King Tut had chronic medical problems, but his beard falling off wasn't one of them
King Tut died young during times of trouble for Egypt, making his death a mystery spanning thousands of years. Though some earlier scans hinted at the possibility of foul play, a recent "digital autopsy" confirmed the teenage Pharaoh was a walking bag of medical problems.
"it would have been impossible for the king to have died while riding a chariot, as has been previously thought.
"We concluded it would not be possible for him, especially with his partially clubbed foot, as he was unable to stand unaided."
Scientists believe genetics and inherited diseases played a role in Tut's bad health because of inbreeding. A genetic analysis of his family's mummies suggests that his parents were siblings.
But the final insult came last year when eight museum workers botched a cleaning of the King's legendary mask: his beard fell off and they stuck it back on with a big ol' glob of gorilla glue. Then they tried to scratch off the glue, damaging the artifact itself.
The workers now face discliplinary charges.
"In an attempt to cover up the damage they inflicted, they used sharp instruments such as scalpels and metal tools to remove traces of the glue on the mask, causing damage and scratches that remain," the statement said. The accused officials have been suspended from their jobs and now face possible dismissal and heavy fines, but they will not go to prison.The scratches to the mask will not be visible to most visitors, according to Monica Hanna, an archaeologist and a member of Egypt's Heritage Task Force, an initiative to protect the nation's cultural heritage. Ms Hanna blamed the debacle on declining standards at the 104-year-old museum, which is home to the world's largest collection of mummies and other Pharaonic antiquities but has become increasingly neglected in recent years.