The discovery of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in 1922 was a scientific sensation. Alongside the body of the young ruler, more than 5,000 valuable artifacts were placed in the burial chamber, including his iconic golden funeral mask. Interestingly, the tomb of Tutankhamun still holds its 3,000-year-old secrets today.
Dr. Nicholas Brown, an Egyptologist at Yale University, asserts that the “humble” collection of items in the tomb has yet to be properly studied.
A new study by Dr. Brown’s team has shed light on the true purpose of artifacts that archaeologists have overlooked for decades. The researchers were particularly intrigued by clay trays and wooden sticks found near the sarcophagus. According to Dr. Brown, these items were essential for a burial ritual associated with Osiris, the god of the underworld.
What Did the Researchers Report?
Tutankhamun (likely 1345 – 1327 BC) ascended to the throne as a boy and died about a decade later at the age of 19. Although his reign was brief, he is remembered as one of the most famous pharaohs of ancient Egypt, largely due to the incredible treasures discovered in his tomb by British archaeologist Howard Carter over a century ago.
“During the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb, a mysterious set of items was found in the burial chamber. However, a closer examination of the religious and archaeological context of these artifacts allows for a different interpretation of their function,” the authors of the study wrote in their report.
Among the astonishing wealth uncovered in the burial were the famous golden mask, golden shoes, clothing, statues, and jewelry. In comparison to these treasures, the clay trays and four wooden sticks, each about 90 cm tall and located a meter and a half from the sarcophagus, appeared to be simple household items.
The trays, made from Nile river mud, were often thought to serve as stands. However, Dr. Brown has reinterpreted the purpose of the clay trays. He believes they were used for the ritual pouring of a drink—a symbolic offering to the god in memory of the deceased. It was believed that this liquid could revive the dead.
Meanwhile, the wooden sticks, positioned at the same level as Tutankhamun’s head, may have played a central role in his “awakening.” This ritual is rooted in the myth of Osiris’s awakening, where he was commanded to rise by touching his head with sticks.
According to the American Research Center in Egypt, the earliest description of the Osiris awakening ritual dates back to the 19th Dynasty (1292-1189 BC). However, Tutankhamun ruled before this dynasty, as reported by the Daily Mail. Thus, Dr. Brown suggested that the ritual was first performed during the burial of the young pharaoh.
Osiris, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt, was the ruler of the underworld and the judge of the dead. According to the myth, he was killed by his own brother Set, the god of chaos and evil.
“Tutankhamun and the officials acting on his behalf had the opportunity to adapt, modify, and transform royal burial practices and bring Osiris back into the narrative,” Dr. Brown noted.
The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology.