Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
Page Number: 27
Reading with Insight
1. Give reasons for the following.
(i) King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny
Answer:
Tut’s body had been examined numerous times because it was the world’s most famous mummy. Aside from the gold-plated face of the coffin, visitors to the tomb believed that there was a mystery surrounding the young ruler’s untimely death. They also wondered if the pharaoh’s curse, which befell those who disturbed his resting place, was true or not.
(ii) Howard Carter’s investigation was resented.
Answer:
Howard Carter’s investigation, which took place in the 1920s, was criticised because King Tut’s body was badly damaged in an attempt to separate it from the golden coffin. He had used unethical methods to extract the gold and had made no effort to investigate the cause of death.
(iii) Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s remains.
Answer:
Howard had to chisel away the solidified resin to raise Tut’s remains, which had become cemented to the bottom of the coffin and showed no signs of breaking apart. No amount of force could separate the body from the coffin; not even exposing it to the scorching sun could melt the solid resin.
(iv) Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.
Answer:
Tut’s body was buried alongside gold and other treasures because, at the time, the royals and rich individuals wished and believed that they might take their wealth with them when they died and use it in the afterlife.
(v) The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun
Answer:
Tutankhamun, the boy-king, changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun in order to restore everything that his father had destroyed.
2. (i) List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as “wacky”.
Answer:
Ray Johnsen described Akhenaten as “wacky” because he promoted the worship of Aten (the sun disc) over Amun the major God, changed his name from Amenhotep to Akhenaten, relocated the religious capital from Thebes to Akhetaten, and destroyed Amun temples and idols, thus shocking the entire country.
(ii) What were the results of the CT scan?
Answer:
The CT scan revealed King Tut’s neck vertebrae, a hand, several views of the rib cage, and a skull transection. Everything indicated that nothing serious had gone wrong.
(iii) List the advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis.
Answer:
The introduction of medical technology that focuses on the aspects of life, rather than the treasure buried with the remains, has shaped the future of archaeology in forensic analysis. The x-ray was invented, followed by the CT scanner, which made diagnostic imaging possible. It creates a three-dimensional virtual body from ancient remains, revealing body parts that have been preserved for thousands of years.
(iv) Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned — in death, as in life…”
Answer:
According to this statement, King Tut was the first pharaoh whose mummified body was scanned 3,300 years after his death. When he was alive, he was a well-known figure. Even though he was only a boy, he was intelligent and practical, making bold decisions and restoring lost customs and traditions that his father had destroyed. He ruled for nine years, but he died unexpectedly, leaving the cause unknown.
Thinking about language
1. Read the following piece of information from The Encyclopedia of Language by David Crystal.
Egyptian is now extinct: its history dates from before the third millennium B.C., preserved in many hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyrus manuscripts. Around the second century A.D., it developed into a language known as Coptic. Coptic may still have been used as late as the early nineteenth century and is still used as a religious language by Monophysite Christians in Egypt.
2. What do you think are the reasons for the extinction of languages?
Answer:
Languages are becoming extinct for a variety of reasons. A dominant language that is not native to the locals frequently replaces the main language. Other reasons include the genocide of entire races, poor cultural heritage preservation, and the loss and damage of historical records.
3. Do you think it is important to preserve languages?
Yes, language preservation is critical. Languages are an important tool for understanding and preserving a culture’s traditions. It also allows one to reconnect with their ancestors. Literature is a tool for preserving and learning a language.
4. In what ways do you think we could help prevent the extinction of languages and dialects?
Answer:
We can preserve languages and dialects by promoting and using languages that are slowly falling into neglect and disuse. To do so, we must stay connected to our roots by encouraging children to speak in their mother tongue more often, reading old books in their native language, and conversing with the elderly.
Working with words
1. Given below are some interesting combinations of words. Explain why they have been used together.
(i) ghostly dust devils (vi) dark-bellied clouds
(ii) desert sky (vii) casket grey
(iii) stunning artefacts (viii) eternal brilliance
(iv) funerary treasures (ix) ritual resins
(v) scientific detachment (x) virtual body
Answer:
(i) This term refers to the violent movement of dusty winds in a desert. The winds are called devils because they punish and annoy the workers for disturbing King Tut’s tomb.
(ii) Suggests the dryness and aridity of a desert.
(iii) The tomb contained artefacts and treasures of high market value, beauty, and brilliance.
(iv) The treasures buried with King Tut’s mummy were all made of gold and were extremely valuable.
(v) Refers to a scientist’s disinterested pursuit of truth.
(vi) Clouds that are dark in colour and indicate the possibility of storms and heavy rain.
(vii) The stars are shrouded in dark grey clouds, as if they were jewels kept in a casket.
(viii) Refers to something that will last indefinitely and is unaffected by time. It is used here to describe the gleam and lustre of Tut’s golden treasure and artefacts.
(ix) Customarily, the resins are used to prepare a body for mummification and in burial rituals.
(x) A machine-created image or artificial body that represents the real body. It can be used to gather information and facts about a real body.
2. Here are some commonly used medical terms. Find out their meanings.
CT scan MRI tomography
autopsy dialysis ECG
post mortem angiography biopsy
Answer:
CT scan – Short for Computerised Tomography, it is a specialised x-ray test that uses a series of X-ray images and a computer to create cross-sectional images of the body.
MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic technique that employs magnetic fields and radio waves to generate a detailed image of the body’s soft tissue and bones.
Tomography – It refers to sectional imaging or sectioning using any type of penetrating wave. It is used in radiology, archaeology, and other scientific fields.
Autopsy – It is a surgical procedure that entails dissecting a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death or to evaluate an injury for research purposes.
Dialysis – It is the process of removing excess water and toxins from the blood in people whose kidneys have lost the ability to do so naturally.
ECG – The electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate the electrical and muscular functions of the heart.
Post Mortem – A corpse is examined or analysed soon after death to determine the cause of death.
Angiography – It is a type of imaging tool used to see inside blood vessels and organs of the body, specifically arteries, veins, and heart chambers.
Biopsy – It is a medical procedure in which surgeons, radiologists, or cardiologists extract cells or tissues for examination in order to determine the presence and extent of a disease.