Tut's Tomb at the Luxor
Prior to June 2008, you could see a replica of King Tut's Tomb daily in the Luxor hotel-casino on the Strip.* It was painstakingly recreated by leading Egyptologists and is a historically accurate reproduction of the original burial chamber. Many of the artifacts are placed just as Howard Carter first discovered them in 1922.
Egypt's King Tutankhamen is known as "The Boy King" because he inherited the throne at the age of 9 and died at age 19. He is remembered for the amazing gold-filled tomb in which he was laid to rest. The actual treasures of Tut's Tomb are housed at the Cairo Museum in Egypt.
King Tut's Tomb lay undisturbed for roughly 3,300 years until English
archaeologist Howard Carter discovered it Nov. 1, 1922. Carter and
his team happened upon it as they dug near a spot where the tomb of
Ramses VI had been found years earlier.
Digging thirteen feet below the Ramses tomb they discovered a staircase
that led to King Tut's Tomb.
The replicas at Luxor Las Vegas include a re-creation of the sarcophagus of Tutankhamen exactly as it looked when archaeologists unearthed it.
The ancient Egyptians buried their rulers in elaborate tombs filled with gold and precious jewels in hopes that the splendor of the burial site would please the gods and speed the deceased ruler's ascent to the afterlife. King Tut is believed to have ruled about 10 years before dying in 1323 B.C. A recent CAT Scan study of his remains indicates that he probably died of infection arising from a severely broken bone in his left leg above the knee, and an open wound to the left knee. It is conjectured that this may have been the result of a chariot accident, or a blow received in battle.
* All replicas from the Tut Museum were donated by the Luxor Hotel to the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History. A new exhibit featuring these replicas is being planned by the LVMNH.
