Tut

Tut is believed to have died from complications following an accident that was consistent with being thrown from one chariot and being run over by another. He had serious injuries to his trunk and a compound fracture of one of his legs. MRI and CT analysis of his mummy shows the injury, which did not heal, indicating it was perimortem. DNA analysis also shows that he repeatedly suffered from the most severe type of malaria. There was coriander in his tomb, a spice used to treat fever during his time. Tut had a malformed bone in one of his feet, possibly genetic, that probably caused him to limp. He was buried with many canes that were used, as evidenced by wear. It is supposed that Tut was injured during a hunting expedition, possibly a chariot accident. Having been weakened by malaria, it is thought that he developed an infection from the broken bone and leg injury that overwhelmed him causing his death. It is possible he had internal injuries that contributed, however the hasty and poorly performed mummification process, which included a disproportunate amount of scented oils that caused decomposition. His organs, which were stored in canopic jars, were not able to provide any discernible evidence.

Tutankhamun did not directly succeed Akhenaten. There was at least one intermediate heir: Smenkhkare or Queen Neferneferuaten or perhaps both.

Featured in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Ben Kingsley/Mike Birbiglia/Senator Lindsey Graham (2015)