The Murder of Tutankhamen - by Bob Brier (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A respected Egyptologist, the author of Tutankhamen and the Tomb that Changed the World, examines the compelling mystery behind the death of King Tutankhamen.

Today, Tutankhamen is the most famous of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. After his death at the age of nineteen, "King Tut" was forgotten from history, until the discovery of his tomb in 1922 propelled him to worldwide fame. But the circumstances of his death remain shrouded in mystery....

X-rays of Tutankhamen's skull suggest a violent death. Was it accident or murder? Several members of his family died around the same time--was is coincidence? Why did Tutankhamen's widow send desperate messages to the Hittite king, requesting marriage to one of his sons? And who murdered the Hittite price on his journey to Egypt? Who ordered the removal of Tutankhamen's name from all monuments and temples, and thus from Egyptian history?

This fascinating, painstakingly researched book is the first to explore in depth the questionable circumstances of Tutankhamen's demise--and to present a shocking scenario of betrayal, ambition, and murder. In The Murder of Tutankhamen, renowned Egyptologist Bob Brier reveals an exciting journey into ancient history--and a 3,000 year-old mystery that still compels us today.

"Brier's 3,000-year-old mystery steadily draws the reader into the curious and exotic world of Egyptology."--The New York Times


INCLUDES 16 PAGES OF PHOTOS

Review Quotes

Praise for The Murder of Tutankhamen

"Can the truth be known about a possible murder that would have been committed 3,000 years ago? Respected Egyptologist Bob Brier, specialist in paleopathology and host of The Learning Channel's acclaimed series The Great Egyptians, believes it can. Skillfully combining known historical events with evidence gathered by advanced technologies, Brier has re-created the suspenseful story of religious upheaval and political intrigue that likely resulted in the murder of the teenage king Tutankhamen...Breathing life into old bones and artifacts, Brier examines all available evidence to arrive at 'the most reasonable explanation for a tragic event, ' an explanation that, he says, is testable through the use of current technology on the mummified remains of the ancient king."--Booklist (starred review)

"Persuasive...accessible...exciting."--Boston Globe

"A clear and convincing case...an intriguing piece of speculation."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Dr. Bob Brier has spent more than twenty years studying ancient Egypt, focusing on paleopathology, the study of disease in the ancient world. He is one of the world's most authoritative and respected Egyptologists and the author of two previous books, Ancient Egyptian Magic and Egyptian Mummies. Currently, he hosts the Learning Channel's most successful series ever, The Great Egyptians. Dr. Brier is chairman of the philosophy department at the C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University, in Brookville, New York.