Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues Class 11 English Hornbill

Key Points of the Story

• A.R. Williams is the writer of this chapter. 
• Moreover, this chapter is regarding the last heir of the great Pharaoh Dynasty, Tutankhamun. 
• He died in his teenage after ruling for 9 years. 
• His death gave birth to a mystery. 
• This chapter talks about all the possible mysteries: the curse, where his tomb is lying, his whole life and finally his death. 
• Discovering tut: the saga continues summary will give you all the facts and information about the death of Tut.

Detailed Summary

Tutankhamun, the final ruler of the illustrious Pharaoh Dynasty, met an untimely demise at a young age. Controversy surrounds his death, with some speculating it may have been a result of foul play. In the year 1922, the renowned archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered Tutankhamun's tomb. Eight decades later, an attempt was made to unravel the enigma of his life and death through a forensic reconstruction involving a CT scan.
Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun's father or grandfather, held significant power as a Pharaoh for a remarkable 40-year reign. His son, Amenhotep IV, later known as Akhenaten, succeeded him and introduced a peculiar era in Egypt's history. Akhenaten, whose name meant "servant of Athens," moved the religious capital from Thebes to Amarna. He also confronted the god Amun, defacing his images and closing his temples. Subsequently, another enigmatic ruler followed, but their reign was short-lived. Tutankhamun ascended to the throne and governed for a mere nine years.
When Tutankhamun's mummified remains were discovered, they were accompanied by a wealth of gold and treasures. After many years had passed, Carter initiated an investigation into these treasures and planned to inspect the three nested boxes. Unfortunately, some of the tomb's contents had already been disturbed. Tutankhamun's tomb, found cut into the rock, lay 26 feet beneath the ground and featured wall paintings. These paintings suggested he was buried in either March or April. One particular coffin presented a challenge to Carter. It was securely sealed with gum, making it nearly impossible to open. Carter resorted to placing the box in the sun for several hours in an attempt to soften the resin, but this proved unsuccessful.
In the end, he had no choice but to use a chisel and hammer to remove the adhesive. Fearing that thieves might pilfer the gold and treasures, Carter and his team carefully dismembered the mummy, first removing the head, then separating each joint. After all the body parts had been removed, they placed them on a bed of sand and arranged them in a wooden box, returning them to their original location.
In January 2009, Tutankhamun's body underwent a CT scan, which involved taking hundreds of X-rays to generate a 3D image. During the process, the workmen carefully moved the body from the tomb to a box. They transported it up a ramp and stairs, placing it on a hydraulic trailer holding the scanner. Unfortunately, the scanner experienced a malfunction and the CT scan was halted. It was only after utilizing spare fans that the scan could finally be completed. Three hours later, the body was returned to its resting place in Tutankhamun's tomb, where it now rests in eternal peace.

Conclusion

To conclude, Discovering tut: the saga continues summary tells you that Tutankhamun, also known as tut was a brave ruler who of the great Pharaoh Dynasty. He died a mysterious death and is resting in peace in his tomb now.

