The Treasures of King Tut's Mummy
When
a modern soldier goes into the field, he or she carries along,
packed about their bodies, just about every conceivable item
they might need for survival. When ancient Egyptian pharaohs
died, likewise, they went forth into the netherworld with
a host of equipment and survival gear.
Of course, there were many grand treasures spread
amongst the chamber of King Tut's Tomb, but one of the most
interesting aspects of King Tut's mummy is the vast array
of items that were attached to the body to provide him with
the magical protection that would allow him to pass into the
netherworld. Either on the outside, or wapped within the layers
of mummy bandages that encased his body were no less then
107 different items, some grand, some very small and insignificant,
at least to us, and some function.
Most readers will be at least somewhat, if not very,
familiar with his golden mask, today an gleaming icon of the
young king. But this famous artifact is only one of many items
found attached to his mummy.
In addition to the mask, a number of items adorned
the outer layer of the mummy. Notably, a scarab of black resin,
its base inscribed with the Book of the Dead spell 29b, hung
suspended from the neck on a decorative gold band made up
from odd trappings originally prepared for Ankhkheprure. Underneath
this, a pair of burnished gold hands (no. 256b(1)), were sewn
directly onto the mummy wrappings. They clasped the decayed
crook and flail. Below them, just visible through the unguents,
was a large gold ba-bird (no. 256b(2)). Once again, these
had actually been prepared for Ankhkheprure, and were only
subsequently taken over for use by Tutankhamun by cutting
out some of the original names.
However, as the wrappings of the mummy were systematically
removed, some 150 magnificent items of jewelry, superb amulets
and other objects were brought to light. These had been fashioned
and positioned according to the dictates of the Book of the
Dead, and would ensure that the king's transformation from
death to true immortality. Indeed, they would help make him
immortal, at least in the minds of the modern public.
Y-shaped amulet
oval plaque
vulture collar
vulture and Uraeus collar
uraeus collar
falcon collar
two falcon collars
apron
dagger
girdle
T-shaped amulet
bracelet
faience broad collar
falcon collar
resin scarab
uraeus from 99
vulture head from 99
falcon collar
circlet
circlet
circlet
vulture bracelet
beads
falcon
collar
two falcon collars
beadwork
circlet
iron dagger
girdle
five finger-rings
falcon collar
bracelet with lapis barrel-bead
bracelet with iron wedjat-eye amulet
bracelet with carnelian barrel-bead
funerary papyrus?
four circlets
djed-pillar amulet
sandals, toe and finger stalls
wire bracelet
beadwork of 61
wedjat-eye bracelet
wedjat-eye bracelet
scarab bracelet
barrel-bead bracelet
scarab bracelet
disc bracelet
amuletic knot
bracelet with carnelian swallow
three finger-rings
barrel-bead bracelet
beaded bracelet |
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scarab bracelet
wedjat-eye bracelet
wedjat-eye bracelet
finger-ring
finger-ring
disc bracelet
tail
tyet-knot amulet
wadj-scepter amulet
djed-pillar amulet
double-leaf amulet
serpent amulet
leaf amulet
amuletic knot
uraeus collar
vulture collar
vulture and Uraeus collar
scarab pectoral
vulture pectoral
scarab pectoral
faience wedjat-eye
beads
falcon collar
falcon pectoral
wedjat-eye pectoral
bracelet
Anubis amulet
falcon-headed amulet
serpent-head amulet
Thoth amulet
wadj-scepter amulet
bead
chain
five pectoral clasps and pendants
human-headed winged uraeus amulet
double uraeus amulet
vulture amulet
vulture amulet
vulture amulet
vulture amulet
uraeus amulet
vulture amulet
bead collar
two fibrous fillets
diadem
temple band
linen headdress
uraeus insignia of 104 bis
vulture insignia of 104 bis
temple band
beaded linen skull-cap
conical linen pad
iron headrest amulet |
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