Ever since mummy KV55 was discovered in 1907, it has generated deep interest, debate, and controversy. The big issues have been identifying the KV55 mummy in ancient Egyptian history and combining its most probable identity with that person’s proposed age of death.
Could mummy KV55 really be the ‘heretic pharaoh’ Akhenaten, as many scholars believe? If so, a team of scientists at the Forensic Anthropology, Paleopathology and Bioarchaeology (FAPAB) Research Center in Sicily, Italy, have finally revealed the image of this famous pharaoh - and it’s nothing like how he was portrayed in the ancient artwork!
Statue of Akhenaton in the Louvre. (FAPAB Research Center)
Facts and Controversy Surrounding Mummy KV55
- The mummy was found with grave goods attributed to different people and a desecrated coffin in the undecorated tomb KV55 in the Valley of the Kings in 1907 by an Egyptologist named Edward R. Ayrton.
- This tomb is just a few meters from Tutankhamun’s tomb.
- Upon excavation, mummy KV55 disintegrated into dust and bones, so today it’s only a skeleton.
- It was first suggested to be Queen Tyje (due to a broad pelvis), but Australian scientist Grafton E. Smith later declared the remains are male.
- Mummy KV55’s genetic results show this is the genetic father of Tutankhamun, however palaeomolecular experts criticized some of the results in 2010.
- Historical and archaeological research, including some artifacts in the tomb, suggest that mummy KV55 is Akhenaton (Akhenaten).
- Akhenaten (r. 1353–36/35 BC) is known as the ‘heretic pharaoh’ because he developed monotheism, worshipping the one ‘true’ god of Aten (the Sun disk). He was the son of Amenhotep III and the father of Tutankhamun.
- Historical evidence, which is fragmented and conflicting, suggests that Akhenaten died when he was about 40 years old. However mummy KV55 belongs to a man who is believed to have died in his early 20s.
- Some scholars argue that mummy KV55’s age of death demonstrate that this is actually an enigmatic Late Amarna period person named Smenkhkare.
An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Michael E. Habicht
FAPAB Director Francesco M. Galassi, a physician and palaeopathologist, and Egyptological studies coordinator Michael E. Habicht oversaw the creation of the new facial reconstruction of the KV55 mummy, which was completed by the well-known Brazilian expert Cicero Moraes, who has been recognized for his skilled facial reconstructions.
- A Pharaoh Thrice Buried? The Mystery of the Tombs of Pharaoh Akhenaten
- Game of Toes in Amarna: Missing Body Parts and Funerary Practices of King and Commoner
Dr. Michael E. Habicht, who is also an Archaeologist, Egyptologist, and Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University, Australia, told us about the new facial reconstruction and the research team’s perspectives on the mysteries surrounding mummy KV55.
Side view of the facial reconstruction of Mummy KV55. (FAPAB Research Center)
Interview
Alicia McDermott: Please describe the process used to create this facial reconstruction.
Dr. Michael E. Habicht: Based on published data and images from various studies, a three-dimensional skull model of KV 55 was created. This was then checked again against the images.
Mummy KV55’s skull with data points used in the facial reconstruction. (FAPAB Research Center)
Facial muscles, eyes, fat pads and skin are now modelled on this digital skull model using the so-called Manchester method. The tissue thickness is determined for numerous anatomical points based on forensic mean values.
The skin, eyes and shape of the ears are approximations based on the fact that this is an Egyptian, which accounts for brown eyes and a skin complexion that is still common in Egypt today.
AM: How does this facial reconstruction balance forensic art with anatomical and anthropological information?
MH: The facial reconstruction was blindfolded: Cicero Moraes, our expert for face reconstruction, only received the skull data and the information that it was a man from Egypt, and not older than 25 years. Therefore, this reconstruction has no Egyptian crowns or royal jewelry to distort the impression. Therefore, we think that our reconstruction is as objective as possible and follows purely scientific methods.
Steps in the facial reconstruction process. (FAPAB Research Center)
AM: There is a lot of controversy surrounding the skin color of ancient Egyptians, could you please tell us how you made the choice of skin color for this reconstruction?
MH: It is indeed a highly debated topic but it should be assessed with an open mind, pushing away the racist connotations that have characterized this debate in the past. We decided to use skin tone IV (in the Fitzpatrick scale of I-VI) which is typically encountered in Egypt and in the Mediterranean, an olive completion. Based on the available evidence it would be unrealistic to opt for a much lighter or much darker skin tone. Eventually, a new genetic analysis of KV55’s remains would add more evidence.
The facial reconstruction of mummy KV55. (FAPAB Research Center)
AM: Why has it been so difficult to pinpoint an age of death for this mummy?
MH: It wasn’t particularly difficult, to be honest, as the comprehensive study by the late anthropologist Eugen Strouhal demonstrated. It required an objective evaluation using all available skeletal districts and a consultation of the recent anthropological literature.
The main problem was the a priori identification with Akhenaton plus the assumed age at death of the heretic pharaoh (about 30 years old or older). This has represented the main problem, but by objectively assessing the skeleton and published literature it appears clear that it belongs to a younger individual between the end of adolescence and early adulthood, 19-22 years).
