Comments on News from the Valley of the Kings: Questions Roundup and a Combative Zahi

I'm a bit confused by one of your paragraphs: ...

2010-06-05T13:04:13.861+01:00

I'm a bit confused by one of your paragraphs:
"Little seems to have been written of the issue of how the diagnosis of malaria changes the likelihood that Ankhesenamun." Did/said/wrote something? It makes the remainder of the blog quite unclear.

Ah. Tutankhamun died from a gangrenous broken leg...

2010-05-28T09:26:33.800+01:00

Ah.

Tutankhamun died from a gangrenous broken leg that induced, thanks to the poor state he was in, malaria. Therefore, the question with regards to the murder aspect of it is that in a society that was rather adept at combating infections and injuries of this nature, why and how was such a thing allowed to happen with their king of all people? It doesn't matter what society you look at- a king always has a retinue also. Therefore, where was this retinue during and the moments after the injury took place? Aye was head priest at the time, so he would've been apart of this retinue, and it is historical fact that while Horemheb was Tut's designated heir if something happened and he should die without a son, Aye somehow managed to usurp the position from Horemheb and rule egypt for approximately four years before he died, Horemheb finally claimed his rightful place, and then saw to it that Aye's mummy was completely destroyed shortly after he took to the throne. There is also the matter where roughly a decade into Horemheb's reign, tut's tomb was broken into, but the robbers were quickly aprehended and the breach quickly and thoroughly mended and covered with Horemheb's seal repeatedly. Respect for is old king? Revenge against Aye over perhaps more than just a power struggle? This is why the Hittite papers would fall to Ankhesenamun almost certainly, as after this setup to murder the prince by Aye, Ankhesenamun quite literally disappears from history- she isn't even anywhere on Aye's tomb reliefs, his original wife is.

Anyway, that's the long and short of that vein of thought. There's many others. As for Hawass's angst over people critiquing his report, he either knows his absolute claims are ridiculously loose (which it appears they are), or he's desperate to keep the 'discovery of the heretic king' as I like to call it securely in his resume and bag of accomplishments for prestige's sake.

-M

I'm not sure I would put it in those terms. ...

2010-03-09T07:36:26.669Z

I'm not sure I would put it in those terms.

In the past discussion tended to be slow. Somebody would question something. After a period of careful deliberation, the orginal author might then come back with a studied response. That's changed. The Twitter and Web 2.0 generation is all about 'right now' and there is no concept of ownership of information by indivuals. It is processed collectively, like a hive of bees collaborating to make honey.

I'm closer to that generation than Zahi. I was brought up by artist parents, not in a very traditional way. I 'm also a woman. All of those, I think, make a difference. Even so, starting this blog was something of a culture shock to me. I've embraced it now and really like it. If I am wrong about something I'm very happy for people to question it right then - as Rodolfo did in an earlier comment. If I am wrong, then I'm also happy to come back publically and admit it. I don't like being wrong, but it happens to all of us sometimes.

That's the modern world. It's exciting but it speeds up progress and the evolution of ideas. I do understand, however, how it can be difficult for some people if it is contrary to their upbringing.

History has shown time and again that attempting to stand against the tide of progress isn;t sensible. Academics in the public eye - whether in the field of climate change or Egyptology - are unlikely to be remembered kindly by history, no matter how great their scholarly achievements if they lose touch with the drift society.

I'm sure the social anthropoligits here could put that more neatly, but staying current with a society which is moving very fast can be hard for many of us. I know I find it hard.

Zahi is a member of an authoritarian government an...

2010-03-09T01:35:52.661Z

Zahi is a member of an authoritarian government and grew up in an authoritarian society that traditionally does not have its proclamations questioned. Conversely we revel in the questioning of our "experts" and "leaders". Hence the combativeness, contempt and hostility towards different points of view. Facts we lead us to the answer; not all the facts are in yet so why close the case?

Rodolfo, you are right to push back on that. I th...

2010-03-08T19:52:27.498Z

Rodolfo, you are right to push back on that. I think I was wrong to say "cannot" by Akhenaten. However:

1) KV35 cannot be the son of KV35EL [Tiye] - multiply prevented.

2) KV35 cannot be the father of KV21B based on D2S1338, but she could be anybody so that's perhaps not a major issue

3) KV35 is the source of some alleles eg 31 in FGA. He is an early generation within the mummies tested.

If KV35 is Akhenaten, KV55 would still probably be the son of KV55 and KV35EL ie Akhenaten and Tiye. I'd initially overlooked that this is possible. It's not impossible in the ancient context for Tiye to be both mother and wife and I was wrong to assume she wasn't. It's also possible that KV55 could tbe son of an earlier wife than Tiye.

So yes, I think you are right. I was wrong to say "cannot" be Akehnaten.

Sorry
Kate

Dear K. A few days ago on your blog you seemed ope...

2010-03-08T16:04:51.389Z

Dear K. A few days ago on your blog you seemed open to the possibility that WV22 could have been misidentified as Amenhotep III and may in reality be Akhenaten. Now you are saying that he *cannot* be Akhenaten. What exactly changed your mind?

- Rodolfo

Hawass should rather be proud that his study has e...

2010-03-08T14:27:08.815Z

Hawass should rather be proud that his study has evoked so much interest that people all over the world think about the test results and alternative possibilites to overcome obvious difficulties in the genetical data and the historical context.

He could benefit so much by listening to different opinions and re-evaluating his own theories but instead he has shut down and expects the world to take the picture he has created as final.
And he does not bother to insult those who may have come to other conclusions
That`s not scientific work,it is just about a very questionable prestige.

Pfeh. It's a shame Hawass has to get on the w...

2010-03-08T01:50:11.464Z

Pfeh. It's a shame Hawass has to get on the way he is -- there's so much that could yet be sorted out thanks to his work here, but he's so brittle about debating the results that the study may as well not have been done at all.

And I don't blame your resentment in the least, in regards to that statement of his.