Despite the wealth of artifacts, the details of the family lineage of the famous King Tutankhamun remain partially obscure and incomprehensible in a web of incest and royal politics.
Recent genetic studies have helped to understand some aspects of his genealogy - in particular, that Tut's parents were brothers, which in itself, says Discover Magazine, makes his genealogical map not only real, but also complex.
According to a genetic study published in 2010 in JAMA, his father was Amenhotep IV, also known as Akhenaten, who became famous for trying to change ancient Egypt from polytheism to monotheism.
The identity of Tut's mother, however, remains uncertain. DNA tests indicate that she was one of the daughters of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye, which also makes her Tut's aunt.
Queen Nefertiti, important in Egyptian history for her beauty and power, initially considered a candidate for Tut's mother, was instead his stepmother and mother-in-law. She was married to Akhenaten and supported his religious revolution, and is also believed to have been the mother of Ankhesenamun, who later became Tut's wife.
The dynamics of the relationships within this family reflect the complex relationship of their family affairs, since Ankhesenamun was possibly also Tut's half-sister.
The family lineage and roles become even more obscure after Tut's death. Ankhesenamun's life after Tut is poorly documented, although he may have sought to maintain his power by proposing marriage to a Hittite prince, an act recorded in the "Actions of Suppiluliuma" of the Hittite kingdom.
To make matters worse, there seems to have been a pharaoh who reigned briefly between Akhenaten and Tutankhamun.
Paul Smaglik
For Authors
The identity of this pharaoh is much debated among Egyptologists, with Nefertiti herself and Meritaten, one of her daughters, being the main candidates. Some theories suggest that Nefertiti could have adopted a pharaonic name and reigned alone, while others propose that Meritaten or even another brother could have reigned before Tutankhamun was old enough to ascend the throne.
Despite significant archaeological and genetic research, many details about Tut's family tree remain indecipherable. Artifacts and inscriptions offer clues, but the fragile nature of the genetic material extracted from the mummies makes definitive conclusions a mystery.
The study of King Tut's family is motivated as much by interest in his short and apparently discreet reign as by the most striking personalities of his relatives.
As technology evolves, discoveries are made and more knowledge can be uncovered about this pharaonic puzzle.
The famous Egyptologist Zawi Hawass is currently searching for Nefertiti's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, in the hope that it may provide more clues about this uncertain royal lineage - which continues to fascinate the world.