The heretic pharaoh Akhenaten. (FAPAB Research Center)
AM: With so much controversy surrounding the mummy’s identification, who do you think is the best candidate? Is it Tutankhamun’s father Akhenaten? If so, how does that information fit with the belief that his death occurred when he was around 40 years of age and this mummy being younger? Or could the mummy be the remains of the enigmatic figure called Smenkhkare, as some scholars have proposed?
MH: It is most reasonable to assume that Akhenaton and Nefertiti are the historical parents of Tutankhamun, due to historic inscriptions. If one accepts the genetic study from 2010, KV 55 shall be the father and the younger lady KV 35 is the genetic mother of Tutankhamun.
Historical records testify 17 years of reign by Akhenaton. It is debated if some of the first years might be a co-regency with his father Amenhotep III. We acknowledge that an age of 22 years and 17 years of reign would make Akhenaton very young at the time of accession.
It would hardly be arguable that Akhenaten could be the real father of the eldest daughters (Meritaton, Maketaton and possibly also Anchesenamun). The mummies of these daughters have not yet been identified, so Amenhotep III could also be the father (contrary to inscriptional propaganda). Since Tutankhamun was only born in the 12th year of Akhenaten, it is still possible that Akhenaten was the real father, even if he was very young.
If Smenkhkare is assumed to be the father of Tutankhamun, this is also problematic. There is no certain historical evidence that Smenkhkare was a younger brother of Akhenaten.
Moreover, many experts argue that Smenkhkare is in fact the fictitious figure that Queen Nefertiti assumed at the end of Akhenaten's reign to succeed him as male king (analogous to Hatshepsut, who ruled as King Maat-Ka-Ra).
- The Mystery of Egyptian Tomb KV55 in the Valley of the Kings
- Egyptologists Set to Unravel the Identity of Mystery Pharaoh from Tomb KV55
A relief of a royal couple in the Amarna style; figures have variously been attributed as Akhenaten and Nefertiti, Smenkhkare and Meritaten, or Tutankhamen and Ankhesenamun. (Public Domain)
AM: If this is Akhenaton, why does he look so different from the ancient representations of the ‘heretic pharaoh?’ Could it be due to the style of art that was used by artists in the Amarna period?
MH: Egyptian art is generally not very realistic, but reflects a desired ideal image, especially in the case of the king. In the Amarna period, a grotesque, almost comic-like sense of art was introduced. In the course of time, art became more moderate and elegant again (the famous Berlin bust of Nefertiti is in this later tradition). It is therefore not surprising that the family members of the royal family of Amarna look normal and not like in Amarna art.
Broken colossal statue of Akhenaten in the Amarna art style. (FAPAB Research Center)
The research team is currently finishing work on a full-length anthropological report of their study of mummy KV55 and their facial reconstruction. It will be published in a peer-reviewed international journal.
Top Image: New facial reconstruction of the KV55 mummy. Source: FAPAB Research Center
By Alicia McDermott
Hi Senowset, I don’t view
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In reply to Sir Charles, by Senowsret
Hi Senowset, I don’t view Coptic as being anything related to ancient Black Egyptian people and their civilization, nor do I relate to a FRENCHMAN telling me anything about ancient Black African Egyptian history, SAME AS YOU DON’T ADHERE TO ANYTHING THAT NUMEROUS BLACK SCHOLARS HAS DONE RESEARCH ON AND WRITTEN ABOUT HA HA HA? SAME AS YOU REFER TO ALL CREDIBLE BLACK SCHOLARS AS BEING “AFROCENTRIC”, WELL,I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THE WHITE PSEUDO RESEARCHERS YOU MENTION, WHO I DEEM AS BEING RACIST BIGOTED “EUROCENTRICS”. ALSO, I WILL REFER YOU TO READ THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DOCUMENTED HISTORY REFERRED TO AS “BOOK OF THE DEAD” WHICH EXPLAINS THE ORIGINS OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS AS TO WHERE THEY CAMETH, AND SO IT READS: “WE CAME FROM WHERE THE NILE BEGIN, AND WHERE GOD HAPI (WATER GOD) DWELL, AT THE FOOTHILLS OF THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MOON”.. hunefer papyrus It must be noted that the Nile river begins in East Central Africa in the GREAT LAKES AREA where the “WHITE NILE” known as the first Nile river began,and it is not located anywhere in the so-call Mediterranean area ha ha ha? Also, there are only TWO MOUNTAINS in all of Africa that are referred to as “MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON”, and they are the KILIMANJARO in TANZANIA, and the RWEZORI in UGANDA in East Africa, which is where the first NILE RIVER known as the “white Nile” began, and where God ‘HAPI” dwell, which is where the ancient Egyptians originated, according to the “BOOK OF THE DEAD” which was APPROVED by all of the ancient Black EGYPTIAN PRIESTS for publishing during their time on earth. The ANCIENT BLACK EGYPTIANS, same as many other ancient Black Africans to this present day used a practice called “LIPOMBO” which would shape the heads of ROYAL BABIES” into a “cone shape” so that they would be distinguable from the non-royal families, and those cone shaped heads can easily be observed in the likes of King Tut, Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Ramses, Senuret III, Thutmosis II etc, etc. The practice of LIPOMBO among royals was never practiced among European/Asian royals to make Royal distinctions, which was an AFRICAN custom practiced ONLY among BLACK AFRICAN ROYALS…Perhaps, you can tell me that the ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PEOPLE, PRIESTS, AND EVEN THE SCRIBE, HUNEFER LIED about WHERE THE EGYPTIANS ORIGINATED, and that you rely on Coptics and Champolion ha ha ha.. later
He is a racist. You could
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In reply to Sir Charles, by Senowsret
He is a racist. You could build a time machine, take him back to the building of the Pyramids and show them people were olive skinned and he’d still insist he was right. I am ignoring him, and I suggest others do too.
