I was curious if you knew who killed King Tut when he was 17-18?

Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 did provide a great deal of information, but there are still many unanswered questions. We know that the "boy-king" died around the age of 17, after ruling for approximately seven to nine years. The cause of death is not known for sure, but many theories have surfaced. Some believe Tutankhamum was murdered; others that he died of a cerebral hemorrhage. The archaeological evidence indicates that the funeral preparations were hastily arranged - unlike those of most rulers whose workmen spent years in preparation. This fact alone indicates that his death was unexpected. But, since no documents or literature have yet been uncovered that explain or refer to his death, the mystery continues.

Did Cleopatra and Caesar ever have any kids? Did she ever have any with Marc Anthony?

Politics was really the motive behind the relationship of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. To preserve some degree of independence for her country, Egypt, Cleopatra needed to maintain a close relationship with the ruler of Rome, the most powerful nation bordering the Mediterranean Sea at the time. Julius Caesar, on the other hand, needed the wealth and grain that Egypt offered to maintain his empire. According to some sources, Cleopatra had a son, whom she named Caesarian for his father, but there is no proof. Soon after Caesar's assassination in 44 b.c., Cleopatra turned to Marc Anthony, a powerful Roman statesman and general. Historical records suggest that Cleopatra bore Anthony two children. But, again, there's no proof! Maybe, someday, a document that proves the theory one way or the other will surface.

What did the ancient Egyptians use to dry-clean clothes?

The Egyptians and other ancient peoples - the Romans, in particular - devised quite an effective method that used water mixed with several herbs, plants, and urine. The urine was collected in vessels placed on street corners and then allowed to decompose before it was used. Cleaners would submerge an entire garment in the solution. After removing it, they then used mallets and wooden hammers to beat the cloth. Some even stepped into the container holding the garment to pound the cloth with their feet. The garment was allowed to dry and then rinsed again. Finally, it was brushed with special tools made of teasel, burs, thistles, or hedgehog prickles.

Egyptian pharaohs are pictured holding a crook and flail. Why?

The crook (in design, it looks like a shepherd's staff with its hook shape at one end) represented the pharaoh and his responsibility to protect and guard the people of the Nile River region, the way a good shepherd guards his flock. The flail (in design, it looks like a whip) represented the power of the Egyptian pharaohs. Thus, it was only natural that sculptors would fashion statues of deceased pharaohs holding the crook and flail. Further, as the dead king was identified with Osiris, the Egyptian god of the dead, statues of Osiris always portrayed him holding the crook and the flail.

Who was Ramesses?

There are many Ramesses in Egyptian history, but the most famous of all is Ramesses II, also known to history as Ramesses the Great. Ascending the throne at age 25, Ramesses set out to restore Egypt to the size it had once been. Since the reign of Akhenaten about 70 years earlier, the country had shrunk in both area and power. Ramesses reconquered lands in Palestine and Syria and signed a peace treaty that ended the Libyan raids of Egypt. Aside from his military ventures, he was also responsible for a great many building projects, including the temple at Abu Simbel. Ramesses died at the age of 90 after ruling for approximately 67 years. His accomplishments secured his title as one of the greatest pharaohs in Egyptian history.

Did sand really cause dental problems for the ancient Egyptians?

Yes! Sand was the cause of the most common dental problem the ancient Egyptians suffered - attrition. Tiny particles of sand would accidentally get into the flour from which bread was made, or be added intentionally to help in grinding the grain. Over time, eating bread containing such particles would lead to the wearing away of the outer layers of the teeth, resulting in infection and tooth loss. Since the ancient Egyptians' diet contained less sugars and carbohydrates than ours, they suffered from less cavities. There is evidence that the ancient Egyptian dentist, called ibhy in Egyptian, could make false teeth to replace a few lost teeth.

What is so important about the Book of the Dead?

The Book of the Dead is not a book at all, but a collection of magical spells, prayers, and rituals written on sheets of papyrus and accompanied by illustrations. The papyri were placed in the coffin with the mummy to help the deceased pass through the dangers of the underworld and attain a life of bliss in the Field of Reeds. The texts date back to the New Kingdom (1570 to 1070 B.C.) and explained how to act and what to say to the gods. Usually, a person would hire a scribe to write out the "book" before he or she died. The richer you were, the better scribe you could hire. Those who could not afford a scribe had to rely on prewritten texts and hymns. The Book of the Dead is important because it helps us understand how the ancient Egyptians viewed life and death.