Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues, Class 11 English, Hornbill CBSE (Summary, Detailed Explanation, Extract based Question-Answer, NCERT Solution, word-meaning 7 extra questin-answer)
Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues 11 English
By A R Williams
Introduction Of “Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues”, Class 11 English Hornbill CBSE
In the chapter "Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues", A.R. Williams highlights the brief history of ancient Egypt, the discovery of King Tut's tomb, and the CT scan of his mummy. King Tut was possibly the last heir of the Pharaoh dynasty. He ruled only for nine years and died mysteriously. It is believed that he was just a teenager when he died. This chapter also brings to light many theories about his untimely death. Moreover, it highlights the infamous curse associated with his tomb. The chapter also talks about the ancient Egyptians' deep faith in the afterlife. It was because of this belief that they buried their people with treasures and everyday items so that they could fulfil their needs in the afterlife.
Summary of “Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues”, Class 11 English CBSE
The lesson, "Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues" is about the life and untimely death of Tutankhamun, popularly known as King Tut. He was the last pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. Tut was possibly very young when he was crowned as the king. When he was just a teenager, he passed away under mysterious circumstances. There have been various theories about the reason for his death. Some guessed it was because of illness while others suggested murder. His tomb remained hidden for centuries. It was discovered by the British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. revealing a wealth of treasures. In 2005, his body underwent a CT scan to uncover more about his death.
Carter’s exploration of Tut’s tomb revealed the young king’s body surrounded by wealth, including gold, games, and everyday items. However, removing Tut’s mummified body from its gold coffin proved challenging due to hardened resins. Carter was forced to use chisels and hammers to separate the body from the coffin. But he has been blamed for damaging the body due to his hastened work.
Before Tut, Egypt had undergone a religious revolution under Akhenaten. He promoted the worship of Aten and relocated the capital from the old city of Thebes to Akhatetan, modern Amarna, and even closed the temples of Amun and smashed his images.
When Tutankhamun came to power, he restored the old religious traditions but only reigned for nine years before his sudden death. Carter’s work on the tomb revealed a gold-filled burial site, but Tut’s mummy was fused to the coffin with resin, forcing Carter to carefully separate it.
In 1968, X-rays showed missing bones, which deepened the mystery. Later, in 2005, a CT scan gave more clues about his life and death.
Word- Meaning Of “Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues”, Class 11 English CBSE
Teenager – adolescent
Heir – successor
Laden – loaded
Speculated- guessed
Tomb- an enclosure to bury the dead
Forensic Reconstruction – the process of recreating the face of an individual
Pharaoh- a ruler in ancient Egypt
Stirred – moved
Cemetery- burial ground
Veiling – covering
Casket- sky
Glided – moved
Probe – investigate
Cramped – very small to fit into
Rock-cut – made in a rock by cutting it
Gazed – looked fixedly
Murals – painting
Gilded – covered with gold
Whisper- to speak in a low voice
Pondering – thinking
Futile – useless
Hastily – hurriedly
Ransacked – searched in a careless and violent manner
Antiquity – ancient past
Resurrection – bringing back
Funerary Treasures – the valuable things found with the dead body
Shroud – covering
Adorned – decorated
Willow – a tree near water
Mummy- a preserved dead body
Ritual – a set of actions or words performed during a religious ceremony
Resins – a sticky substance
Legitimate – reasonable
Budged – moved
Chiselled away – cut something with a chisel
Circumvented – find a clever way to avoid a difficulty or rule
Inlaid – having decorative pattern put into a surface
Amulet – an ornament worn by the people to protect themselves from bad luck, illness etc
Apron – a piece of clothing worn over the front to keep clean
Sheaths – a close-fitting covering
Iconic – a widely recognised and well established
Adornments – ornaments
Concealed- hid
Intriguing – very interesting because of being unusual
Startling – surprising
Demise – death
death rattle – the sign of death
Aftermath – after-effects
Wacky – crazy/amusing
Eerie– strange
Forensics – scientific test to investigate a crime
Anatomy – the branch of science in which we study about body structure
Burial – burying the dead
Shrine – holy place
Pallbearers – a person who helps to carry or officially escort a coffin at a funeral
Swirling – spin
Hydraulic – operated with a pressure of water
Sprinted – ran at a high speed
Astonishing – amazing
Vertebrae – series of small bones that form a backbone
Orion — constellation/a group of stars in the sky
Detailed Explanation and Extract-Based Questions and Their Answers Of “Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues”, Class 11 English CBSE
Text
He was just a teenager when he died. The last heir of a powerful family that had ruled Egypt and its empire for centuries, ……………….. and provides precise data for an accurate forensic reconstruction of the boyish pharaoh.
