According to legends, the pharaoh of Ancient Egypt from the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom, who ruled around 1332-1323 B.C., was not the frail boy-king he is often portrayed as, but rather a “battle-hardened warrior,” reports the Daily Mail.
The widely accepted facts about Tutankhamun’s frailty and clubfoot, which have become part of historical folklore, have long been supported by scientific evidence: over 130 intact canes of various shapes and designs were found in the pharaoh’s tomb, which were previously believed to assist the young ruler in moving around. However, several independent experts are now challenging the notion of Tutankhamun’s frailty.
For instance, biomedical Egyptologist Sophia Aziz believes that the ornate canes were a sign of royal lineage and power, and the clubfoot observed by scientists studying the pharaoh’s mummy may have developed during the mummification process, when tight wrapping and the application of resin could have distorted the shape of the foot. She suggests that the middle bone of the left toe may have been lost during the transportation of the pharaoh’s mummy or stolen by someone as a “souvenir.”
Dr. Aziz, who has studied over 50 mummies, summarizes: “There are no signs of ‘stress’ on the long, straight bones of Tutankhamun’s legs, which would typically leave marks on the bones of someone who has limped throughout their life.”
Tutankhamun striking fear into his enemies on a chariot (circa 1327 B.C.) Wood painting, Cairo Museum
Dr. Campbell Price, curator of the Egypt section at the Manchester Museum, supports the idea that the image of the frail boy-pharaoh is likely a myth: “The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb was made by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922, and since then, the hypothesis of the pharaoh as a poor, limping creature has been known to everyone. But we sympathize with this boy-king because he was not what we might expect when looking at the golden mask.” Evidence supporting the version of Tutankhamun as a warrior includes various items found in his tomb, such as leather armor and an array of weapons.
It’s worth noting that Tutankhamun was the son of Akhenaten and ascended to the throne at the age of nine or ten. He ruled for a decade and died at the age of 18 under mysterious circumstances. During excavations in the Valley of the Kings in November 1922, British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered stairs leading to Tutankhamun’s tomb. Cataloging just the items from the antechamber of the pharaoh’s burial site took several months, after which the archaeologist entered the burial chamber and found the sarcophagus containing Tutankhamun’s mummy along with a multitude of treasures.