I'm not an official A-Z blog hopper -- I'm a stowaway!
Facts you didn't know about King Tut (Tutankhamun).
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| Tutankhamun mask from de.wikipedia |
Pyramids held other Pharaohs' tombs, but when you build a giant pyramid, it's like putting up a big sign saying, "Graverobbers -- Here's the treasure!" All their tombs were looted, but Tut's tomb was hidden in the Valley of the Kings.
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| Two of Tut's gold sarcophagi, from Wiki - Nerve Net |
Tut was buried in three coffins nested inside each other. The outer two were plated in gold, but the innermost sarcophagus was solid gold. The sarcophagi are on display in the Cairo Museum while the mummy is in a glass, temperature-controlled case in his original tomb at the Valley of the Kings, Luxor.
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| King Tut and his wife, from Wiki - Pataki Marta |
How did I do? Were you surprised by some of the facts here?
This week, I'm celebrating the fascinating and imaginative blog posts I've been reading from the official A-Z Challengers. You guys rock!
This post is part of VikLit's blog hop, Celebrate the Small Things. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is follow the link and put your name on the Mr.Linky list, and then be sure to post every Friday about something you're grateful for that week. It can be about writing or family or school or general life. This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever!
78 comments:
Sad for him, but inbreeding is never healthy. So young to be in state affairs, too.
Interesting post. I loved seeing the Egyptian artifacts at the Louvre.
I didn't know he was so young when he died. And he'd already had kids! They started young back then, didn't they?
I like your ninja A to Z posts--keep 'em coming! :)
I knew the Pharaohs were terribly inbred as this is lampooned in Terry Pratchett's Pyramids. He's very famous now, but didn't have much luck in life!
You did great. I had no idea about all the incest. Maybe that explains the birth defects. I remember in Elementary School when the exhibit was brought to Los Angeles. I forget why I didn't go, but I'm pretty sure I had the chance. I blew it!
xoRobyn
I'm actually surprised I knew all those facts. I used to read a lot about Ancient Egypt. While Tut is known for his tomb I actually think his parents were more intersting, bringing many changes to the culture--changes that didn't sit well with many of the people ;)
I knew quite a lot of this as it was a recent topic in the school I work in but always great to see some of those artifacts - amazing! There have been some great A-Z posts and I have enjoyed dipping in and out as time allows.
When I visited Egypt back in 1991, King Tut's stuff was still in the National Museum. I still have vivid memories of that place!
That's interesting, I thought I read somewhere that he had a head injury and that's what possibly killed him.
I was totally surprised by his family situation and that he was King from 10-19. Thanks for sharing the tidbits.
Okay, I didn't know his parents were brother and sister. I don't even know what to say about that.
I still wonder how could they marry between brother and sister but it was usual in the early ages. I didn't know about his parents, though.
I remember reading the story about the discovery of his tomb, and then deciding I would be an archeologist. Didn't happen, but I'm still a Tut groupie. I line up to see his artifacts whenever they go on tour.
Lovely K post. Of course, I failed on the Small Things again. Next week for sure. :-)
Great post for a stowaway!
We saw these treasures at a museum in Seattle last year before the exhibit went back to Cairo. I didn't know he'd married his half-sister, though. Yipe.
Wow! I didn't know about all that inbreeding. Crazy.
Wow, I didn't know he was buried in three coffins. Nor that his parents were brother and sister. Anyway, I've always enjoy looking at hieroglyphs. My grandparents are originally from a town in France where Jean-François Champollion was born, the scholar that deciphered the Egyptian hieroglyphs. (:
Some interesting facts on King Tut. Before this, all I knew about him was from that old Steve Martin song "King Tut"...hehe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgTPH5y1-ZI
I had no idea his parents were brother and sister. Or that he married his half sister. I have to watch more history channel.ha Or read your blog more! Keep it coming.
I second that motion, some really interesting posts out there!
(Including this one OF COURSE!) Chuckled at your stowaway comment! Imagining you hiding in the hold of a ship!
That's a lot of interbreeding. I did know his treasure was intact.
If you want to be an official Challenge member, I can slip you on the list.
Holy cow, his half-sister? Ick. Fascinating facts, Lexa!
