The L'Anse sentinel., 1924-01-11
Method by Which Pharaoh Gained
Throne Questioned by
Egyptologists.


Luxor.-Now that the tomb Of Tut
Ankhamen is to be forced once more 10
Yield up Its treasures, speculation IS
again rife as to who precisely Tutank-
hamen was. II is, however, difficult al
this stage. to answer such question
with any confidence. Nevertheless the
method by which Tutankhamen gained
the throne does seem TO throw faint
light on his identity. He came TO the
throne by marriage with Enkhos En-
Amen, the third daughter OF Akhen-
aten.
Akhenaten. who died without male
ISSUE had seven daughters. The eld-
est daughter, Mert Aten, married a
noble of the court by name Smenkh
kara. Smenkh kara, IL has hither.
TO been supposed, succeeded to the
throne when Tutankhamen died, and 1t
had also been generally accepted
among psychologists that he was de
posed by Tutankhamen-or Tutankha-
ten as he then was This theory, how
ever has received severe blow from
tomb of Tutankhamen there were the
signs Of two Pharaohs.
Referred to Cartouches.
Howard Carter has specifically made
reference to the two royal cartouches
on the outer door of the tomb, and has !
added that this probably Indicated that
Tutankhamen had reigned originally /
with Akhenaten, and that therefore
Smenkh kara had, in all probability,
predeceased Akhenaten, his father-in-
law, since Smenkh kara, having mar
ried Akhenaten's eldest daughter, Mert
Aten, had "A right to the throne prior TO
that OF Tutankhamen
II is impossible 10 say nc this juno
tllre whether the fact that there we're
these two royal signs on the tomhs
outer door is absolute proof that Tut
ankhamen shared the throne, as re-
gent, with Akhenaten.
II is impossible TO place definitely
the dates of Akhenaten's death and
accession To the throne.
But the records that are available de-
c. 1876 to 1853, while the dates oh
tanned from this tomb of Tutankhamen
Indicate that he reigned over the Two
Lands OF Egypt from b. C. 1877 to
1850. From these dates, IL would ap-
bear that TutanlIhamen came 10 the
.hrone after the death of his father-in-
aw, Akhenaten. =
Another indication as 10 who TUT
nkhamen was may he obtained from
he facts available as to the Identity
Z Smenbh kara. Akhenaten died
Without male issue, He selected
menkh kara, apparently one Of the
ohles Of HIS court whom he could
rust, and with great pomp and CIR
he married this influential
ohe to Mert Aten, HIS eldest daugh-
sr. Thus Smenkh kara became the
'gitlmate heir 20 the throne, and ap- =
arently occupied position which, .
'hile not equal TO that Of the Pharaoh,
oes seem to have been something
lore than that OF crown prince.
Mobiles Name Was Tutu.
Hlstory has hitherto taught that
menkh kara died about year after of
khenaten, and that on Smenkh ka- di
as death Tutankhamen married III
nkhos en-pa-Aten, the younger taugh- X
.r OF Akhenaten, and thus became In tn
Is turn the legitimate Pharaoh. Yet Fl
lere is no conclusive evidence either ge
when Smenlh kara died or I'll
hether he lost\the throne by death or VI
= deposition. Put bearing in mind ce
ne fact that there Is now n certain er
mount Of evidences. detailed above re
lat Akhenaten and Tutankhamen held tn
re throne together for very brief 10
pace, II Ia conceivable thar Emenkh te
ARA died before Akhenaten. and thas h,
khenaten, faced with the same pre-