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This month’s issue of National Geographic features King Tut, with a report on recent findings resulting from DNA testing.

In Egyptian chronology, King Tut (Tutankhamun) fits in the 18th dynasty, and the New Kingdom, 1550-1070 B.C.  This most famous pharaoh was really a minor king; he ascended the throne at age 9 and died at age 18 (1333-1323 B.C.). But it is because his tomb escaped the attention of centuries of grave robbers and when finally discovered (1922) was still intact and replete with thousands of artifacts valued in the millions of dollars, that King Tut is so well known.

The National Geographic article documents the results of DNA testing on King Tut and other mummies believed to have been family members.

…our team was able to establish with a probability of better than 99.99 percent that Amenhotep III was the father of the individual in KV55, who was in turn the father of Tutankhamum

…the KV55 mummy, the son of Amenhotep III and Tiye and the father of Tutankhamun, is almost certainly Akhentaten.

The article makes an interesting read.  We photographed Tut’s funeral mast, crafted of gold, in the Egyptian Museum in 2003.

King Tut's Funeral Mask. Egyptian Museum. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Since our visit at that time, it is no longer permitted to take photos in the museum.  Hopefully, that prohibition will be lifted in the future.

Biblically, the reign of this king would have transpired during the period of the Judges.

Click on image for higher resolution.