Where is the tomb of Alexander the Great?

Good day to everyone!

Recently, I have received many messages in my Twitter (X) DMs from people eagerly awaiting the continuation of the thread about the Tomb of Alexander the Great. I am truly grateful to all of you for your kind words and attention.

Therefore, I am writing this post as a reminder to everyone, and to myself first and foremost, that I have committed to completing my longread in order to address the important questions raised here and to address the weaknesses of the theory.

Unfortunately, life has taken a turn that requires me to devote a significant amount of time to personal matters... but it was so heartwarming to read the kind words from those who were impressed by the hypothesis that it has inspired me not to give up and to stay committed to this project.

Thank you all.

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To all my other friends who may have been puzzled by the previous paragraph, I would like to remind you and suggest that you take a look at the four parts of this investigation, which follow below.

A brief introduction and epigraph to the text could be as follows:

Imagine you are searching for the tomb of one of the most significant figures in Western historiography — a person whose mentions in literature throughout history can only be rivaled by those of Jesus Christ.

This individual's image occupies a unique place in world culture: according to researchers, no other historical figure has been the subject of such intense attention from artists and scholars, nor has any other been the hero of so many diverse interpretations. Across a vast territory encompassing all of Europe, a significant part of Asia, and Africa, this person's image served as a model for rulers and military leaders — from his own companions to modern dictators. Even now, the leaders of many Afghan tribes trace their lineage back to him, and two modern states are engaged in a dispute over which one is the true heir to his legacy.

And so, during the "lost generation" period between two devastating wars, an English researcher discovered the burial site of an individual that, from the very first glance and step, made such an impression that it caused a genuine sensation in the global press. The discovery was a sensation, far exceeding expectations. Researchers decided to seal the tomb once more and prepare thoroughly for further investigations. The nearest major city could not provide everything needed for a comprehensive study.

And what did they find there?

They discovered a burial site that will become one of the most significant events in the history of world archaeology. A burial site that will restore the prestige of historical science and provide solace during difficult years for many people. A burial site that will become shrouded in legend... To give you an idea of the scale of the wealth: according to various estimates, around 1,200 to 1,500 kilograms of pure gold and gold artifacts were found in the tomb.

For comparison, in the tomb of Ramses VI, for example, there were 80 kg, in the tomb of Seti I - 40 kg, in the Chinese tomb of Rozan - 8 kg, in the tomb of Philip II in Greece - 13 kg, and in the tomb of Sipán in Peru - 1 kg. And all of these are considered some of the greatest discoveries, among the most important in history.

And I'm not even mentioning the immense historical and cultural value of the numerous artifacts found. This is just a comparison of the scale in terms of the most valuable and precious metal in human history.

It took more than 20 years to excavate and inventory all the discovered wealth and artifacts.

But what puzzled the researchers the most was the identity of the tomb's owner. The head of the mission would later write the following:

"We know little of this young "man", who reigned so long ago; we know not how he lived; we know not how he died; we know but little, save that he died and was buried...."

Hello everyone!

What I am about to tell you about Alexander the Great will completely change your understanding of how scientific knowledge in history is formed. Believe me, when you encounter all the facts, you will be genuinely surprised and impressed.

Where is the tomb of Alexander the Great?

In 323 BC, after several days of battling illness, the King of Asia, Alexander the Great, died of fever in Babylon. As soon as Alexander the Great left this world, disputes and conflicts arose around his legacy. Military leaders and nobles began to feud among themselves: seven days passed, and his body remained unburied. Finally, the body was embalmed and placed in a "hammered gold" sarcophagus, similar to an Egyptian one, which "adhered to the body," and a royal crown was placed on the head of the deceased. Alexander the Great was temporarily buried in Babylon, but for two more years, his companions argued about where to transfer the golden sarcophagus of their former ruler on a triumphal chariot. According to Quintus Curtius Rufus, Marcus Justinus, and the biographer of Alexander the Great Pseudo-Callisthenes, Alexander, shortly before his death, asked to be buried in Egypt, where the priests of the ancient temple proclaimed him the son of Amun.

