AKHENATEN/TUTANKHAMUN

Mystery uncovered ... Zahi Hawass, the head of the Egyptian Supreme Council for Antiquities, left, exposes the 3300-year-old mummy of the ancient King Tutankhamun to X-ray in Luxor, Egypt.
Photo: AP

The results of a CT scan done on King Tutankhamun's mummy indicate the boy king was not murdered, but may have suffered a badly broken leg shortly before his death at age 19 - a wound that could have become infected, Egypt's top archaeologist said yesterday.

Zahi Hawass announced the results of the CT scan about two months after it was performed on Tut's mummy.

Hawass said the remains of Tutankhamun, who ruled about 3300 years ago, showed no signs that he had been murdered - dispelling a mystery that has long surrounded the pharaoh's death.

"In answer to theories that Tutankhamun was murdered, the team found no evidence for a blow to the back of the head, and no other indication of foul play," according to a statement released yesterday by Egyptian authorities.

"They also found it extremely unlikely that he suffered an accident in which he crushed his chest."

Hawass said some members of the Egyptian-led research team, which included two Italian experts and one from Switzerland, interpreted a fracture to Tut's left thighbone as evidence that the king may have broken his leg badly just before he died.

"Although the break itself would not have been life-threatening, infection might have set in," the statement said.

"However, this part of the team believes it also possible, although less likely, that this fracture was caused by the embalmers."

Some 1700 images were taken of Tut's mummy during the 15-minute CT scan aimed at answering many of the mysteries that shrouded his life and death - including his royal lineage, his exact age at the time of his death and the reason he died.

Tutankhamun is believed to have been the 12th ruler of ancient Egypt's 18th dynasty.

He ascended to the throne at about the age of 8 and died around 1323 BC.

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