. He died, get over it.
Yeah yeah .. I get the new techniques, the eagnerness to try them out … the guessing .. the game .. but still ..
I have always had more than a passing interest in Egyptian history, the pharaoh’s etc. Probably stems back from appearing in a production of ‘Rameses’ at school! lol
But I’m very much fascinated by all that surrounds King Tut. His life, his death and the supposed curse that seemed to accompany anyone who touched his last resting place.
I’ve watched many a documentary on it and it’s all so interesting. We were always led to believe he died of an illness, like TB or some such, but indeed, light was then brought on the subject of his being murdered so that others could become King (his Uncle being one). So illness or murder?
Yes, he died a long, long time ago, but King Tut will always remain a figure from the past that historians will continue to try to learn about.
LC x
This is fascinating! Tutankhamen’s dad introduced monotheistic religion to this period and I considered Tut’s death as murder by Atkenaten’s men because the son was to revert back. Atkenaten appeared to suffer from a physical abnormality where certain features are extended though I’ve no idea if it is also linked to the genetic mutation through inter-relationships. (See Nat Geog mag section on Mormons).
I believe he curse is down to poor air quality and coincedences. In fact some claims apparently linked to the curse took place years after the tomb opening.
Kid would have been burnt a witch not so long ago with that club foot.
I’ve written several papers on Tutankhamun and have been fortunate enough to see his body which was an experience I never thought I’d have once, let along twice. I consider it an honour to have visited his tomb so many times while I know others are too “scared” to because of the “curse”. His death has always been of great interest to actual and lay Egyptologists like me and given what was happening at the time of his death in Egypt murder has always seemed a likely explanation for his death. I suspect new theories will continue to come up every few years and historians will always find him and the end of the 18th Dynasty of particular interest.
Please forgive the typos….
@Rhian. I am so jealous I have turned into the green colour of Osiris!
@Spiderabc1 – Sorry…. You should go to Egypt if you can though am not sure if Tutankhamun’s mummy is gonna remain on display indefinately – there is always talk of them closing it.
Akhenaten was thought to have had Marfan’s Syndrome because of the unusal way he portrayed himself…. but it could have just have been art.
With regards to coincidences and poor air quality, it’s general considered that Lord Carnarvon was the first vicitm of the “curse”. We must remember of course that the reason he was in Egypt was because of his poor health and before antibiotics. People have become ill since then ( I mean in recent years) but the one person I’m thinking of in particular had a serious illness in the first place and the poor air quality and spores aggravated her condition