Genetic analysis of 18th Dynasty mummies has revealed that the parents of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun were a brother and a sister, which sheds light on the causes of his poor health and early death.
Recent DNA studies on mummies from Ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty have provided new insights into the lineage of one of the most famous pharaohs—Tutankhamun. The analysis showed that his parents were not just a married couple, but were a biological brother and sister.
Tutankhamun ascended to the throne around 1332 BCE at the age of only 8 or 9 and ruled for less than a decade. His death at the age of 18 has long remained a mystery. His tomb, discovered in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter, gave the world thousands of unique artifacts, including the famous golden mask.
Genetic research conducted by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities identified the young ruler’s family members and confirmed that his father, Akhenaten, and his mother were a biological brother and sister. According to geneticist Yehia Gad, such marriages were not uncommon among pharaohs who sought to maintain the “purity” of the royal bloodline.
Historians note that this practice may have negatively affected the boy pharaoh’s health. Modern studies of his remains showed he had a clubfoot, a cleft palate, a foot necrosis, and signs of malaria, which likely led to his early death.
Tutankhamun’s wife, Ankhesenamun, was also related to him—she was his first cousin. It is believed that the two infant mummies found in his tomb may have been their children.
