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The Warenski dagger sits on a Warenski reproduction of an ivory headrest also found in the tomb. The headrest depicts Shu, god of the air, holding up the sky, thus eliminating chaos from the earth by creating light. The lions represent the mountains on the eastern and western horizons between which the sun rose and set. This headrest has no parallel in Egyptian art. The hieroglyphic inscription in back reads: The Good God, Son of Amun, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Nebkheperure Given Life Like Re Forever.
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TUTANKHAMEN
He was born Tutankhaten and most historians are of the opinion that he was the son of the heretic King Akhenaten, the first to believe in a single deity. Akhenaten founded the religion of Aten and worshiped the sun god or solar disk. The exact date of Tutankhamen’s existence on earth is widely disputed but known to have been over 3300 years ago. He came to power at about the age of nine and died about age eighteen.
Two major events are credited to his nine year reign: The reintroduction of the multi-God religion of Amon to Egypt and a return of the capital from Akhetaten to Thebes. Both of these accomplishments caused sweeping changes across the land. Not only was the language altered, but Egyptian art, which had remained consistent for 2000 years, became more expressionistic and experimental. Tut’s name changed to Tutankhamen and to the people this already “living god” was further exalted.
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How he met his death cannot be determined. An attempt by his successors to take credit for his achievements left little evidence of his existence outside his tomb. Inside the tomb no papyrus was found nor any inscription that shed any light on his history. His mummy also yielded little. The liberal use of unguents during the burial process caused it to decompose badly.
On November 22, 1922, after an exhaustive six year search, Howard Carter drilled a small hole in the door of the 3300 year old tomb and inserted a candle. “Can you see anything?” asked his financier, Lord Carnarvon. “Yes, wonderful things!” Carter gasped. It took almost six years from that day to remove approximately 5000 items from the tomb. Among the 143 objects found on the mummy were two daggers, one made of solid gold. With this wonderful dagger, the blade of which was rendered invulnerable by the magic of the scabbard, it was believed that the dead king might overcome all demons in his path. The original dagger which is housed in the Cairo Museum is considered one of the finest artifacts found in the tomb. Examples of daggers used by the ancient Egyptians are exceedingly rare and generally made of copper and bronze. Gold was probably reserved for royalty.
On the pommel of the dagger are the king’s cartouches. The hieroglyphics on the top of the front of the scabbard read: The Good God, Possessor of a Strong Arm, Nebkheperura, Given Life Forever.
“Given life forever” is a phrase that is found on many of Tut’s possessions including the dagger’s scabbard and the headrest. The discovery of his tomb, over 3300 years after his death, certainly ensures the young king a form of the immorality he sought.
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