Hi Bruce, If you could build
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In reply to He is a racist. You could by Bruce Nowakowski
Hi Bruce, If you could build a TIME MACHINE and went back to the building of the pyramids in ancient Egypt/Nubia, I guarantee you that the Black people would give you a strange look as if they had NEVER seen a white person before, then start whispering to themselves while saying in their ancient tongues, “WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS SKIN, DID HE LOSE IT”, same as the brown skin on an irish potato when you peel off the skin and see the only the white meat of the veggie. It is a fact that you don’t listen to the facts which I have posted about the ancient Egyptian “BOOK OF THE DEAD” which was approved by all of the ancient Egyptian Priests written by the scribe name “Hunefer” which stated very clearly where the ancient Black Egyptians came from: “WE CAME FROM WHERE THE NILE BEGIN, AND WHERE GOD “HAPI” DWELL, AT THE FOOTHILLS OF THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MOON”……. hunefer papyrus There are only two mountains in all of Africa that are referred to as “MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON”and they are the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and the Rwesori in Uganda, and both are located in East/Central Africa in the Great Lakes region of Africa. But it appears that you think that Caucasoid’s came from a home in Central Africa, used the African skull practice of “LIPOMBO” to deform the heads of white royal babies. Okay, Okay, Okay, you said twice that you were going to ignore me, but you seem to have a difficult time doin so. I sincerely hope that you ignore me and continue believing in your white supremacist rhetoric...
Senowsret
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In reply to Dear Charles, by Senowsret
I can tell that you don’t know anything about school acceptance procedures at the schools you mentioned, and that expensive PRIVATE institutions are much easier to enroll in when parents have the wealth to PAY FOR SCAMS TO ENROLL THEIR KIDS BASED ON LIES. Also, all African civilizations are in many ways different from each other in regards to cultural differences, and has absolutely NOTHING TO DO WITH RACIAL DIFFERENCES? For instance, ANGOLA and NIGERIA are West African countries, and their cultures are different, but they don’t difer racially, same as KENYA and ETHIOPIA and RWANDA and UGANDA are all EAST AFRICAN countries with different cultures and local languages, but their race are the same. That also goes for ancient EGYPTIANS, NUBIANS, KUSHITES, AXUMITES, CARTHAGINIANS, MINOANS, all have different cultures/linguistics, but the Black race is the same. I can tell that you are truly LACKING IN EDUCATION, AND IS SO HUNG UP IN YOUR HATE FOR THE BLACK RACE TO THE POINT THAT YOU ARE BLINDED FROM THE TRUTH. YOUR ATTEMPT TO TRY DIVIDING BLACK RACE PEOPLE BY NATIONALITY IS THE SAME AS IF I WAS STUPID ENOUGH TO TRY DIVIDING ORIENTAL ASIANS INTO RACES BY SAYING THAT CHINESE ARE NOT ORIENTALS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT JAPANESE, AND THAT THAIS ARE NOT ORIENTALS BECAUSE THEY DON’T LOOK LIKE KOREANS HA HA HA? ALSO, THAT PALE WHITE SKIN SCANDINAVIANS FROM NORTHERN EUROPA ARE WHITE, AND THAT ITALIANS AND PORTUGUESE ARE NOT WHITE BECAUSE THEY ARE DARKER HA HA HA...YOUR MIND IS SO SCREWED UP WITH SO MUCH RACIST BIGOTRY IN REGARDS TO YOUR HATRED FOR THE BLACK RACE UNTIL IT IS QUITE SICKENING.. LATER
Hi Senowswet, THAT FAKE
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In reply to Dear Charles, by Senowsret
Hi Senowswet, THAT FAKE WHITE LOOKING STATUE THAT YOU ARE USING AS YOUR IDENTIFICATION PHOTO OF AN EGYPTIAN PHARAOH NEED TO BE RE-DONE AROUND THE RAZOR “THIN LIP” AREA TO MAKE THEM FULL LIKE THE ORIGINAL BLACK EGYPTIAN STATUES, AND YOU ALSO NEED TO BROADEN THE WIDTH OF THE NOSE SO THAT IT DOESN’T APPEAR TO BE THE SIZE OF A SMALL PORK SAUSAGE STETCHED IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION? I’M JUST GIVIN YOU SOME CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ADVICE?