Just over 98 years ago, the British Egyptologist Howard Carter was responsible for finding one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the last century: the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt.
It was just the beginning of an exploration that still intrigues researchers. Within the great place that guarded King Tut , countless artifacts were still found that demonstrate both the wealth of his reign and the ritualistic practices of that historical period.
Thinking about it, we separated 5 curious artifacts discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb. Check out!
1. Gold sandals and toes
Tutankhamun was accompanied by items that he probably used during his life and that he would use, according to the belief, during the next life.
Inside the tomb of the boy pharaoh, sandals made of solid gold were found, which had a funerary purpose but must also have been worn by him before he died.
The king’s feet were also being well looked after. In fact, the Egyptian mummy was wearing a kind of toe cap on his fingertips, which served to maintain the shape of Tut’s limbs even after a long period. All of this made of gold, of course, so that it could last ‘forever’.
2. Games
As it was thought that the pharaoh would have an afterlife, nothing more correct than leaving him with important items in his tomb.
The researchers identified food, clothing, weapons, all sorts of things he might need – but he would also need some fun.
Numerous games were found along with the sarcophagus and one of them was very popular at the time. Known as Senet.
Senet is a board game devised in Ancient Egypt. It is one of the oldest board games that are known. Tutankhamun had four Senet in his tomb to play for eternity.
3. Boomerang
According to Tarek El Awady, curator of the exhibition Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh, many boomerangs were found inside Tut’s tomb, both those who return when you launch them and those who do not return to the starting place.
Although it may seem strange that this object was there, the expert explains: “They were used at least since the Ancient Kingdom, many hundreds of years before Tutankhamun.
The most famous representation of its use was that of a boomerang being launched from a boat in the swamps of the Delta, to catch birds ”.
4. Musical instrument
Yes, the place of the final rest of pharaoh Tutankhamun had everything, including a portable musical instrument named Sistrum.
It is assumed that it was played during Tut’s burial rite, possibly by Ankhesenamun, one of his wives, since the instrument was played mostly by women.
El Awady clarifies that the Sistrum had a much greater value than the musical, being considered the favorite instrument of Hathor, one of the most beloved deities in Ancient Egypt. The researcher states that “it was believed that the strident sound they made brought the body to life”.
5. Jewels
Wealth also accompanied king Tut in his days in the afterlife. Researchers have identified numerous gems and some have drawn attention for their representations of deities.
One, known as a breastplate (a large necklace), was a falcon symbolizing the god Horus, one of the greatest protectors of Egyptian kings.
The most impressive, however, was probably the jewel made of lapis lazuli that represents a scarab, considered sacred in Ancient Egypt.
The beetle or scarab represents the Egyptian god Khepri, responsible for the rebirth. As you can see, everything was designed to help Tut on his way to the afterlife.
Read more: Photos of Lavish Pieces of ancient Egyptian jewelry
Read more: What does the scarab beetle symbolize in ancient Egypt? (amazing photos)