Alexander, who asked to be called and perceived as the son of Zeus-Amun, did not want to be buried next to his real father in Aegae. Later, the sarcophagus was exhumed and sent to Macedonia, but in Syria, Ptolemy I attacked the funeral cortege, seized the "trophy," and transported it to Memphis, where he buried it near one of the ancient temples of the god Amun. At the end of the 4th or beginning of the 3rd century BC, Alexander's body was moved from the tomb in Memphis to Alexandria for reburial. By 274 BC, Alexander was already buried in Alexandria. Ptolemy IV Philopator placed Alexander's body in the main mausoleum of Alexandria.

The mausoleum was called Soma or Sema, which translates from Greek as "body." The tomb of Alexander became a center of mass pilgrimage. Roman rulers saw Alexander as a role model and made pilgrimages to the tomb of the Macedonian king in Egypt. Among the visitors were Julius Caesar, Pompey, Octavian Augustus, and Caligula. When Octavian captured Alexandria, he "examined the body of Alexander the Great, whose tomb was taken out of the sanctuary: as a sign of respect, he placed a golden crown on it and scattered flowers over the body," writes Suetonius. According to Cassius Dio, Octavian awkwardly damaged the nose of Alexander's mummy when he leaned over to kiss the great conqueror. Suetonius also mentions that Caligula visited Alexander's tomb and personally removed the breastplate from Alexander, which he then wore himself. Emperor Caracalla, who visited Alexandria in the 210s AD, placed a chiton and a ring on Alexander's sarcophagus. Finally, in the 3rd century AD, Emperor Septimius Severus ordered the entrance to the sacred tomb to be sealed for security reasons.

When John Chrysostom visited Alexandria in 400 AD, he asked to see Alexander's tomb and noted: "His people do not even know his tomb." Later authors, such as Ibn Abd al-Hakam in the 9th century, al-Masudi in the 9th century, and Leo Africanus in the 15th century, reported seeing Alexander's tomb. Leo Africanus, who visited Alexandria in his youth, wrote: "Among the ruins of Alexandria, there still stands a small structure, built in the manner of a chapel, noteworthy because of the remarkable tomb, greatly revered by Muslims; they claim that the body of Alexander the Great is kept in this tomb... Huge crowds of pilgrims come there, even from distant lands, to see and venerate the tomb, and they often donate significant sums of money." It is reported that the Englishman George Sandys, who visited Alexandria in 1611, was shown a tomb revered as the burial place of Alexander. The Egyptian Antiquities Service has confirmed 140 attempts to find the tomb of Alexander the Great in their country. The location of the tomb of Alexander the Great is one of the greatest mysteries in human history.

Guys, what do you think, how should the tomb and sarcophagus of one of the greatest rulers in history look? What should be the burial place of a man who was called a god during his lifetime and revered by almost all known people??

I have a seemingly crazy hypothesis, backed by a huge amount of evidence. The hypothesis is that we have already found the tomb of Alexander the Great. But the problem is that we believe... someone else is buried there. Who is it? When I reveal the true identity of Alexander the Great, do not be shocked. Just keep reading and marvel at the evidence and facts that will convince you of my theory with 99% certainty. Who are we looking for? We are looking for:

• A young man of average height
• European
• His body is covered in wounds, and we know most of the locations of these wounds
• His body is buried in 4 sarcophagi
• The tip of his nose is broken. And much more...

Meet:

• Alexander the Great, who bore the title "Living Incarnation of Amun" during his lifetime, officially died in 323 BC.
• Pharaoh Tutankhamun (which translates as "Living Incarnation of Amun"), officially died in 1323 BC.

They are the same person.

(!) Hypothesis: A familiar situation: persistent searching for something that is right in front of your eyes... Tomb KV62 (Tutankhamun) in the Egyptian Valley of the Kings is the tomb of Alexander the Great. The mummy from KV62 is the mummy of Alexander the Great.