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Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
The lesson "Discovering Tut…." is about King Tut's mummy which was CT scanned. The purpose of the CT scan was to reveal two mysteries about the pharaoh’s death: at what age the king died, and the second one, how he died. These two questions remained unanswered since the discovery of King Tut's tomb.
Q. Why was King Tut’s mummy put through a CT scan?
Ans. The CT scan was done to investigate some lingering mysteries about King Tut's death.
Q. What were the two big questions researchers wanted to know about King Tut’s death?
Ans. They wanted to find out how old King Tut was when he died and how exactly he passed away.
Q. How long have these questions about King Tut’s death remained unsolved?
Ans. These mysteries have puzzled people since his tomb was first discovered.
Q. What made people curious about King Tut’s age and the cause of his death?
Ans. The discovery of his tomb raised many questions, including how he died and at what age.
Text
An angry wind stirred up ghostly dust devils as King Tut was taken from his resting place in the ancient Egyptian cemetery known as the Valley of the Kings*. ………………… Tut’s untimely death in his late teens, or wondering with a shiver if the pharaoh’s curse — death or misfortune falling upon those who disturbed him — was really true.
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
It was January 5, 2005, when King Tut's body was taken out at around 6 p.m. and his mummy was put into a CT scanning machine. The weather was a bit harsh because the sky was covered with dark clouds and dust was rising there.
On the same day, the tourists had been visiting King Tut's tomb, some of them looked at the paintings on the walls, others were reading from the guidebooks, and many of them were looking at King Tut's gilded face.
Further, the author says that maybe some of them were thinking about the pharaoh's curse i.e. if anybody tried to disturb his sleep, misfortune would fall upon him or her.
Q. How did the weather influence the mood when King Tut's body was being removed?
Ans. The dark clouds and rising dust created an eerie, mysterious vibe.
Q. Why was the use of a CT scan on King Tut’s mummy important?
Ans. It represented a breakthrough, using modern science to investigate ancient mysteries.
Q. How did the tourists react to being in King Tut’s tomb on the day of the CT scan?
Ans. Some were studying the paintings and history, while others were likely reflecting on the curse of the pharaoh.
Q. What impact might the weather and the legend of the pharaoh's curse have had on the tourists?
Ans. They likely felt uneasy and intrigued by the mystery surrounding King Tut.
Q. What does the CT scan on King Tut’s mummy demonstrate?
Ans. It highlights the blend of ancient history and modern science in uncovering new details about the past.
Q. Describe the atmosphere when King Tut's body was removed from the tomb. What factors contributed to the mood?
Ans. On January 5, 2005, King Tut's mummy was taken out of the resting place for a CT scan. The weather was a bit harsh. The sky was covered with dark clouds and the harsh wind was blowing. All these added to a sense of mystery.
Q. Why was the "pharaoh's curse"?
Ans. There is an interesting story associated with King Tut. There is a popular story that misfortune will fall upon those who tried to disturb King Tut’s sleep.
Text
The mummy is in very bad condition because of what Carter did in the 1920s,” said Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, ……………………. But Tut was also buried with everyday things he’d want in the afterlife: board games, a bronze razor, linen undergarments, cases of food and wine.
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
Zahi Hawass, the Secretary-General of Egypt Supreme Council of Antiquities expressed that the mummy's condition was terrible because of the damage caused by Howard Carter in 1922.
King Tut had been buried with a lot of treasure like rings, amulets, bracelets, etc, all made of pure gold.
In those days it was believed that a person required all the objects including the riches in the afterlife. Therefore, he was buried with a lot of things like board games, bronze razor linen undergarments, cases of food and wine, and so on.
Q. Who was Zahi Hawass?
Ans. Zahi Hawass was the Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Q. What caused significant damage to King Tut's mummy?
