9 Questions
What is Tutankhamun doing in one of the scenes depicted?
Preparing to fire an arrow from a chariot
What is Tutankhamun doing in another scene?
Taking part in a lion hunt while riding on his chariot
What type of jewelry was found in the tomb?
Glass beads, pendants, bracelets, and earrings
What is unique about a gold necklace found in the tomb?
It has a scarab holding a solar disc
What was found in the tomb besides precious artifacts?
Fans, baskets, and games
Why was Tutankhamun's tomb not robbed of its treasures in ancient times?
Thieves were disturbed by the necropolis guards
What did Howard Carter find when he first entered the antechamber?
Objects strewn around in disarray
What were the necropolis guards able to do after the thieves fled?
Return the objects in disarray
What were still visible on the floor when Carter entered the antechamber?
The footprints of the thieves
Study Notes
Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb
- It took Howard Carter three months to locate the sarcophagus after reaching the main entrance of the tomb.
- Carter had to clear the antechamber and annex before exploring the burial chamber and revealing the pharaoh's secrets.
The Sarcophagus and Coffins
- The sarcophagus was made of golden-yellow quartz covered by a pink granite lid, and it was placed inside four gilded and inlaid wooden shrines.
- The sarcophagus contained a nest of three heavy coffins, with the innermost made of solid gold.
- An improvised crane was needed to lift the coffins out of the sarcophagus.
The King's Mask
- Tutankhamun's mask was made of beaten gold and featured an image of the boy-king's young face, made up as Osiris, King of the Dead.
- The mask's eyes were made of yellow quartz with black obsidian for the pupils, giving it an eerily life-like gaze.
Embalming and Mummification
- Egyptian priests removed the internal organs, including the heart, liver, lungs, and intestines, and preserved them separately in canopic jars.
- The body was washed, rubbed with salt, and left to dry for about a month before being rubbed with oils and perfumes, and wrapped in resin-soaked bandages.
- The brain was usually removed via the nose and the skull filled with a preservative resin.
Funerary Items and Objects
- Over 50 statues of deities were found in the tomb, including a figure of the jackal god Anubis and a gilded cow's head of the goddess Hathor.
- The tomb contained an astonishing range of furniture, pottery, weaponry, and models, including boats for travel in the afterlife.
- Daggers, throwing sticks, clubs, boomerangs, and bows and arrows were included for the deceased to defend himself on the journey to the kingdom of the dead.
- Shabtis, figurines intended to act as servants to the deceased in the afterlife, were found in the tomb.
Cosmetics and Perfume
- Alabaster perfume vessels and many cosmetic items were found in the tomb.
- The ancient Egyptians were skilled chemists and inventors and took great care of their appearance, using cosmetics and ointments and dyeing their hair with henna.
Treasure Trove
- The tomb contained over 5,000 items, including grave goods of extraordinary quality.
- Boxes and chests found in the tomb were among the finest examples of craftsmanship, with beautifully executed illustrations of the king's life.
- Jewelery found in the tomb ranged from simple glass beads to intricate necklaces incorporating complex patterns and semi-precious stones.
Explore the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter, including the location of the sarcophagus and the coffins. Learn about the antechamber, annex, and burial chamber.
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