5 Facts About Tutankhamun

 We all might have heard myths about the Great Egyptian Boy, King Tutankhamun. Howard Carter was the archeologist who is said to have been killed due to the curse of the Mummy of Tutankhamun. But how far that's true, you can believe it or not. 

But let me give you some facts about Tutankhamun

1. He Wasn't Tutankhamun

Let's just bust it out right away. His original name was Tutankhaten – meaning “ Living image of Aten.” Facts and fiction about Aten, let's keep it for another time. His parents revered God Aten, but after he got his books straight, he dumped his love for Aten and went to Amun. That changes his name to Tutankhamun. But the facts about names don't end there. He had over 5 different names. I guess he would have just responded to any name, or did anyone even call him by his name?

2. Celebrated Highly Mystical Boy King, But the Smallest of the Pyramids?

Yes, like all other Egyptian kings, he, too, was buried in the Valley of the Kings. But what could have been the reason for the small, hurriedly built tomb? Some say that the trend of huge pyramids ended with the New Kingdom. But the interior detailing of Tutankhamun's tomb fell short of the royalty. His tomb was found intact, and the archeologists did not initially believe it to be that of Tutankhamun. The tomb was a rather cramped up space. There are also speculations that the substitute of Tutankhamun, who was an army chief, took a convenient swap. No wonder the Mummy is cursed; who wouldn't feel bad. 

3. 130 walking sticks

When we see the drawings of Tutankhamun or, for that fact, any other king, we see perfect images, especially the death masks. This young king also has similar depictions and drawings. But on opening the pyramid, it was found that his coffin had over 130 walking sticks. He had a clubbed foot and is said to have used orthopedic sandals! These sandals were also found to have paintings of the enemy. Well, that's an idea to get some satisfaction from trampling your enemy under your heel.

4. Did Tutankhamun die in an Ostrich Hunt?

His tomb had an ostrich feather hand fan placed right next to him. Hunting ostrich was considered an act of bravery, no less than winning on a battlefield. But the placement near the body may be symbolic of some incident. His mummy underwent a CT scan and was found to have multiple fractures. Probably his death happened in an Ostrich hunting scenario?

5. The Missing Heart

We know that the mummification process is aimed at keeping the dead intact. This was to help them live again in the afterlife. Some mummies are missing the brain, as the Egyptians believed that the brain didn't play a significant role. But the heart was the core element. King Tutankhamun's body didn't have a heart. A scarab amulet with funerary spells was found in its place. That is a weird enough reason to believe the curse.