Penned by a scholar who was personally involved in research into the
enigmatic young pharaoh, this comprehensive and fully illustrated new
study reviews the current state of our knowledge about the life, death,
and burial of Tutankhamun in light of the latest investigations and
newest technology. Zahi Hawass places the king in the broader context of
Egyptian history, unraveling the intricate and much debated relationship
between various members of the royal family, and the circumstances
surrounding the turbulent Amarna period. He also succinctly explains the
religious background and complex beliefs in the afterlife that defined
and informed many features of Tutankhamun's tomb. The history of the
exploration of the Valley of the Kings is discussed, as well as the
background and mutual relationships of the main protagonists. The tomb
and the most important finds are described and illustrated, and the
modern X-raying and CT-scanning of the king's mummy are presented in
detail. The description of the latest DNA examination of the mummies of
Tutankhamun and members of his family is one of the most absorbing parts
of the book and demonstrates that scientific methods may produce results
that cannot be paralleled by traditional Egyptology. "This is a work by
a man who passionately loves Egypt's past and is not afraid of
controversy. There is nothing like reading a book that contains
first-hand recollections and impressions, bringing to life an exacting
academic topic. Dr Hawass does this in masterly fashion."--from the
Foreword by Jaromir Malek