Ans. Howard Carter's actions in 1922 caused significant damage to King Tut's mummy.
Q. Why was King Tut buried with the riches?
Ans. King Tut was buried with the treasure so that he could use it in the afterlife.
Q. How does the information shared by Zahi Hawass reflect the challenges of historical preservation in archaeology?
Ans. It highlights the negative impact of the early excavation method of Howard Carter.
Q. What does the presence of so many gold objects in King Tut's tomb suggest about ancient Egyptian beliefs?
Ans. Egyptians believed that material wealth could be taken to the afterlife.
Q. Considering the items buried with King Tut, what can you infer about daily life in ancient Egypt?
Ans. Objects related to personal care, entertainment, and sustenance were important.
Q. What does the mention of food, wine, and board games in the burial suggest about the Egyptian concept of the afterlife?
Ans. Egyptians believed the afterlife was a continuation of earthly pleasures and needs.
Q. Based on the variety of objects buried with King Tut, what can you conclude about Egyptian preparations for the afterlife?
Ans. Egyptians prepared for a well-rounded afterlife, providing for physical needs, entertainment, and personal care.
Text
After months of carefully recording the pharaoh’s funerary treasures, Carter began investigating his three nested coffins. Opening the first, he found a shroud adorned with garlands of willow and olive leaves, wild celery, lotus petals, and cornflowers, …………… In his defence, Carter really had little choice. If he hadn’t cut the mummy free, thieves most certainly would have circumvented the guards and ripped it apart to remove the gold.
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
When the first layer of the king to mummy was removed, it was found that the shroud was decorated with garlands of willow, olive leaves, wild celery, lotus petals, and cornflowers. All these can be used as faded evidence that King Tut was buried in March or April.
According to Howard Carter, King Tut’s body had become as hard as cement due to ritual resins, and it was almost impossible to remove it easily.
When Howard Carter realised that he couldn't remove the resins, he put the body under the hot sun. Almost the whole day it remained under the hot sun but nothing moved.
Further, he added that there was only one thing to be done and that was to chisel it. He also said that if he had not done it, the thieves might have evaded the guards, entered the tomb, and destroyed the mummy.
Q. What did Carter say in self-defence?
Ans. In his self-defence, Carter said he had little choice and therefore had to chisel King Tut’s mummy. Further, he added that if he had not done it, the thieves might have evaded the guards, entered the tomb, and destroyed the mummy.
Q. What clues did Carter find when he first opened the shroud?
Ans. Plants that suggested the burial took place either in March or April. When the first layer of the king to mummy was removed, it was found that the shroud was decorated with garlands of willow, olive leaves, wild celery, lotus petals, and cornflowers. All these can be used as faded evidence that King Tut was buried in March or April.
Q. What was the main issue Carter faced when he reached the mummy?
Ans. The ritual resin used in the burial process had become very hard, and thus it was impossible to remove it.
Q. How did Carter try to loosen the hardened resins?
Ans. He placed the mummy under the hot sun to soften them
How hot did the sun get when Carter tried to use it to soften the resins?
Ans. The sun heated the mummy to about 149 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q. What was Carter’s last step to free the mummy?
Answer: He had to use chisels to remove the hardened material from under the mummy.
Text
In Tut’s time, the royals were fabulously wealthy, and they thought — or hoped — they could take their riches with them. …………………... Once they had finished, they reassembled the remains on a layer of sand in a wooden box with padding that concealed the damage.
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
According to the author, during Tut’s time, all the members of the royal family were very rich. Therefore King Tut was buried with a lot of glittering things like precious collars, necklaces, bracelets, rings, amulets, a ceremonial apron, sandals, sheaths for his fingers and toes, and even an iconic inner coffin and mask. All these were made of pure gold.
To separate from his adornments or decorations, the mummy’s head as well as major joints in the body had been cut. After that, they examined it. When the examination was over, they reassembled on a layer of sand in a wooden box with padding. In this way, the damage caused to the mummy was concealed.
Q. Why was Tutankhamun, buried with so much wealth?
Ans. The Egyptian royals thought they could live in luxury even after death and hence felt they would need their wealth in the afterlife.