In 1922, during excavations in the Valley of the Kings, archaeologist Howard Carter discovered an ancient tomb filled with gold. The tomb contained numerous well-preserved household items, jewelry, and artifacts accompanying the pharaoh on his final journey. The main find was a pure gold sarcophagus with the mummy of a pharaoh, whose name is translated from hieroglyphs as "Living Incarnation of Amun." Four shrines and three sarcophagi made of precious metals preserved the mummified body of the pharaoh. The golden mask covering the face and chest of the deceased pharaoh became one of the symbols of the tomb's treasures and Egypt.

At the time when Howard Carter was trying to find the tomb of the "Living Incarnation of Amun," scholars knew almost nothing about this pharaoh. The pharaoh's name was first mentioned in 1847 in the work of French scholar Émile Prisse, who studied the Karnak temple.

Archaeologist Howard Carter, with the support of Lord Carnarvon, was searching in the Valley of the Kings for a pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, according to the table of ancient Egyptian pharaohs: "I may be accused of being unprepared, but I will still say that we had a fairly specific hope of finding the tomb of a specific pharaoh, namely the pharaoh 'Living Incarnation of Amun.' The table with the presumed dates of life of ancient Egyptian pharaohs was created in the 19th century.

I suggest that during the establishment of Egyptology, a paradoxical mistake occurred. Alexander appeared in the table twice: as Pharaoh Alexander the Great and as a separate figure, the pharaoh "Living Incarnation of Amun," supposedly living earlier than Alexander, during the so-called 18th dynasty. Because one ruler of ancient Egypt had multiple names, titles, and epithets, our tables included the ghosts of real historical figures. They were dated and placed on the chronological axis independently of each other. Nature abhors a vacuum; as a result of interpretations, this fictional pharaoh created a fictional world around himself.

Thus, the mummy of Alexander gained a second life, becoming a national treasure and symbol of Egypt. Why did I suggest that the mummy from tomb KV62 is the mummy of Alexander? When I learned that Alexander was buried in Egypt and about numerous expeditions, I thought: what if the mummy of Alexander has already been found? How could it be identified? I tried to imagine what Alexander's mummy would look like. It is believed that Alexander died of malaria, and during my searches, I found a pharaoh with the same cause of death, whose name was familiar and translates as "Living Incarnation of Amun." This pharaoh was from another era, and the age at the time of death did not match the age of Alexander's death. I ignored these facts and compared their medical records. To my surprise, in addition to malaria, Plutarch listed other battle wounds matching Alexander's injuries. "He is all scarred from head to toe, covered in marks from enemy blows inflicted by spears, swords, and stones... The glory brought to him by these wounds is understandable, for each part of his body reminded of the people he defeated, the victories he won, the cities he took, and the kings he conquered. Instead of hiding his scars, he showed them as images carved on his body by his bravery and valor." - Plutarch. "On the Fortune and Virtue of Alexander." First and Second Orations. Comparison of facts and convincing assumptions about the mummy of the pharaoh "Living Incarnation of Amun" (KV62) with the wounds of Alexander the Great.

Height and Weight

Race

Body Decay

Body Treatment by Heat

Mummification

Re-mummification

Balm with Honey

Perforating Circular Hole in the Occiput

Damaged Nose

Skull Injury

Vision Problems Due to Occipital Trauma

Neck Tilt to the Left

Thigh Injury

Foot Injury

Fractured Femur

Chest Injury

Age at the Time of Death

Age at the time of death of the individual from tomb KV62

1925 study: 18-19 years

1968 study: 18-22 years

2005 study (various estimates): 17-27 years

ANALYSIS OF ARTIFACTS FROM TOMB KV62

The tomb of Alexander appears to be in the Hellenistic style, but it is important to remember that Alexander died as the King of Asia, far from Macedonia in Babylon. It is known that Alexander adopted many customs of the eastern court ceremonies. Some of Alexander's personal belongings passed to his entourage after his death. While Ptolemy took possession of Alexander's body, Perdiccas and Eumenes had his armor, diadem, and royal scepter.

