Did small size prompt the theft of King Tut’s penis?
June 30th, 2010 - 1:37 pm ICT by ANINew York, June 30 (ANI): Tutankhamun’s penis could have been stolen because the Egyptian boy king was allegedly less-than-endowed.
According to Time magazine, a report in The New Scientist presents the possibility of an anatomical conspiracy.
However, what happened to Tut’s member isn’t the only mystery enshrouding the 19-year-old royal.
Scientists are still debating the cause of his death, with some attributing it to a bone disorder or malaria.
But earlier this month German researchers ruled out this theory, saying Tut was suffering from sickle cell anaemia, which could have led to organ failure.
And now new evidence suggests that Tut may have had a genetic mutation that causes weird physical effects like elongated skulls and under developed genitals.
While Egypt’s chief archaeologist Zahi Hawass says Tut was well developed, even he cannot ignore the fact that the king’s member is no longer attached to the mummy.
The mummy was intact at its first unwrapping in 1922. The penis was said to be missing in 1968 but a CT scan later showed that it was hidden by sand surrounding the mummy, reports The New York Daily News.
Some scientists believe the penis may have been swiped at some point after the body was embalmed, raising the possibility that it could have been a conspiracy to spare Tut, in the afterlife, the “locker room” variety of embarrassment. (ANI)
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- King Tut didn't die of malaria, say experts - Feb 17, 2010
- One of two mummified fetuses may be Tutankhamuns daughter, says scientist - Aug 17, 2008
- King Tut suffered 'massive chest injury that could have killed him' - Nov 07, 2010
- Artefacts stolen from Egypt's national museum - Feb 13, 2011
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- Statue of Tutankhamun's grandfather found - Oct 04, 2010
- Tutankhamuns mummified fetuses to get paternity test - Aug 07, 2008
- DNA analysis key for solving mystery of King Tut's origins - Aug 26, 2009
- King Tut Sported Orthopedic Sandals - Apr 08, 2010
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- Statue of King Tut's grandfather unearthed - Nov 07, 2010
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