Q. What kinds of objects were buried with King Tut?
Ans. King Tut was buried with glittering jewels, including golden bracelets, rings, necklaces, sandals, amulets, and even unique gold coverings for his fingers and toes.
Q. What did Carter and his crew do with King Tut's remains after they had examined it?
Ans. In an attempt to conceal the damage, they put his remains back together on a bed of sand in a wooden box after they had examined it
Q. Which artefacts from King Tut's tomb are the most well-known?
Ans. His pure gold death mask and inner casket were the most famous artefacts discovered.
Text
Archaeology has changed substantially in the intervening decades, focusing less on treasure and more on the fascinating details of life and intriguing mysteries of death………………………… What more would a CT scan reveal of Tut than the X-ray? And could it answer two of the biggest questions still lingering about him — how did he die, and how old was he at the time of his death
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
With time, archaeology has changed a lot. Earlier, the main focus used to be on treasure. But now archaeologists and scientists want to know fascinating details of life and intriguing mysteries of death.
In 1968, an anatomy professor x-rayed King Tut’s mummy and revealed a few surprising facts. The professor revealed that King Tut’s mummy’s breast bone and front ribs were missing. Obviously, it was all because of Carter and his men.
Q. How has the focus of archaeology changed with time?
Ans. Earlier the focus used to be on hunting for treasure. But now scientists and archaeologists are uncovering details of life and death
Q. Who x-rayed King Tut’s mummy in 1968?
Ans. In 1968, an anatomy professor x-rayed King Tut’s mummy.
Q. What surprising discovery did the anatomy professor make about King Tut’s mummy?
Ans. An anatomy professor x-rayed King Tut’s mummy in 1968 and discovered that its breastbone and front ribs were missing.
Q. Who is blamed for the damage caused to King Tut’s mummy?
Ans. Carter and his team are believed to have caused the damage that led to the missing bones.
Q. Why do archaeologists today study ancient remains differently than they did in the past?
Ans. Modern archaeologists want to learn more about ancient cultures and how people lived their lives, not just collect treasure. This helps us understand human history in a better way.
Text
King Tut’s demise was a big event, even by royal standards. He was the last of his family’s line, and his funeral was the death rattle of a dynasty. But the particulars of his passing away and its aftermath are unclear. ……………………….. “It must have been a horrific time,” said Ray Johnson, director of the University of Chicago’s research centre in Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes. “The family that had ruled for centuries was coming to an end, and then Akhenaten went a little wacky.”
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
King Tut was the last king of his dynasty, so his death was a big event. The author expresses that his demise or his funeral was the death rattle of a dynasty that had ruled for centuries.
According to the author Amenhotep III was either father or grandfather of King Tut. He was very powerful and therefore he ruled for almost 40 years. He was succeeded by Amenhotep IV.
Amenhotep IV's rule is considered one of the strangest periods in the history of ancient Egypt. First of all, he promoted the worship of the Aten, which means the sun disc. Thereafter he changed his name to Akhenaten which means servant of the Aten. He changed his religious capital from the city of Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten, modern Amarna. Moreover, Amenhotep IV began to smash the images of Amun and closed all the temples of the God Amun.
That's why Ray Johnson expresses that Amenhotep IV. became a little crazy at the time when the dynasty was coming to an end.
Q. What big religious change did Akhenaten make when he became pharaoh?
Ans. He promoted the worship of Aten, the sun disk.
Q. Where did Akhenaten move Egypt’s religious capital?
Ans. Amarna
Q. Why is Akhenaten’s rule considered unusual in Egyptian history?
Ans. He promoted the worship of Aten, closed down the temples of Amun, and destroyed the images
Q. What did Akhenaten do to the temples of Amun?
Ans. He closed them down and destroyed the images
Q. What is meant by the phrase “the death rattle of a dynasty”?
Ans. “the death rattle of a dynasty” refers to King Tut’s funeral. It symbolised the end of his family’s rule and the collapse of their dynasty.
Q. Who was the ruler of Egypt during the golden age of the 18th dynasty?
Ans. Amenhotep III was the ruler of Egypt during the height of the 18th dynasty. He was either the father or grandfather of King Tut.
Q. What controversial decisions did Akhenaten take as pharaoh?
Ans. Akhenaten promoted the worship of Aten and moved the religious capital from the old city of Thebes to Akhetaten, modern Amarna. He also shocked the country by closing down Amun’s temples and destroying his images.