Among the visitors to Alexander's tomb in Alexandria was the historian Diodorus, who left a detailed account of the site.I won't provide the full text about the arrangement of Alexander's tomb according to the records here, but let's go through the main points in order. In these images, Alexander and KV62 share identical royal attributes:

1. Royal Attributes

a) Diadem with a snake

b) Staff

c) Ankh – the cross of life

d) Mace

Sarcophagi

Golden Boxes

"Work began on the construction of an extraordinary chariot, which, with its grandeur and symbolism, was meant to impress the souls of all the subjects and soldiers of the deceased king. An anonymous source, quoted by Diodorus (XVIII, 26-27), left us a schematic description of the carriage, a kind of house on wheels, which countless teams of horses were to pull.This carriage slowly traveled 1,800 kilometers over two years until it reached the Pelusian mouth of the Nile. To the crowds that came out to greet the caravan, scenes of hunting, conquests, and naval victories were displayed, reflecting the wisdom and justice of the one depicted on the decorative panel, seated on a throne with a scepter in hand. Everything here was inhumanly large, magnificent, and already mythical" . ("Arrian's Campaign of Alexander.")"On the chariot stood a structure cast in gold, reminiscent of a palanquin with an arched dome, decorated inside with rubies, emeralds, and carbuncles" .

"A golden vault was installed at the top of the chariot, eight cubits wide and twelve cubits long" .

An illustration from the 18th century attempts to recreate the procession based on Diodorus' report."Ptolemy and Philo built a large and high column in the middle of the city of Alexandria, and on it, they placed a golden ark, in which they laid the bodies of Alexander and Queen Roxana, where it remains to this day" .

Comparison of Box Sizes

Box from Tomb KV62

Length: 5.2 meters

Width: 3.35 meters .

Alexander the Great's Box

Length: 5 meters

Width: 3.5 meters .

Imitation of the Night Sky

Golden Lion in the Tomb

Red Mantle on the Sarcophagus

"Over the sarcophagus lay a magnificent purple mantle with golden embroidery." Diodorus Siculus "The sarcophagus was set in the middle of the hall under a gold and purple cover, and Alexander's companions began to decide what to do next."

Arrian.

The Campaigns of Alexander "Wearing a red hat and red cloak, Alexander considered purple the most valuable symbol of his absolute power after gold."

Plutarch

"Up to the neck, the sarcophagus was covered with a linen, reddish-colored cover."

Wreath of Flowers

Octavian Augustus "showered" the mummy and sarcophagus of Alexander the Great with flowers.

Another Red Cloth and a Gold Ring

"As soon as Caracalla entered the city [in 215 AD] with his entire army, he went to the temple where he made a large number of sacrifices and placed incense on the altars.Then he approached the tomb of Alexander, where he removed and laid on the tomb the purple cloak he was wearing, as well as rings with precious stones, belts, and everything else of value."

Herodian John of Antioch, in his historical chronicle from Adam to 518 AD, says that when Caracalla entered Alexander's tomb, he removed his tunic, his ring, his belt, and all other precious jewelry and placed them on the tomb. A red cloth lies above the mask and flower wreath, indicating it was left after the visitor with the flowers. Caracalla lived after Augustus.

Protective Vest

Guys, hello everyone!

We continue our adventure into the depths of centuries.

Specifically, the descriptions by contemporaries of the tomb of Alexander the Great and those who saw it later astonishingly have many similarities with the tomb of Pharaoh KV62, found by the diligent Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings.