Difficult Words

Word - Meaning

• Saga– long story of events or adventures,
• heir–successor, 
• was laid to rest–died; 
• eventually–finally,
• speculated–guessed. 
• clues–link, information, 
• precise–exact, accurate, 
• data–account; 
• forensic–use of scientific methods in crime investigation,
• pharaoh–the title of the ancient egyptian kings; 
• stirredup–caused to rise, blew, 
• ancient–of very old times; 
• cemetery–graveyard, 
• burial– ground, 
• dark-bellied–bulging, 
• scuddedacross–moved fast and smoothly,
• veiling–covering, hiding, 
• casketgrey–ash or lead coloured coffin, 
• mummy–embalmed human body for burial, 
• glided–moved, was pushed, 
• probe–examine closely, 
• lingering–slow in motion; 
• descended–arrived, climbed down into, 
• cramped–small in size, 
• murals–wall paintings,
• peered–looked intently,
• lid–cover, 
• pondering–thinking deeply
• shiver–tremble; 
• curse–bad luck, 
• antiquities–remains of ancient times; archaeologist
• futile–unsuccessful, 
• contents–treasure; 
• hastily–swiftly: 
• ransacked–looted; 
• antiquity–long past years; 
• legend–a myth, story; 
• stunning–surprising, amazing, 
• artefacts–things made by human hand,
• eternal–everlasting,
• resurrection–recovered from grave,
• sensation–excitement. 
• afterlife–next life, life after death; 
• bronze–mixture of brass and copper; 
• linen–cotton; 
• undergarments–under dress, 
• cases–boxes, 
• funerary–relating to burial,
• coffin–the chest in which a dead body is placed for burial. 
• Shroud–sheet to wrap a dead body, 
• adorned–decorated; 
• celery–a kind of plant; 
• petals–leaves,
• faded–not very sure or clear ;
• evidence–proof; 
• ritual–ceremonial, 
• resins–a kind of gum,
• cementing–uniting,
• legitimate–lawful, genuine, 
• hammer–a tool for driving nails, 
• loosen–to soften the glue,
• Blazing–scorching, 
• budged–moved; 
• detachment–aloofness, objectivity, 
• consolidated–solidified, 
• chiselled away–cut with a tool,
• beneath–under,
• trunk–the main part of the body, 
• circumvented–cheated, befooled, 
• ripped it apart–separated, torn, 
• fabulously–excessively, 
• lavished–gifted, restored greatly, 
• glittering–shining, 
• precious–valuable, 
• inlaid–fine material inserted, 
• bracelets–an ornament band for the wrist, 
• amulets–magic chains, 
• sheaths–a covering, 
• iconic–pertaining to an image; 
• mask–a covering to conceal the face
• adornments–ornaments,
• severed–cut off;
• reassembled– joined again. 
• padding–fill out, 
• concealed–hid,
• damage–harm done, 
• archaeology–the science of ancient ruins; 
• substantially–greatly; 
• intervening–lying between, 
• decades–ten years,
• focussing–giving attention to;
• fascinating–interesting; 
• intriguing–secret mysterious, 
• sophisticated–advanced: 
• anatomy–the science of body- structure, 
• startling–shock giving,
• cakes–covers; 
• diagnostic–ascertain disease by symptoms;
• imaging–taking the pictures of the inside of body: 
• slices–pieces.
• virtual–almost real; 
• reveal–show; 
• lingering–remaining unsolved; 
• demise–death, 
• royal standards–criterion, 
• death rattle–death knell, 
• dynasty–succession of kings of the same family, 
• particulars–details,
• aftermath–what followed thereafter. 
• four decades–forty years; 
• succeeded–came to the throne, 
• initiated–began, 
• Promoted–encouraged, 
• shocked–caused disgust, 
• smashing–breaking down, 
• images–statues, 
• horrific–causing fear, horrifying, 
• site–location, 
• wacky–crazy.
• exited–departed, 
• trace–sign, 
• living image of Amun–life- like idol.
• restoration–reestablishment, 
• reigned–ruled; 
• regardless–in spite of. ignoring; 
• speculation–guess, supposition, 
• inventory–preparing a detailed list. 
• phase–step;
• scanning–examining scientifically, 
• portable–light enough to be carried, 
• images–pictures, photos,
• slices–bits, pieces. 
• intricate–complex, 
• structures–forms. 
• detail–detail exciting fear, 
• anatomy–science of the structure of the human body; 
• probe–investigate, examine; 
• gilded–coated with gold, 
• pallbearers–those who carry a dead body. 
• ramp–the slope.
• flight of stairs–a series of steps, 
• swirling–moving in a circular motion. 
• hydraulic–moving with the pressure of water. 
• trailer–a vehicle drawn by another; 
• held–contained; 
• emerged–came out; 
• sprinted–ran fast,
• quit–left, went out: 
• nervously–in fear, 
• Eventually–finally, 
• substitute–alternative, another, 
• procedure–work; 
• data–details; 
• funerary–relating to the funeral or burial; 
• astonishing–amazing, 
• Images–pictures,
• scattering–spread out, 
• small-sized, 
• pixels–small areas of light which make up an image on a screen; 
• tilted–bent.
• revealed–showed; 
• transaction–a part, 
• visibly–clearly;
• relieved–at ease; 
• descending–climbing down, 
• departed–long last or dead kings. Of Egypt; 
• constellation– a number of stars grouped together,