Q. How did Ray Johnson describe the period of Akhenaten’s rule?
Ans. Ray Johnson described it as a tough time in the history of Egypt. According to him when the royal family’s long reign was coming to an end, Akhenaten got crazy and took very controversial decisions.
Text
After Akhenaten’s death, a mysterious ruler named Smenkhkare appeared briefly and exited with hardly a trace. And then a very young Tutankhaten took the throne — King Tut as he’s widely known today. The boy king soon changed his name to Tutankhamun, ‘living image of Amun,’ and oversaw a restoration of the old ways. He reigned for about nine years — and then died unexpectedly.
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
After that, there came a ruler named Smenkhkare. But he ruled for a very short time.
Then Tutankhaten, popularly known as King Tut, took to the throne. First of all, he changed his name to Tutankhamun, which means the living image of Amun. He also restored the old ways and started promoting the worship of Amun, the most popular God.
He ruled for almost nine years and then died mysteriously.
Q. Who came to the throne before Tutankhamun?
Ans. A ruler named Smenkhkare took over after Akhenaten. But his reign didn’t last long. So there is little known about him.
Q. What did Tutankhaten do when he became king?
Ans. He changed his name to Tutankhamun, which means the living image of Amun. In this way, he declared his intention to restore Egypt’s traditional religious practices, especially the worship of Amun.
Q. What does the name "Tutankhamun" mean?
Ans. The name "Tutankhamun" means "living image of Amun". This reflects his desire to return to Egypt’s older religious traditions.
Q. How long did Tutankhamun rule? How did his reign come to an end?
Ans. King Tut ruled for around nine years. His reign came to an abrupt end when he died unexpectedly.
Q. How long did King Tut rule?
Ans. Nine years
Text
Regardless of his fame and the speculations about his fate, Tut is one mummy among many in Egypt. How many? No one knows. The Egyptian Mummy Project, which began an inventory in late 2003, has recorded almost 600 so far and is still counting. …………………………… With Tut’s entire body similarly recorded, a team of specialists in radiology, forensics, and anatomy began to probe the secrets that the winged goddesses of a gilded burial shrine protected for so long.
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
It is believed that there are so many mummies. Almost 600 mummies had been found. Still, the counting is going on. One of the mummies was that of King Tut, and his mummy was the first one that was CT scanned.
King Tut was regally ahead of his countrymen. It means when he was alive he was the king and he was the most important person and when he died it was his mummy which was scanned first.
The National Geographic Society and Siemens donated a CT machine and King Tut’s body was scanned by it. It created 1700 digital X-ray images in cross-section. King Tut's head was scanned in 0.6 mm slices so that even the complicated structures could be recorded.
The full body of the king was recorded by a team of specialists from different fields like radiology, forensics, and anatomy.
Q. What was the main purpose of the Egyptian Mummy Project?
Ans. To create a record of all the mummies discovered in Egypt
Q. By the end of 2003, how many mummies had the project recorded?
Ans. Close to 600
Q. Who provided the CT machine that was used to scan the mummies?
Ans. Siemens and the National Geographic Society
Q. Why was scanning King Tut’s mummy so important?
Ans. It resulted in more than 1,700 highly detailed images of his body
Q. What types of specialists studied the scans of King Tut’s body?
Ans. Radiologists, forensic scientists, and anatomists
Q. Why was scanning King Tut’s mummy with a CT machine such a big deal?
Ans. It gave scientists an incredibly detailed look inside his body, letting them see things like his bones and possible injuries that weren’t visible before.
Q. What does “moving regally ahead of his countrymen” mean when talking about King Tut?
Ans. It means that, even in death, King Tut was ahead of his country people. His was the first mummy to be scanned using modern technology as he was an important figure in life.
Q. What did the Egyptian Mummy Project do after recording the mummies?
Ans. Once they had a list of mummies, they started scanning them with a CT machine to find out more about what was happening inside the bodies.
Q. How many images were created from scanning King Tut’s body, and what was special about the head scan?
Ans. The scanning created 1,700 images of his whole body, and his head was scanned in 0.6-millimeter slices so that they could see every little detail.
