Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues

Question

Who was Howard Carter and what was his discovery?

Answer

Howard Carter, was a British archaeologist. He was the man who first discovered Tut’s tomb in 1922. He found three nested coffins of Tut. He finally reached the most famous and beautiful mummy of the world. He ran into some trouble. He cut the mummy free lest it should fall into the hands of thieves who were in search of gold.

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Some More Questions From Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues Chapter

Discuss the following in groups of two pairs, each pair in a group taking opposite points of view.

1. Scientific intervention is necessary to unearth buried mysteries.

2. Advanced technology gives us conclusive evidence of past events.

3. Traditions, rituals and funerary practices must be respected.

4. Knowledge about the past is useful to complete our knowledge of the world we live in.

Read the following piece of information from The Encyclopedia of Language by David Crystal.
Egyptian is now extinct: its history dates from before the third millennium B.C., preserved in many hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyrus manuscripts. Around the second century A.D., it developed into a language known as Coptic. Coptic may still have been used as late as the early nineteenth century and is still used as a religious language by Monophysite Christians in Egypt.

1. What do you think are the reasons for the extinction of languages?
2. Do you think it is important to preserve languages?
3. In what ways do you think we could help prevent the extinction of languages and dialects?


Given below are some interesting combinations of words. Explain why they have been used together.

(i) ghostly dust devils (ii) desert sky

(iii) stunning artefacts (iv) funerary treasures

(v) scientific detachment (vi) dark-bellied clouds

(vii) casket grey (viii) eternal brilliance

(ix) ritual resins (x) virtual body

Here are some commonly used medical terms. Find out their meanings.

CT scan

MRI

tomography

autopsy

dialysis

ECG

post mortem

angiography

biopsy

The constellation Orion is associated with the legend of Osiris, the god of the afterlife.

Find out the astronomical descriptions and legends associated with the following.

(i) Ursa Major (Saptarishi mandala)

(ii) Polaris (Dhruva tara)

(iii) Pegasus (Winged horse)

(iv) Sirius (Dog star)

(v) Gemini (Mithuna)

Some of the leaves and flowers mentioned in the passage for adorning the dead are willow, olive, celery, lotus, cornflower. Which of these are common in our country?

Name some leaves and flowers that are used as adornments in our country.

Who was king Tut?

Give a brief description of Tut’s family.

Give instances to prove that Akhenaten, Tut’s father or grandfather, went “a little wacky”.