Great and interesting facts here- wow! Very clever of you to slip in here and there :) I hope to see more!
Didn't know about all the family relationships. Is it exciting being a stowaway :)
Since most of the tombs were robbed in ancient times Egyptologists are beginning to think it wasn't grave robbers who plundered these tombs. It was probably other pharaohs. Just think about it: if Obama could balance the budget and get rid of America's deficit by removing tons of gold from the tomb of Millard Fillmore, he'd probably do it.
Yay for getting to K. I didn't know Tut had children.
Maybe they should have married outside the family and then there wouldn't have been so many health problems.
Careful....the A-Z police might be busting down your door soon! :)
My goodness gracious, I never knew about King Tut's inbreeding situation! Also, it's sad he died so young. I'm sure 19 was young even back in those days. Weird that I feel sorry for someone who was royalty, but life's not always great, even for them....
This was really great to know! I liked this post very much.
www.modernworld4.blogspot.com
Poor Tut! it sounds like he had a short and depressing life: club foot, cleft palate, malaria, broken leg, two stillborn children, and dead at nineteen. Can't imagine even all that gold cheered him up. Wonder what he'd think about how famous as he is now...
Awesome post Ms. Stowaway!
~VR Barkowski
Rough life, poor Tut!! Good post. Thanks for the information.
I didn't know about his parents being brother and sister. I guess they were trying to protect the family bloodline. Not a good idea.
Yes, I did learn some things I didn't know. I am not sure why "royals" are so fond of the inbreeding. I suppose it is like LD stated above that they were trying to preserve the bloodline. I suppose that they didn't understand all of the genetic problems that they were creating. Yikes.
Cool post! I didn't know about the freaky stuff, but it doesn't surprise me. Way back in the day, it was super common for half brothers and sister to marry each other. (gag) I'd love to explore Egypt. There's so many fascinating things there. :)
I knew a lot about King Tut from studying with my kids. You taught me even more. Thanks!
Jenn @Scribbles From Jenn
I'm celebrating all the fab post's I have read with you too... and as far as King tut goes, there was a lot I didn't know... not sure if I needed to know but I'll add it to my bag of little known facts that I read on a blog once... :)
Love trivia like this! Didn't know about the stillborns - not surprising with all those closely tied chromosomes!
I didn't know about KT's parentage or that he married his half sis (yuck). That sarcophagus in the foreground is gorgeous!
Great post.
Blog hopping and happy to find your beautiful blog.
Visit mine too...
Thanks
Rajiv
www.magicalpresent.blogspot.com
www.magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.com
Awesome, I was not aware of these facts. Nice job. Welcome to the unofficial bloghop!
I didn't know half of those things. Thanks for sharing!
That was really cool. Had no idea he married his half-sister. I remember, from when I was really little, a song about him with the lyrics:
"King Tut, howdya get so funky? Funky Tut. He's my favorite honky. Born in Arizone, moved to Babylonia, he was born in Arizone, got a condo made of stona, King Tut"
Your welcome. I'm sure that was most enlightening. And THIS is why I can't remember where my shoes are. Cause I have crap like THAT taking up space in my brain. haha
Very cool post. I am fascinated by ancient Egypt and this was very interesting.
How did you do? You did good! It sounds like Egyptian rulers inbred themselves out of existence. I didn't know that was the reason that he was so famous. I assumed he had left some kind of important legacy. Thanks for a great "L" post. :-)
I love these posts. I hope I get to go to Egypt some day.
You A to Z hijacker! Just kidding.
I had no idea the most famous of Egyptian pharaohs was inbred! Good grief!
Maybe the reason he was more loved than others is because he didn't live long enough to piss everyone off!
Fun post! I've always been interested in the pharaohs. I didn't know most of this stuff. :)
Proof to no breed with close relatives.
We're happy to have you stowing away with us! :-) I had a chance to see a bunch of the items from the Ramses tomb when the tour came to a nearby museum. I was fascinated by it, and I bet it is nowhere near as cool as Tut's riches.
About five or six years ago several treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun came over to the US. I saw the special display at the Philadelphia Art Museum. It was epic. I've always been fascinated with the discoveries from his burial. And Egyptian ancient history in general. (I had a poster of his sarcophagus from the 1970's tour hanging in my classroom when I taught fourth grade.) Thanks for this look back!! Great stuff!
