'King Tut's Final Secrets' Reveals the Face of 'The Boy King' and Explores His Mysterious Death

'King Tut's Final Secrets' Reveals the Face of 'The Boy King' and Explores His Mysterious Death

National Geographic Channel World Premiere Special Features First-Ever Bust of the Pharaoh Created from 3-D CT Scans

Exhibition of Tut's Treasures to Include Bust and CT Scans - Begins June 2005 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

WASHINGTON, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- He is the most famous Egyptian king in history. He became pharaoh at the age of nine -- and ruled for nearly a decade before his mysterious death. Since his tomb was discovered in 1922, King Tutankhamun and the circumstances surrounding his death have been a source of intrigue worldwide. Why did the famed "boy king" die so young? Was he murdered? Is there truth to the legendary curse set upon those who would disturb his final resting place? And what did he really look like?

On Sunday, May 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the National Geographic Channel premieres "King Tut's Final Secrets," a high-tech forensic investigation unveiling new findings related to his death and the first-ever reconstruction of his face and head using revolutionary 3-D CT scan imaging -- revealing what he looked like on the day he died. This groundbreaking research is also featured as the cover story of National Geographic magazine's June issue.

This two-hour world premiere special follows Dr. Zahi Hawass, leading archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, as he and a team of Egyptian scientists remove the mummy from its sarcophagus for the first time in more than 25 years. The goal: use state of the art CT scan technology to solve the mystery surrounding King Tut's death.

The CT scanner, donated by Siemens Medical Solutions, compiled 1,700 high- resolution 3-D images including cross-section views of the pharaoh's bones, skull and teeth. The scanning of King Tut's mummy is part of a landmark, five-year Egyptian research and conservation project. Partially funded by the National Geographic Society, the project aims to conserve and study the ancient mummies of Egypt.

"CT technology enables us to virtually 'unwrap' the mummies without damaging them," explains Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.

"King Tut's Final Secrets" follows the scientific team as they refine the technique of using the CT scanner on Egypt's most high-profile mummy. The CT scan finds loose bones inside King Tut's skull, severed ribs and a fractured left leg with a missing kneecap. Was he murdered? Or was he hurt in battle? Does the newly discovered broken leg offer clues to his death? "King Tut's Final Secrets" attempts to solve the mystery.

The scans also provide a blueprint for reconstructing what King Tut actually looked like. Working separately, two paleosculptors use a "digital skull" from the scan to map the angles and dimensions of a face and transform the raw data into a life-like silicone bust. But, only one knows to whom the famous face actually belongs. Their results will be compared as we reveal the first complete picture of what King Tut really looked like.

For more than 80 years, the life and death of the fallen pharaoh has fascinated generations. Now, for the first time in 26 years, more than 130 treasures from his tomb will tour the United States beginning June 16, 2005 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

The National Geographic exhibition, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, will include 50 major objects excavated from the tomb of Tut including his royal diadem -- the gold crown discovered on his head -- one of the gold and precious stone inlaid coffinettes that contained his mummified internal organs and the CT scans featured in "King Tut's Final Secrets." More than 70 objects from other royal graves of the 18th Dynasty (1555 B.C.-1305 B.C.) will be showcased as well.

"King Tut's Final Secrets" is produced by National Geographic Television and Film (NGT&F). Executive producer is John Bredar. Producer and director is Brando Quilici. For NGC, Martha Conboy is executive producer; John Ford is executive in charge of production.

Based at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channel is a joint venture between National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F) and Fox Cable Networks. National Geographic Channel debuted to an initial 10 million homes in January 2001, and has been one of the fastest growing networks in history. The Channel has carriage with all of the nation's major cable and satellite television providers, making it currently available to more than 53 million homes. For more information, please visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel.

Source: National Geographic Channel

CONTACT: Russell Howard of the National Geographic Channel, +1-202-912-6652, RHoward@natgeochannel.com; National Broadcast: Alanna Zahn of the National Geographic Channel, +1-212-852-7093, AZahn@natgeochannel.com, or Cathy Saypol of CSPR, +1-212-288-8496, Saypolpr@aol.com, for the National Geographic Channel; National Print: Chris Albert of the National Geographic Channel, +1-202-912-6526, CAlbert@natgeochannel.com, or Nord Wennerstrom of The Fratelli Group, +1-202-496-2124, NWennerstrom@fratelli.com, for the National Geographic Channel; National & Local Radio: Clare Hertel of Clare Hertel Communications, +1-845-340-0731, CHertel@aol.com, for the National Geographic Channel; Local Print: Licet Ariza of The Fratelli Group, +1-202-496-2122, LAriza@fratelli.com; Photos: Chad Sandhas of the National Geographic Channel, +1-202-912-6632, CSandhas@natgeochannel.com

Web site: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel

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