Tutankhamun's Tomb Discovery

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.