King Tut revealed to the world
Monday, 05 Nov 2007 17:03
King Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered 85 years ago
In Focus
We take a look at the highs and lows of the past five decades of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa). Full Story
For the first time in 85 years the face of the legendary King Tutankhamun has been unveiled to members of the public.
Archaeologists unveiled the Ancient Egyptian ruler's face after placing his mummy in a climate-controlled glass display case in his Luxor tomb.
The event comes 85 years to the day after the British explorer Harold Carter entered his tomb.
Unlike the radiant solid gold burial mask, the boy king's mummified face is shrivelled and black.
"The golden boy has magic and mystery," said Egypt's head of antiquities Dr Zahi Hawass.
"Therefore every person all over the world will see what Egypt is doing to preserve the golden boy, and all of them I am sure will come to see the golden boy."
King Tutankhamun ruled Egypt from 1333 BC to 1324 BC and ascended the throne at the age of eight. When his tomb was uncovered about 5,000 artefacts were found inside.
Last year Egyptian radiologists performed the first-ever CT scan of the king. They estimated him to be between 18 and 20 years old when he died and argued that a fracture to his thigh could have become an infected open wound that eventually led to his death.
