The Lost Pharaoh

“You will be the Pharaoh one day. People far beyond Nile will celebrate you. You will live for eternity. ”

Amenemhêt was now old enough to realise that his Grandmother was nothing but talking rubbish. He was mature enough to know that, he, the son of one of the courtesans of Akhenaton can never become the king.  He had heard that, his mother was one of the Pharaoh’s favourite. He surely had inherited some of his father’s traits. Unmistakable was his elongated head. He could not call his father so; nor could he call himself the son of the Pharaoh. As a kid, he found it tormenting to stay a servant in his own father’s palace and being unable to own himself with his father. But, as he grew older and knew how the world functioned, he came to terms with it.

His mother had died at child-birth. Amenemhêt was cursed even at his birth; or that’s what he thought. His grandmother raised him since. The Pharaoh’s stipend was enough to keep the two surviving. Amenemhêt’s job in the palace was to keep company of the Prince; that is his brother. The two boys soon became inseparable; even when the Prince became the Pharaoh when he turned ten. Amenemhêt always called the Pharaoh – Atu; even though it was forbidden and a mortal sin, since the king carried the God Aten’s name. The king called Amenemhêt - Amu; ignoring the anger of his deity Amun. They were brothers that never were.

Amu now turned nineteen and so did Atu. Atu had insisted that just like him, his friend too be trained in all the aspects of statesmanship and war craft. Of course, amid apprehensions and hesitations. Amu was as fit to be the king as Atu; or even better. The Pharaoh had not produced an heir yet. But, anyway he was still too young and had decades ahead to conquer the world and Amu had promised to be with him all the way. But, as was the custom and with the advice from the old Vizier Ay, the royal advisor and mentor General Horemheb was appointed the rpat – the Crown Prince.

“Come on Atu, pull the reins harder.” Yelled Amu from his chariot. It was a hot evening and a perfect time for a good lesson on chariots and horses.

“Feel your horses, Atu. Feel their hearts thumping, their muscles tightening; get into their mind and they are all yours.” Amu was instructing the Pharaoh through the billowing clouds of dust and sand.

Atu found it difficult to have a control on his horses when they went berserk. He was struggling to keep them down. “I cant Amu; they wont listen to me!” said Atu already sweating from his effort and gritting his teeth, struggling with the horses.

“Ha! These mere horses don’t heed to the Pharaoh of Egypt?” laughed Amu.

“Stop your silly jokes and help me.” Atu was still gritting his teeth.

“Alright. I will jump over to your chariot and show you how its done.”

Amu levelled his chariot with Atu’s. They were running parallel now. Amu left the reins and made jump for Atu’s chariot. But, it went a bit faster and Amu landed hard on the floor. The fall had broken his leg. Amu was taken away to be treated groaning in pain.

The broken leg had gotten infected and few days later he was attacked by severe malaria and was to stay at home. He could not go to meet his friend, brother, Pharaoh.

It was a cold winter evening. Horemheb was in his palace when the Vizier Ay came hurrying into his private quarters.

“It has been done.” Said Ay.

Horemheb could not place the emotion in Ay’s voice. Was it elation, sorrow or contempt? Nor could he read his face in the dim light of the lamp.

“What? What has been done?” asked Horemheb, confused.

“The Pharaoh... the Pharaoh is dead.”

“Dead? How... when... What do you mean?” Horemheb was too shocked to speak comprehensively.

“Ah! Don’t hide your happiness. Not with me. Stop your silly charade. It’s something that we had discussed earlier. I just quickened the process a little bit for you.” Said Ay.

“You did it! But, how? When did it happen?” now, it was Ay’s turn to be not able to place Horemheb’s tone.

“I took the boy alone with me in the boat, across the Nile; lying to him about a secret ritual and all that. I knew that Nile was in full spate today and there was a rapid and I saw the opportune moment. Just a small gentle push was enough to get you the kingdom.” Laughed Ay with the cruel pride.

“Where is the body?” asked Horemheb.