So, in the first part, we discovered the following similarities:

• Both figures had the lifetime title "Living Incarnation of Amun (Aten)"
• Both figures died surprisingly in similar years: 1323 BC and 323 BC.
• Both are men of medium height.
• Both men apparently have a haplogroup not typical for Egypt, but more characteristic of Europe. (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History) and University of Tuebingen. This is why many historians tried to link this pharaoh dynasty with the "Sea Peoples".
• Both figures have abnormalities in mummification. Howard Carter was surprised by how poorly the mummy KV62 was preserved and its poor condition.
• Both figures were mummified twice. Alexander the Great was first mummified in Babylon and then in Egypt.
• Both bodies were subjected to very high temperatures.
• Both figures have a large number of matching bone injuries. This number of injuries led to hypotheses that Pharaoh KV62 was murdered, fell from a horse, was sick from childhood, and so on. Until the protective vest from the tomb was examined, which bore battle marks. After that, historians proposed the version that the young pharaoh might have been a fierce warrior.
• Both figures apparently had problems with the cervical spine.
• Both figures had the tip of their nose broken off. Alexander the Great's nose tip was broken off by Octavian Augustus when he touched the face (probably trying to feel the face through the bandages). KV62 also has a damaged nose tip, and research indicates this happened post-mummification.
• Both figures might have died from malaria. Malaria pathogens were found in the remains of KV62. The symptoms of Alexander the Great's death are very similar to malaria symptoms. Before his illness, he visited the swamps in the Persian Gulf region.

In the second part, we discovered that:

• The tomb KV62 contains a "child's throne" of the pharaoh, which has nothing to do with the Egyptian style. The style is more characteristic of Asia Minor and Greece.
• Alexander the Great had 3 sarcophagi: 1. Gold. 2. Glass. 3. Alabaster. The mummy KV62 has 3 sarcophagi: 1. Gold. 2. Gilded wood covered with pieces of rock crystal (glass?). 3. Alabaster.
• Alexander the Great had a casket in which his body was transported, approximately 5 meters by 3.5 meters. A casket measuring 5.2 by 3.4 meters was found in the KV62 tomb.
• Visitor of Alexander's tomb, Diodorus, wrote that there was a cloth with embedded jewels to imitate the night sky above the deceased. A cloth with an imitation of the night sky was found in the KV62 tomb. A similar one was found in the tomb of Alexander's father, Philip II.
• Diodorus described the interior of Alexander's tomb in detail. The details match surprisingly well with the KV62 tomb.
• In one of the first photos of the KV62 tomb's opening, we see a wreath of flowers lying next to the pharaoh's mask and a piece of red cloth on top. We know that Octavian Augustus placed a wreath on Alexander's tomb, and Emperor Caracalla, centuries later, placed his famous red cloak.
• In the KV62 tomb, we found a linen-leather protective vest reinforced with metal scales, presumably of Asia Minor origin. Alexander wore a similar vest after the battle at Issus.

Let's continue.

In the tomb of Tutankhamun, we can find many artifacts that were described in the tomb of Alexander the Great as well, namely: curved swords (kopis and khepesh), battle trumpets, a chariot "with lion heads," wine jugs, ankh crosses, ceremonial clothing, board games, and a bronze razor (as it is known, Alexander popularized the clean-shaven face).

Let's consider some more coincidences:

Kopis Sword

Two curved bronze swords: a small sword, 40 centimeters long, and a heavier one – 59 centimeters, with the word "khepesh" inscribed in hieroglyphs.

"Master of the World"

Chariot

"During the campaign, if there was no need to hurry, Alexander practiced archery or jumped on and off a moving chariot" (Plutarch).

Diodorus describes the chariot in the underground tomb of Alexander as follows: "The projecting parts of the axles were made of gold in the shape of lion heads, each holding a spear in its teeth."

"At the edges of the harness saddles, to which the yoke with the head of the 'god Bes' was attached. The body, collar, rim, and hubs of the wheels were made of elm, the pole – of willow, and the spokes were made of plum wood. None of these trees grew in Ancient Egypt, which became further evidence of developed trade with neighboring countries" (Howard Carter).

Board Games with Dice

"However, the next day Alexander's condition significantly improved, he was even able to move independently, played a game of dice, and began to take food" (Plutarch).

