In Our Time Tutankhamun
Dec 26, 2019
Elizabeth Frood, an Egyptology expert from Oxford, Christina Riggs, a visual culture scholar, and John Taylor, a curator at the British Museum, dive into the fascinating world of Tutankhamun. They discuss the dramatic 1922 discovery of his tomb and the subsequent media frenzy that transformed public perception of ancient Egypt. The conversation highlights the pivotal role of photography in archaeology, examines the legacies of Tutankhamun's royal family, and explores the ongoing cultural impact of his treasures on Egyptian identity and art today.
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Tutankhamun's Parentage
- Tutankhamun's parentage is debated, but most Egyptologists believe his father was Akhenaten.
- Akhenaten was a controversial ruler who tried to shift Egypt to monotheism, worshipping the sun disc Aten.
Name Change and Religious Restoration
- Tutankhamun, originally Tutankhaten, changed his name to reflect the return to traditional polytheistic religion.
- This signifies the restoration of Amun, the chief god of Thebes, after Akhenaten's religious reforms.
Ostrich Hunting
- A fan in Tutankhamun's tomb reveals he hunted an ostrich near Heliopolis.
- This is one of the few confirmed personal activities of Tutankhamun outside of formal pharaoh duties.