Q. Who provided the CT machine for the project, and why was that important?
Ans. Siemens and the National Geographic Society provided the CT scanner. It was a game-changer because it allowed researchers to explore ancient mummies with cutting-edge technology.
Text
The night of the scan, workmen carried Tut from the tomb in his box. Like pallbearers they climbed a ramp and a flight of stairs into the swirling sand outside, then rose on a hydraulic lift into the trailer that held the scanner. ………………………………………………. Less than three hours after he was removed from his coffin, the pharaoh again rested in peace where the funerary priests had laid him so long ago.
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
The evening when King Tut's mummy was scanned, a few workmen carried his mummy from the tomb. The author has compared these workmen to pallbearers.
While scanning was going on, suddenly the CT scan machine coolers stopped working because of the sand. Therefore, two workers rushed to the office and brought plastic fans. Fortunately, the fans worked. and the whole procedure of scanning could be completed. When a guard realised that there was some problem, then he remarked, “Curse of the Pharaoh”
When the technicians realised that no data had been lost, the mummy was handed over to the workers who again put it into the grave.
Q. Why did the scanner stop working during King Tut’s scan?
Ans. The scanner quit working because sand had clogged the cooler fan.
Q. What quick fix did the team use to get the scanner working again, and why were the plastic fans important?
Ans. The team asked the workers to bring plastic fans to replace the faulty cooler fan so that they could finish the scanning of the mummy.
Q. What did the guard joke about when the scanner failed?
Ans. The guard joked about the "Curse of the Pharaoh,". The people believed that the Pharaoh had cursed that misfortune would fall upon those who tried to disturb his sleep.
Q. How much time did the whole process, from removing Tut to putting him back, take?
Ans. It took less than three hours from the time Tut's mummy was taken out of his tomb, scanned, and returned to his resting place.
Q. What was the main concern for the technicians after the scan was done?
Ans. Their main worry was making sure that no data had been lost during the scan because of the failure of the cooler fans.
Text
Back in the trailer, a technician pulled up astonishing images of Tut on a computer screen. A grey head took shape from a scattering of pixels, and the technician spun and tilted it in every direction. ………………………………………………… Sitting back in his chair, Zahi Hawass smiled, visibly relieved that nothing had gone seriously wrong. “I didn’t sleep last night, not for a second,” he said. “I was so worried. But now I think I will go and sleep.”
Explanation of the above text and Question-Answer
After the procedure was completed, the technician pulled up astonishing images of King Tut on a computer screen. The colour of the head was grey and the vertebrae were quite clear. There were many other images also that revealed the hand, rib cage, and transection of the skull.
Zahi Hawass, the Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquity, felt relieved as everything went well. All the data was preserved and nothing went wrong. He said that the previous night he was so tensed that he could not sleep. He had been worried to think about what would happen during the CT scan.
According to the author when they left the trailer in which scanning was done, the air became cool. Everyone noticed Orion, the constellation, just above King Tut’s tomb. The ancient Egyptians considered this constellation the god of the afterlife. It appeared that the god of the afterlife was watching over King Tut.
Q. What did the technicians reveal after the scanning of Tut's mummy?
Ans. The scan revealed detailed images of Tut's head, neck vertebrae, rib cage, and skull. The technician showed the images, rotating and tilting them from different angles.
Q. Why was Zahi Hawass relieved after the successful completion of the CT scan? What did he express?
Ans. Zahi Hawass was relieved because the scan was successful as no harm had been caused. He admitted that he could not sleep the previous night because he was worried. But after the success of the CT scan, he felt relieved and said that he would take rest.
Q. How did the weather and surroundings contribute to the mood as the team left the trailer, and how was this connected to Egyptian beliefs?
Ans. As the team left, the stillness of the night and the stopped wind created a quiet, sombre atmosphere. The sight of Orion above the tomb, symbolizing Osiris, the god of the afterlife, added a sense of ancient spiritual protection over the boy king.
Q. What was the belief of the ancient Egyptians about the constellation, Orion? What is the significance of the appearance of the Orion in this context?
Ans. The ancient Egyptians considered Orion the soul of Osiris, the god of the afterlife. Its appearance above Tut’s tomb symbolized the soul of Osiris, watching over him and ensuring his protection in the afterlife.
