Posted on 05/10/2005 6:41:42 PM PDT by SkyPilot
Egyptian scientists have finally lifted the veil of mystery surrounding famed pharaoh Tutankhamun's death, saying he died of a swift attack of gangrene after breaking his leg.
"After consultations with Italian and Swiss experts, Egyptian scientists ... have found that a fracture in the boy king's left leg a day before his death was infected with gangrene and led to his passing," Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said Tuesday.
"The fracture was not sustained during the mummification process or as a result of some damage to the mummy as claimed by (British archeologist Howard) Carter," who discovered the sarcophagus of the legendary pharaoh in 1922, it said.
"The Egyptian scientists found no evidence that he had been struck in the head ... and no other indication he was killed, as has been said before."
The team, aided by French and US scientists, also revealed Tutankhamun's features.
"A silicone mold bearing the features of the boy king and whose examination also confirms the size and shape of his skull," was obtained, the statement said, quoting Egypt's chief archeologist Zahi Hawas.
The mold was produced by placing silicone on a plastic replica of Tutankhamun's skull which was constructed from a previously available computerized X-ray of the 3,300-year-old mummy.
The experts differed on the shape of his nose and ears, whose details were obtained by superimposing clay on the plastic replica.
The scientists confirmed previous findings released in March that the king died aged 19, was in good health and did not suffer from any illnesses as a child.
Tutankhamun is thought to have been the 12th ruler of the 18th dynasty.
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What I wanted to know was how one diagnoses gangrene in a three thousand year old corpse. Do you know?
LOL!
LOL. Yikes, I was content to think that the image was merely metrosexual.
Your blonde there is the closest match posted yet. All the others posted so far have way too much chin & too much forehead. The brow & cheekbone are real close & the two level skullcap is implied. The only thing off is the bottom lip & distance between bottom of nose & top of lip. Real good!
The guy in post #52 is pretty good too but his cheekbone is way off. Come to think of it the bottom lip on Tut is fairly unique.
Thanks Doc! Great to have a professional opinion here.
Well when I saw Tut's photo, I immediately thought of RuPaul. And that's who that is in the photos.
Well when I saw Tut's photo, I immediately thought of RuPaul. And that's who that is in the photos.
At first I did all of the ROFL, etc. stuff, and then I looked again and thought by God, she's got it. Also demonstrates (seriously) variation in human subgroups (only one race, people).
Susan Powter!! LOL!
I heard there are a couple of different versions they concluded with. I'd be interested in seeing the others.
gangrene has also been called something like the "eating sore" it quickly distroys the tissue and then whatever part of the body it has infected....that body part usually turns black. It is a horribly painful death.
I honestly don't know if they can recognize the condition by looking at it after thousands of years have passed or if they can test the surrounding tissue after all this time. I am hoping we will find out more when they air the program on Tut.
Maybe you are right. I do have a dig coming up later this summer, and I am never grumpy during a "dig".
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