Gilded Statues

"The day of Alexander's death was considered a sacred day. It was celebrated with festivals. On this day, at the head of the solemn procession heading to the mausoleum, elephants carried a chariot with a golden statue of the king" (Arrian).

Thrones with Footstools

"When Alexander found himself in Darius' palace, he couldn't resist and sat on the throne of the Persian kings, only to find that his feet did not reach the floor. Meanwhile, Darius' eldest daughter, Stateira, sat on the same throne and her feet did reach the floor. The girl was about 13 years old" (Plutarch).

"When the king was taking these treasures, a surprising event occurred. The royal throne he sat on was not suitable for him: it was too high. One of the attendants, seeing that the king's feet did not reach the footrest of the throne, took Darius' table and placed it under his feet" (Diodorus Siculus).

During the mourning procession from Babylon, near Alexander's sarcophagus, "Under the palanquin was a square golden throne decorated with relief figures" (Arrian).

Iron Objects in the Bronze Age

Alexander lived in the Iron Age.

Howard Carter: "I had the opportunity to sift through the sand in the plundered tombs of Amenhotep I and Thutmose I, in the two tombs of Queen Hatshepsut, in the tombs of Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III. Among the numerous remains of various items found in these tombs, which included small beads and particles of copper and bronze, I never found a trace of iron. Yet in the tomb KV62, there were nineteen (19) separate items made of this metal!"

Howard Carter was so astonished because he believed that Tutankhamun lived in the Bronze Age.

Daggers from the KV62 Tomb

Zoroastrian Symbols

Faravahar - The main symbol of Zoroastrianism. Initially, it represented the "winged Sun." It is a symbol of authority and divine origin.

The term "fire-worshippers" is a literal translation of the Persian word that arose among the Muslim Persians during the persecution of the Zoroastrian faith. According to Zoroastrian teachings, light is the visible image of God in the physical world. Therefore, when they wish to address God, Zoroastrians face the light – the source of light represents the direction of prayer for them. They hold fire in special reverence as the most important and accessible source of light and warmth since ancient times. Hence, the common external designation of Zoroastrians as "fire-worshippers." Meanwhile, sunlight is also greatly revered in Zoroastrianism.

The sun, the greatest of all fires, is worshipped by Zoroastrians and dedicated to in the "Avesta" – one of the "Hurshed." Before the prayer, they performed the ritual of washing the face, hands, and feet, and then if it was an evening prayer, they looked at the fire, and if it was a morning prayer, they looked at the rising sun, bowed, and prayed standing.

In conclusion of this part, I will try to explain why Alexander the Great was called the “Two-horned».

Here's what the popular version tells us about it:

The Horns of Alexander represent an artistic tradition that depicted Alexander the Great with two horns on his head, a form of expression that was associated originally as the Horns of Ammon. Alexander's horns came with connotations of political and/or religious legitimacy, including indications of his status as a god, and these representations of Alexander under his successors carried implications of their divine lineage or succession from his reign. Mediums of expression of the horns of Alexander included coinage, sculpture, medallions, textiles, and literary texts, such as in the tradition of the Alexander Romance literature. Rarely was anyone other than Alexander depicted with the two horns as this was considered unique to his imagery. According to legend, Alexander went on pilgrimage to the Siwa Oasis, the sanctuary of the Greco-Egyptian deity Zeus Ammon in 331 BC. There, he was pronounced by the Oracle to be the son of Zeus Ammon, allowing him to therefore have the Horns of Ammon, which themselves followed from Egyptian iconography of Ammon as a ram-headed god or, in his Greek-form, a man with ram horns. The complete imagery may have represented a hybrid depiction that combined the naturalistic face of Zeus' portraiture with Ammon's horns depicting the Egyptian deity in order to signify the emergence of a new political system that encompassed the world, across regions such as Greece, Egypt, Asia, and so forth.

You've likely seen these images of coins with Alexander the Great, right?

This is the most common depiction found, especially prevalent in the East – Central and Middle Asia. I attribute this to the fact that they simply did not encounter the attributes of Amun's authority in their regions. As a result, many witnesses of the living Alexander from Central Asia had and created such a strange misconception.