Q. What emotional impact did the appearance of Orion and the quietness of the night have on the scene?
Ans. The calm, cold night and the presence of Orion in the sky gave the scene a mysterious and reverent feeling, connecting the lifeless atmosphere of the valley with the Egyptian belief in the afterlife.
NCERT Solution Class 11 English, Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
Understanding the text
1. Give reasons for the following.
(i) King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny
Ans. There had been a mystery about the life and death of King Tut. King Tut had died when he was only a teenager. The world also wanted to know the reason behind his death. Therefore, his body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny
(ii) Howard Carter's investigation was resented.
Ans. In 1922, Howard Carter discovered King Tut's tomb. He found that ritual resins had hardened it. He wanted to remove the ritual raisins and therefore, he put it under the hot sun, but in vain. Finally chiselled the mummy. As a result, the mummy was badly damaged. That's why, his investigation was resented.
(iii) Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king's remains.
Ans. Howard Carter, the British archaeologist, who discovered King Tut's tomb, was facing trouble in removing the ritual resins that had hardened. First of all, he put the mummy under the hot sun. But nothing happened. Therefore, he had to chisel away the solidified resins.
(iv) Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.
Ans. In ancient times, the Egyptians believed in the afterlife. They thought there would be a requirement for essential objects and riches in the afterlife. Therefore, King Tut's body was buried along with gilded treasures.
(v) The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.
Ans. The people of ancient Egypt used to worship Amun. But Amenhotep IV closed all the temples and smashed the images of Amun. But when Tut took to the throne, he restored the old ways and also changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.
2.
(i) List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten “a little wacky”.
Ans. Ray Johnson called Akhenaten a little wacky because of the following reasons
He stopped the worship of Amun, the traditional god of Egypt.
He promoted the worship of Aten, the Sun disc.
He also changed his name to Akhenaten
He changed his religious capital from the old city of Thebes to the new city of Akhatetan, modern Amarna.
He shocked the whole country by closing the temples of Amun and smashing his images.
(ii) What were the results of the CT scan?
Ans. The CT scan provided crystal clear details. His neck vertebrae appeared as clear as in anatomy class. His head looked grey and his hands, rib cage and other parts of the body also appeared.
(iii) List the advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis.
Ans. Indeed, there have been so many advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis. The latest one is the CT machine that can create hundreds of X-ray images in cross-section. These images can be put together like slices of bread giving three-dimensional views of the body.
(iv) Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned —- in death, as in life…”
Ans. The statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned —- in death, as in life…”
is true. King Tut's mummy was one of the first to be scanned as the world wanted to know how he died and at what age. In life also he was ahead of his countrymen as he ruled Egypt, and when died, he was buried with a lot of riches.
Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues Class 11 English Extra Question-Answer
Q. How did the tourists engage with King Tut's tomb?
Ans. On that day, visitors to King Tut’s tomb found themselves drawn to different things. Some were completely lost in the beauty of the ancient paintings on the walls, while others were flipping through their guidebooks, eager to learn every detail of the tomb’s history. Many were fascinated by King Tut’s golden face, staring in awe at the intricate craftsmanship. Many might be wondering about the curse of the pharaoh that if anyone tried to disturb the pharaoh’s sleep, misfortune would fall upon him.
Q. What is the significance of the timing of King Tut's CT scan in the context of his historical legacy?
Ans. The CT scan conducted on January 5, 2005, was a significant event. Indeed it marked a modern attempt to reveal the mysteries related to King Tut's death. The unfavourable weather and the continuing belief in the pharaoh’s curse might have added psychological weight to the moment. The timing also highlights the intersection of ancient history with modern technology, as we strive to understand more about this iconic figure.
Q. Why might some tourists have been thinking about the "pharaoh's curse"?
Ans. The "Pharaoh’s Curse" is one of those fascinating stories that sticks in people’s minds. The idea that anyone who disturbs his tomb might face bad luck is something that grabs the attention. Now, imagine being in that tomb, surrounded by all these ancient treasures, feeling the weight of history. With the dark clouds hanging over and the dust swirling in the air, it wouldn’t be surprising if the thought of that curse crossed the mind. It probably made the whole experience even more thrilling and eerie for some visitors.
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