Top 10: The Best King Tut Videos on the Web
Thanks to the discovery of his practically immaculately preserved tomb by Howard Carter in 1922, Tutankhamun has become ancient Egypt’s biggest A-lister – the superstar celebrity of the glittering age of the pharaohs, a young ruler possessing of unimaginable riches in an age when excess knew no boundary.
Interest in Tut – fuelled by the various mysteries surrounding him, including his untimely death, and the curse that supposedly afflicts all who tamper with his tomb – continues to run high, as proven by the abundance of videos dedicated to the boy king on the web. They range from lengthy investigations into his early demise, to examinations of some of the incredible treasures and ritual objects found in his tomb, plus one performance of a memorable comedy song and dance routine.
Here we count give a rundown of ten of the best King Tut videos on the web. If you want to find out more about Tutankhamun – and the ancient world at large – check out our videos page, where you’ll find loads more fantastic clips.
1. King Tut Revealed – The Curse
Source: Heritage Key
Synopsis: The curse of Tutankhamun – which is set to strike dead all who fiddle with his final resting place – is just a superstitious myth, right? Dr Zahi Hawass – Egypt’s chief archaeologist (check out his top ten videos on the web here) – thought so, until a string of strange misfortunes struck him the day he was set to examine the boy King’s mummy.
Highlight: 2.09-2.16 – Zahi reveals the surprising trick to dodging ancient infections.
(Click here for the transcript of this video)
2. King Tut’s Tomb
Source: National Geographic
Synopsis: A great overview of the CT scan investigation into Tut’s mummy, which established that the cause of the boy king’s death was most likely a fracture in his left leg. Loads of quality footage of the scan results, plus some gory dramatisations of his final moments.
Highlight: 2.53 – a weedy-looking Tut suffers his death-blow at the hands of an angry Hittite warrior.
3. King Tut Revealed – Tomb Robbers
Source: Heritage Key
Synopsis: Ever wondered why Tut’s tomb was found so full of “wondrous things”, when others have been discovered all but empty? Because – as Dr Hawass explains – his tomb evaded robbery, thanks to an accident that occurred during the digging of Ramesses VI tomb nearby. The SCA chief also describes the scandal over Egypt’s first reported tomb robbery.
Highlight: 2.27-2.42 – Hawass lists some undiscovered Egyptian treasures that may yet outstrip Tut’s tomb for splendour if found.
4. The Assassination of King Tut
Source: Discovery Channel
Synopsis: The facts behind this documentary – which sees two hard-nosed American murder cops investigate the supposed murder of Tut – might be wrong, since it’s been as good as proven that Tutankhamun died by accident or in battle. But it still makes for interesting watching, particularly the various dramatisations, of all from his burial to the discovery and investigation of his tomb and mummy.
Highlight: 1.38-1.46 – Tut’s courtiers stand around looking shifty as the pharaoh’s body is prepared for embalming.
5. King Tut’s Treasures – The Canopic Shrine
Source: Heritage Key
Synopsis: Every single last bit of Tutankhamun’s corpse was carefully preserved, including his viscera (a polite word for his guts), which were placed in beautifully-made canopic vessels nested inside a golden shrine. Here Dr Janice Kamrin points out the finer details of these stunning artefacts.
Highlight: 1.37-1.52 – Kamrin explains how Tut’s canopic shrine was handily engraved with assembly instructions.
6. Discovering King Tut – Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter
Source: Heritage Key
Synopsis: In the first instalment of a five-part interview series, HK meets George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon – together with his wife Fiona Herbert, 8th Countess of Carnarvon – to hear about his great grandfather Lord Carnarvon – the man who funded Howard Carter’s investigation of the tomb of Tutankhamun.
Highlight: 0.55-1.11 – Herbert describes how Carter was thoroughly down on his luck before the Tut dig began, out of work but for doing paintings of tourists by the Nile.
7. King Tut Revealed – The Treasure
Source: Heritage Key
Synopsis: Zahi Hawass picks out his favourite pieces among the “wondrous things” discovered in Tut’s tomb, including the golden death mask, the coffins, various items of jewellery and the golden throne. But which does he rush to see first when he visits the Egyptian Museum?
Highlight: 1.34-2.00 – Dr Hawass reveals his romantic side, explaining how the image on the golden throne reflects the love Tut had for his queen.
8. King Tut’s Treasures – Animal Iconography
Source: Heritage Key
Synopsis: Dr Kamrin introduces us to some of the animal icons that were placed inside Tut’s tomb to watch over and protect the young Pharaoh in the afterlife, including jackals, lions and a mighty “hippo-lion-croc”.
Highlight: 0.26-0.48 – meet Anubis, the “super-jackal”. He’s like a regular jackal, but better.
9. King Tut’s Face Revealed
Source: CBS News
Synopsis: In 2007, King Tut’s mummy went on display for the first time, in a climate-controlled glass case at his tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. This news bulletin shows the boy king’s embalmed body being (somewhat haphazardly) placed in the cabinet, under the watchful gaze of Zahi Hawass.
Highlight: 1.21 – presenter Katie Couric’s shockingly poor pun at the end (this one’s more of a lowlight).
10. The King Tut Dance feat. Steve Martin
Source: Saturday Night Live
Synopsis: This hilarious slice of irreverent humour from 1978 sees Steve Martin pay homage to the boy king with a song and dance routine inspired by the wave of King Tut hysteria that swept the US, following the arrival of a touring exhibition displaying the treasures of his tomb. “Dancing by the Nile, the ladies loved his style.”
Highlight: 1.57 – Disco Tut bursts from a sarcophagus at the back of the stage to deliver a killer sax solo.
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