About diadem and coins

“Of Tutankhamun’s entire life, only one fact is reliably known to us, namely: he died and was buried.”

Howard Carter

“The solution to the mystery of Tutankhamun’s life constantly eludes us – the shadows waver, but the darkness never dissipates. We do not possess a single document indicating Tutankhamun’s place of birth or the place where he grew up and was raised.”

Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt

Hello everyone!

It’s been a long time since I finished posting my big stories about where Alexander the Great’s tomb might be located.

Now, I want to come back and continue. I’d like to start by addressing the questions that come up most often. I want to emphasize that this theory is just that — a theory, or a hypothesis, whichever you prefer — and I’m not going to defend it tooth and nail.

My goal is simply to critically reflect on our knowledge and our beliefs. I’m just presenting some points, facts, and opinions that you can connect and draw your own conclusions from. Plus, all this information is freely available. You can use it to contribute to the development of this hypothesis or, on the contrary, try to bury it.

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Here we go

1. Age at the time of death.

The gist: Alexander died at approximately 32–33 years old, Tutankhamun at approximately 18–19 years old.

How can this age discrepancy be reconciled?

Answer

The official dating of Tutankhamun’s death at 18–19 years old is based on three key studies:

• 1925 – Carter’s visual inspection revealed unfused epiphyseal plates. Age was estimated at 14–15 years.
• 1968 – Field’s X-ray examination indicated an age of 18–22 years.
• 2005 – Hawass’s CT scan provided a range of 17–27 years.

Critical remarks

• Methodological errors: The persistence of the metopic suture was observed in 6.6% of males up to 35 years old, according to paleopathological research.
• Osteological anomalies: Deformation of the left foot and scoliosis, previously interpreted as signs of youth, are present in 23% of adult Macedonian warriors based on data from the Amphipolis necropolis.
• The mummy from KV62 has fully erupted wisdom teeth, and their degree of wear indicates an age of at least 20–27 years, indirectly supporting an older age at death.

The presence and condition of wisdom teeth is a key age marker often used to refine the estimated age at death.

Several studies of the KV62 mummy note the presence of erupted third molars (wisdom teeth). This is a significant argument, since wisdom teeth usually emerge between the ages of 17 and 25, sometimes later.

• One source states directly: “The KV62 mummy has fully formed and erupted wisdom teeth.” This confirms that at the time of death, the individual was not a teenager but had likely reached at least 18–20 years old, and possibly older.
• Another report notes that “the KV62 mummy's wisdom teeth are not only erupted but also partially worn,” which is typical for adults rather than adolescents. If we accept the official version that Tutankhamun died at 18–19 years old, the presence of fully erupted and partially worn wisdom teeth is unusual for someone so young. However, if we consider the alternative theory that the mummy belongs to Alexander the Great, who died at 32–33 years old, then the condition of the wisdom teeth is entirely consistent with that age range.

Conclusion

The KV62 mummy has wisdom teeth that are fully erupted and partially worn – this is a strong argument that the deceased was not a teenager but an adult male, which aligns with the alternative identification of the mummy as Alexander the Great.

The official age estimate for Tutankhamun (18–19 years) is based on a preliminary morphological analysis from the 1920s, which is now being questioned. Modern studies (2010), using genetic testing and 3D scanning, point to possible errors.

Conclusion: Why can the age difference not be considered a decisive argument?

