How did King Tut Die?

King Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, was the 12th pharaoh of Egypt. His tomb was discovered by archaeologist and explorer, Howard Carter. Egyptologists, Archaeologists and historians were unaware of how the boy pharaoh died.

As recent evidence suggests, we may get the answer to this century old question.

King Tut was the son of Pharaoh Akhenaten and his mother was one of Akhenaten's sisters. Studies suggest that King Tut's own wife was his half-sister. As Akhenaten had forbidden the worshipping of most gods except one, 'Aten'. During the tumultuous period of Akhenaten's rule, this religious division threw society into chaos. It is this chaos that King Tut inherited when he was just 9.

Since King Tut was only nine at the time, the first five years of his reign were probably controlled by an elder called Ay. Ay was assisted by Horemheb, the military commander. Both men undid Akhenaten's decree to worship Aten.

Early investigations of Tutankhamun's remains indicated several bone fragments in the skull, which pointed to the theory that he was assassinated. However, the full scan of his body showed that these fragments had occurred during mummification.

A later study showed that King Tut suffered from Malaria and had to use a cane to walk. Further, the study led historians to conclude that King Tut had died of Malaria.

Although we may not get a clear answer to how King Tut died, we have a lot of information a centre after his death which may point us towards the answer.