EgyptBC.com

Since 1968 when detailed x-rays were taken of the boy king’s mummy, popular belief has been that Tutankhamon was murdered, by a blow to the head.

This theory came about following the revelation that the x-rays had revealed bone fragments within his skull. This would be typical in a murder where severe force was applied to the head.

However, an international team has recently been allowed to scan the body once again, this time using more up to date versions of x-rays, known as CT (computerised tomography). The result of this scanning would suggest that Tutankhamon’s skull was in fact intact at the time of his death.

Tutankhamon’s mummy had, in reality, been near enough butchered by Howard Carter’s expedition team upon it’s discovery in 1922. Presumeably, they had been intending to steal the magnificent gold funeral mask, without success.

The reason they did not get away with the mask and why Tutankhamon’s mummy was so badly damaged was that it had been sealed tightly with embalming fluid.

The fact that none of the bone fragments in Tutankhamon’s skull were fused together from embalming fluid seeping in over the ages would suggest that his head was actually in one piece at the time of his burial.

So how then did King Tut die? Well, the scans did reveal a leg fracture that had become fused by embalming fluid. It’s possible then, but my no means proven, that Tutankhamon may have developed an infection following a broken leg that would ultimately lead to his early demise.

Well…

.. maybe not.

But if King Tut really did have important data then where better to store it than on an ancient Egyptian usb memory drive?

With a 2 gb capacity, these flash drives may just be THE christmas present for the Egyptologist who has everything!

The sphynx and Egyptian themed drives are available for $22 from USB Geek

I’ve previously written an estimated timeline for ancient Egypt but this chronology comes from a different angle.

Below is the period from 3032 B.C. through to around 330 B.C. when Alexander the Great arrived, broken down by dynasty and pharoah -

Archaic Period (3032 - 2707 BC)

Dynasty 1

Menes
Djer
Merneith
Djet
Den
Anedjib
Semerkhet
Qa’a
Sneferka

Dynasty 2

Hetepsekhemwy
Reneb (Nebre)
Weneg
Ninetjer
Sened
Nubnefer
Neferkare
Neferkaseker
Hudjefa I
Peribsen-Sekhemib
Khasekhemwy

Old Kingdom (2707-2170 BC)

Dynasty 3

Sanakhte 2686–2668
Djoser 2668–2649
Sekhemkhet 2649–2643
Khaba 2643–2637
Huni 2637–2613

Dynasty 4

Snefru 2613–2589
Khufu (Cheops) 2589–2566
Djedefre 2566–2558
Khafre (Chephren) 2558–2532
Menkaure (Mycerinus) 2532–2504
Shepseskaf 2504–2500

Dynasty 5

Userkaf 2498–2491
Sahure 2491–2477
Neferirkare 2477–2467
Shepseskare 2467–2460
Neferefre 2460–2453
Neuserre 2453–2422
Menkauhor 2422–2414
Djedkare 2414–2375
Unas 2375–2345

Dynasty 6

Teti 2345–2333
Pepi I 2332–2283
Merenre 2283–2278
Pepi II 2278–2184
Nitocris † 2184–2182

First Intermediate Period (2170-2020 BC)

Dynasties 7 and 8 (–2160)

Dynasties 7 and 8 contained many kings who ruled for short periods of time.

Dynasties 9 and 10 (2160–2040)

The Herakleopolitan kings

Middle Kingdom (2119-1793 BC)

Dynasty 11

Intef I, II, and III 2134–2060
Mentuhotep I 2060–2010
Mentuhotep II 2010–1998
Mentuhotep III 1998–1991

Dynasty 12

Amenemhet I 1991–1962
Senusret I 1971–1926
Amenemhet II 1929–1895
Senusret II 1897–1878
Senusret III 1878–1841
Amenemhet III 1842–1797
Amenemhet IV 1798–1786
Sobeknefru † 1785–1782

Second Intermediate Period (1782–1570)

Dynasty 13

Dynasty 13 included around 70 ‘governors’, almost all of whom had short reigns

Dynasty 14

Dynasty 14 was a breakaway group of kings who ruled the Delta at the same time as Dynasty 13

Dynasty 15

Hyksos kings including Apophis (Apepi I, 1585–1542)

Dynasty 16

Minor Hyksos kings who ruled at the same time as Dynasty 15

Dynasty 17

15 Theban kings including Tao I, Tao II and Kamose (1573–1570)
Queen Ahhotep I (1560- 1530 BCE)

New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC)