“Ah! The body! Sobek, the guardian of Nile took his sacrifice.”

“By Amun! What? You let a crocodile take away the body? Idiot” Horemheb flamed.

“The crocodile had his royal lunch. And you might not want the wrath of Sobek; and of me. Watch what you speak.” Warned Ay in an ominous voice.

“But... but... see... people will ask for the body to be preserved. They will demand to see it. None will believe otherwise.” Horemheb contemplated aloud and continued, “he will need it when he comes back too!”

Ay laughed heartily and said, “You care about his return? Tell that to the dumb subjects; not me.”

Horemheb looked at Ay with unmistakable suspicion and asked, “Why are you doing this? What is that you gain out of it?”

“Nothing. The boy’s purpose is done. I wanted to revive Amun and I convinced the boy to do it and the silly youngling forsake Aton and embraces Amun as his God, oficially. He even changed his name! As a priest with a mission, his use for me was done. Moreover, I dint want to be ruled by that puny, little baby.” Replied Ay with a ghostly calm.

“Fine. Now I should make up something for his funeral.” Sighed Horemheb.

“That is none of my concern.” Smiled Ay.

“I know what to do.” Said Horemheb with a crooked smile and a fire burning in his eyes, as dark as the pits of Hell.

Amenemhêt was speaking with Vizier Ay. He was summoned to be informed about the ghastly news of his friend’s death. Amu was too weak already and this news made him dizzy. He felt the whole world closing in and the burden of the whole universe upon him. He heard the laugh, the words, the scream of his dear friend. They kept echoing through his head and then something struck it, to go black forever.

“Its done.’ Said Horemheb with a relief.

He had struck Amu from behind on his head. Amu laid motionless in his small pool of blood that was beginning to go cold.

“This will do. We will substitute his body for the Pharaoh’s. Stash him away. Don’t elaborate the rituals, coffin and the chamber. But be careful enough not to raise suspicions. Dispose of all the Pharaoh’s things along with him.”

Amenemhêt was unceremoniously laid to sleep in his brother’s coffin.

His master had asked him to bring some water. Having done that, he dint have anything else to do. He was too bored. His master, who was digging the sands for years like a mad man dint have any work to do that day either. The boy picked up a stick and started playing with the sand; digging it. There was something! A stone. He dug further to find a step leading down. He dint think much of it. This whole place was littered with these things and these white men were maniacal about digging them out. Anyway, he wanted to please his master and called him. And then, history was made.

After sixteen years of toil, the archaeologist had found his treasure. He had made the greatest discovery till date. He had discovered tomb KV62, by far the best preserved and most intact pharaonic tomb ever found in the Valley of the Kings.

After centuries of slumber, Amenemhêt woke up as – Tutankhamun.

The grandmother was right.

Facts:

è Amenemhêt means ‘Amun from the beginning’ in ancient Egyptian. Tutankhamun was actually born Tutankhaten – meaning- ‘The living image of Aten’. At that period, Aten was the presiding God. But, Tutankhaten, later ditched Aten to embrace Amun and hence he became Tutankamun. His sister/wife became Ankhesenamun (incest was the order in ancient Egyptian Royal families in order to prevent the power from going outside). I chose the name Amenemhêt cos’ it felt more suitable due to its meaning.

è Forensic investigation found a broken leg (allegedly due to a chariot accident) and proof of malaria in Tut’s mummy. A break in skull was also found and for long, it was believed that he was assassinated. The actual reason is still debated.

è Horemheb did not ascend the throne after Tut. Vizier Ay married Ankhesenamun to become the Pharaoh. He ruled for a very short duration and Horemheb took over.

è Tut’s tomb KV62 was really left unceremoniously hidden among rubble and hence the delay in discovery. The coffin is not complete, the chamber was left unfinished and the burial mask was not perfect. Too inferior to be royal.

è The account of the boy’s discovery of the tomb is a fact. Not made up. The archaeologist is Howard Carter. KV62 was discovered on 14^th November 1922.

è These are a few facts exploited to give a twisted story.