http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-egypt-mummy-pharoah-ramses-murder-throat-slit-20121218,0,2988251.story
Pharaoh Ramses III murdered in 'harem conspiracy,' experts say
a..
b..
Pharoah Ramses III's throat was slit by an assassin in a plot by members
of his own harem, says a study in BMJ. The wound is so deep that he could have
died on the spot. (Musée du Caire)
a..
By Amina Khan
December 18, 2012, 12:06 p.m.
In the year 1155 BC, members of an Egyptian pharaoh’s harem hatched a plot to
assassinate him. But did they succeed?
The "harem conspiracy" against Ramses III remains one of ancient Egypt's
scandalous tales of deadly intrigue. But scholars have been unable to determine
whether the god-king was actually killed in the attack. Now, a fresh
examination of Ramses III’s mummy finds that the unfortunate pharaoh’s throat
was slit.
The report, released Monday by the journal BMJ, also strengthens the case that
that another mummy may have been one of the perpetrators – Ramses III’s own
son, Pentawere.
Ramses III’s secondary queen, Tiy, and her son, Prince Pentawere, conspired
with others to kill Ramses III and usurp the throne. Ramses III had handpicked
another, older son from a more senior wife as successor, a fact that apparently
did not sit well with Tiy and her co-conspirators.
The plot was ultimately unsuccessful: The older son assumed the throne and
became Ramses IV, per his father’s wishes. Meanwhile, Tiy, Pentawere and dozens
of others were caught and put on trial. But the ancient documents chronicling
the trial, known as the Judicial Papyrus of Turin, never really made clear
whether Ramses III had been murdered or died at a later date.
To solve the mystery, an international team of researchers decided to reexamine
the mummy. They found that, if a 7-centimeter-wide, bone-deep slash in the
throat is any indication, it’s possible the pharaoh was killed instantly. His
neck is wrapped in thick linens, and a Horus amulet appears to have been
inserted into the wound during the mummification process – such amulets were
thought to possess healing properties.
Ramses III was found with another mysterious mummy, known as E – which might
have been the body of the Pharaoh’s traitorous son, Pentawere. A bone analysis
showed the man was about 18 to 20 years old. His body was wrapped in ritually
impure goat skin, which could be interpreted as a sign of punishment. Moreover,
the mummy was not properly embalmed: the brain and organs were left inside the
body, rather than being removed. The man’s face is contorted as if its owner
met an unpleasant end, and there are compressed folds of skin on the neck that
could indicate strangulation.
It’s not strong enough evidence to prove this was indeed Pentawere, however.
And the documents indicate that Pentawere was given the "option" to commit
suicide – rather than having his body burned and ashes scattered, eliminating
his hopes of an afterlife.
The genetic analysis may contradict that suicide claim, however: The team found
several matching DNA markers and identical Y-chromosome DNA. The two mummies
could very well be father and son.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