Dynasty 18

Ahmose I 1570–1546
Amenhotep I 1525–1504
Tuthmosis I 1524–1518
Tuthmosis II 1518–1504
Tuthmosis III 1504–1450
Hatshepsut 1498–1483
Amenhotep II 1453–1419
Tuthmosis IV 1419–1386
Amenhotep III 1386–1349
Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) 1350–1334
Smenkhkare 1336–1334
Tutankhamon 1334–1325
Ay 1325–1321
Horemheb 1321–1293

Dynasty 19

Ramses I 1293–1291
Seti I 1291–1278
Ramses II 1279–1212
Merenptah 1212–1202
Amenmesses 1202–1199
Seti II 1199–1193
Siptah 1193–1187
Twosret 1187–1185

Dynasty 20

Setnakhte 1185–1182
Ramesses III 1182–1151
Ramesses IV 1151–1145
Ramesses V 1145–1141
Ramesses VI 1141–1133
Ramesses VII 1133–1126
Ramesses VIII 1133–1126
Ramesses IX 1126–1108
Ramesses X 1108–1098
Ramesses XI 1098–1070

Third Intermediate Period (1069–715)

Dynasty 21

Smendes I 1069–1043
Amenemnisu 1043–1039
Psusennes I 1039–991
Amenemope 993–984
Osorkon (the Elder) 984–978
Siamun 978–959
Psusennes II 959–945

Dynasty 22

Shoshenq I (Shishak I) 945–924
Osorkon I 924–889
Shoshenq II c.890
Takelot I 889–874
Osorkon II 874–850
Takelot II 850–825
Shoshenq III 825–773
Orsokon III 777–749
Pami 773–767
Shoshenq IV 767–730
Osorkon IV 730–715

Dynasty 23

Dynasty 24

Tefnakht I 727–720
Bakenrenef (Bocchoris) 720–715

Dynasty 25

Piankhi (Piyi) 747–716
Shabaka 716–702
Shebitku 702–690
Taharqa 690–664
Tanut-Amun (Tantamani) 664–656

Dynasty 26

Psamtik I 664–610
Nekau (Necho) 610–595
Psamtik II 595–589
Wahibre (Apries) 589–570
Ahmose II (Amasis) 570–526
Psamtik III 526–525

Late Period (525–332)

Dynasty 27

Persian kings including
Cambyses (525–522)
Darius I (521–486)
Xerxes (485–465)

Dynasty 28

Amyrtaeus 404–399

Dynasty 29

Nepherites I 399–393
Hakor (Achoris) 393–380
Psammuthis 380–379
Nepherites II c.379

Dynasty 30

Nakhtnebef (Nectanebo I) 380–362
Djedhor (Teos) 362–360
Nakhthoreb (Nectanebo II) 360–343

Dynasty 31

Artaxerxes 343–338
Arses 343–336
Darius III 336–332

Djoser’s step pyramid can be found at Saqqara, just south of Memphis.

Originally, the pyramid began life as a standard mastaba.

However, over time it was subsequently expanded.

In fact, six new levels were added on six different occassions, bringing the total height of the structure up to a height of over 200 feet.

The architect credited with the design of Djoser’s pyramid was the kings vizier, Imhotep.

Djoser’s step pyramid marked a significant step in architectural design and the size of buildings at that time.

It is believed that the step pyramid was built during the 3rd dynasty, around 2630 B.C.

Egypt’s chief archaeologist Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and National Geographic Society explorer-in-residence, announced on November 11, 2008 that Sesheshet was entombed in a 4,300 year old, headless 5 metre (6ft) tall pyramid at Saqqara.

ZAHI HAWASS

Hawass has stated that this may be Saqqara’s most complete subsidiary pyramid.

The 118th pyramid discovered so far in Egypt, the big part of its 2 metre wide casing was built with a superstructure 5 metres high.

It originally reached 14 metres in height, with sides 22 metres long.

Hawass’s team has been excavating the site for two years.

The discovery of the pyramid was made in September 2008 with the unearthing of the 16 foot tall structure from the sand.

FIVE STORIES

Once five stories tall, the pyramid was discovered beneath 23 feet (7 metres) of sand, a small shrine and mud-brick walls from later periods.

The third known ’subsidiary’ pyramid to Teti’s tomb was originally 46 feet (14 metres) tall and 72 feet (22 metres) square at its base, due to its walls having stood at a 51 degree angle.

Buried next to the Saqqara Step pyramid, its base lies 65 feet underground.

The pyramid of Sesheshet lies near two other pyramids which might belong to Teti’s two wives.

Archeologists intend to enter the Sesheshet pyramid by November 25 to confirm it actually belongs to Queen Sesheshet.