The mystery surrounding the life and death of King Tutankhamun, one of Egypt’s most well-known Pharaohs, has continued to fascinate people for over 3,000 years. Due to damage found on his skull, scholars have debated the possibility that he was murdered , but this has since been proven to be false. Currently, researchers believe that King Tut’s head wounds were the result of the mummification process.

DNA was extracted from the bones of eleven mummies by a team of Egyptian and foreign scientists. Testing revealed that King Tut was a frail boy who suffered from a cleft palate and club foot. He died of complications from a broken leg exacerbated by malaria, and his parents were most likely brother and sister. DNA of the malaria parasite was found in several of the mummies. The study concluded his father was King Akhenaten, who attempted to bring monotheism to ancient Egypt, while Tut’s mother was Akhenaten’s sister, whose name remains unknown.

Several genetic disorders were discovered in the mummies such as scoliosis, curvature of the spine, and club feet. These genetic defects are the result of close inbreeding which was common among Egyptian Pharaohs. Modern tests also disproved speculation that Tutankhamun and members of his family suffered from rare disorders that gave them feminine attributes and misshapen bones. Results of this study, which will be published in the Journal of the American Medical Association state, “It is unlikely that either Tutankhamun or Akhenaten actually displayed a significantly bizarre or feminine physique.”

I read an article that stated that after all these years, King Tutankhamen achieved what he sought  his entire life: immortality. I would disagree with this statement because I don’t believe he was seeking to simply be remembered. I believe he shared the same desire that we experience in our own lives, the desire to live forever, which includes being conciously aware of our exsistance. That would be true immortality.