Hi, thanks a lot for your comment about my blog post on Dubai fountain. Hope you will blog asap about the Red sea resort fountain.
Thanks
Rajiv
www.magicalpresent.blogspot.com
www.magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.com
Yes, I'm surprised. I didn't know all this.
Interesting and staggering facts! We I did some Egyptian history in school but those facts weren't mentioned. I guess it was common back then to marry blood relative. Sad though him dying at 19. So young. :(
Nice post on Tut. Ancient Egypt has always been one of the things I've read voraciously about...not to mention devouring documentaries too!
Hello there!! I am totally loving your amazing eye avatar!! Wow! Very striking! Yay!!
Well I didn't know King Tut was the product of a sister and brother! Yowza!!!
Take care
x
Lexa,
Didn't know about the family connection between his parents. I'm surprized he didn't have more things wrong with him, considering.
I knew all of this. His life, his story, have always interested me. Someday I'd love to go to the Cairo Museum and see the contents of his grave.
Interesting and intriguing information today, Lexa! Thanks for sharing!
I had no idea that he had a club foot and a cleft pallet!
Whoa, didn't know King Tut was the product of a brother and sister. Fascinating. I like how you are an A-Z stowaway :)
Hi Lexa, I love all things Egyptian, so this was great to read. I didn't know all these facts (or maybe just can't remember them). I'm your new follower.
I didn't realize that King Tut married his half sister and died so young. I'm so glad that you've decided to become a " stowaway!"
Julie
I've heard of King Tut before, but you definitely surprised me with these facts about him! So sad how he died at such a young age...
You're a stowaway! That's so funny :-) I didn't know about the incestuous marriages and am not surprised that the babies were stillborn. Very sad.
Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain
Wow. I did not know any of that. He was 19? I'd thought he was 13. Thanks for correcting me! :)
I like that you're a stowaway - good idea. Gosh, all those brothers and sisters getting married! Fascinating.
I did actually learn something new! Thanks for sharing this info!
3 coffins! Gosh. He won't escape from that one. :D
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Interesting! But ewwww to the sibling parents. People did some messed up stuff back then. So glad his tomb was hidden and we could have this true taste of history in tact. Always fascinating!
Funny how Tut is so romanticized, when thanks to his parents and in-breeding, he was such a mess. Club foot and cleft-palate do not make for a hunky or even healthy king. No doubt there were other medical issues involved as well. Ditto for the ill-fated children. Ugh. Reminds me of horror movies where inbred creatures hide in the hills and wreak havoc on regular people. Still...can't help but be fascinated by all of the lurid details. We've come a long way, baby. LOL about your stowaway status. Smart girl. That way you can pick and choose the best letters!
His parents were siblings? Holy Schmoly... though that was common back in the day...
... and the club foot and cleft palate shatter the glamorous perception somewhat...
Writer In Transit
I definitely learned some new facts here today! I have always found the pyramids fascinating and it was great to expand my limited knowledge. I had no idea King Tuts parents were married, that he married his half-sister, or that he had a club foot and cleft palate. I love that you are stowing away! :)
~Jess
So young and sad. You're sure making me want to read up on Egypt and the Pharoahs.
Hi, Lexa, thank you for this interesting post. I had no idea that ancient Egyptian royalty was incestuous. Have you seen the coffin within the coffins?
Cynthia Rodrigeus Manchekar at Cynthology
Wow! Tragic and surprisingly incestuous, I had no idea!
I considered stowing away too as the blog posts from the A-Z challenge have been fascinating. As fascinating as this one :)
Poor Tut, such a short life... although back in those days it's possible it was an average living age. I know Ancient Romans was considered very old if they lived up into their 30s :)
Love Egyptian history and I have dozens of books and encyclopaedias on it!
First time visiting your site.... Love it!! great facts and interesting stories. Always enjoyed learning about King Tut... a very "different" life style then. I have not read all the other comments, but one of his wives was called Queen Nefertiti... she also fascinated me. Great post and don't hide away... be big and brave!!
Patricia, Sugar & Spice & All Things ? Nice
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