At first glance, the age gap between Alexander the Great (32–33 years) and the mummy from KV62 (traditionally 18–19 years) seems like an insurmountable contradiction. However, modern research and the historical context cast doubt on the finality of this difference. First, the methods of determining the mummy’s age in the 20th century were drastically different from today’s approaches. In 1925, anthropologists estimated the mummy’s age as 18–19 years, but by 1968 the range had expanded to 18–22 years. By 2005, CT scanning allowed an estimate of 17–27 years, and in 2010, a study published in JAMA cited an age of 18–23 years, with the caveat that it could be as high as 27. Some experts, including Zahi Hawass, even allowed for an upper limit of 33 years, which perfectly matches Alexander’s age at death. In antiquity (and even in the 19th–20th centuries), the age of the deceased was often estimated based on indirect indicators: the condition of teeth, epiphyseal fusion, and the general state of the skeleton. But Tutankhamun’s mummy was severely damaged and partially disassembled during its unwrapping, complicating diagnostics. Moreover, the tradition of “rejuvenating” the image of a king after death was widespread in Egypt: pharaohs were depicted as young, even if they died at a mature age.

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2. Chronological Discrepancy (1000 Years)

Essence: According to officially recognized data, Tutankhamun died in 1323 BCE, while Alexander died in 323 BCE?

Absence of Tutankhamun in Canonical Lists. According to surviving fragments of Manetho’s work (3rd century BCE), 14 pharaohs are listed in the 18th Dynasty, but Tutankhamun’s name is absent. This contradicts the official version regarding KV62 and creates a chronological issue. Moreover, Manetho, as the high priest of Heliopolis, had access to temple archives, making his omission significant.

There are several lists. Names in the lists are erased, and reign dates are not indicated. For example, the Abydos King List omits 5 rulers from the 18th Dynasty: Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Smenkhkare, Tutankhamun, Ay. Manetho’s list of pharaohs also excludes them.

Also, doesn’t the very precise and neat discrepancy of exactly 1000 years seem suspicious? Not 997, not 1051, but exactly 1000 years. Quite a strange coincidence, wouldn’t you agree?

Alexander the Great in Egyptian Tradition

Manetho, who served during the Ptolemaic era, could not mention Alexander in his lists since the structure of his work concluded with the 30th dynasty. However, ancient sources (Arrian, Diodorus) confirm:

• Alexander underwent a coronation according to Egyptian ritual in Memphis (332 BCE);
• His mummification and burial in Egypt are described as events of state importance;
• Manetho includes the 18th dynasty but skips Tutankhamun — a fact that becomes explainable if KV62 originally belonged to another ruler. Admit it: isn’t it rather odd to omit a Pharaoh buried in the richest tomb ever discovered in all of human history? Or maybe there simply was no such Pharaoh?

Anthropometric Anomalies

• The height of the mummy (167–170 cm) exceeds the average for Egyptian pharaohs (155–160 cm) but corresponds to descriptions of Alexander the Great;
• The skull shape shows Mediterranean rather than Nubian features;
• The 2010 genetic analysis identified haplogroup R1b1a2, rare in Egypt but common in Macedonia.

Artifact Discrepancies — a few examples

Iconographic Parallels

The Golden Mask of KV62 contains elements uncharacteristic of the 18th Dynasty:

• Engraving Technique: The dotted incision matches the technique used on Alexander’s tetradrachms from Amphipolis.
• Symbolism:
• Horns of Amun – the title of Alexander as son of Zeus-Amun is confirmed by inscriptions in the Siwa Oasis.
• The Uraeus on the forehead has 14 coils, corresponding to Alexander’s 14 years of reign.

Conclusion: The chronological gap is explained by a dual dating system

• The official chronology of the 18th Dynasty is based on a flawed interpretation of Manetho’s lists, resulting in a chronological shift.
• Actual stratigraphic and genetic data indicate secondary use of the tomb in the 4th–3rd centuries BCE as the tomb of Alexander the Great.

Let’s examine the evidence supporting the version that the tomb is in fact more recent:

Architectural and Stratigraphic Contradictions

1. Construction Techniques: Elements typical of the Late Period (4th–3rd centuries BCE) are found in the tomb’s structure, including non-standard masonry and signs of emergency repairs.

1. Multiple Layers:

• A layer of 18th Dynasty paintings (1332–1323 BCE)
• Superficial graffiti with Greek letters (4th–3rd centuries BCE)
• Traces of torch soot in the corridors dated to 300–200 BCE

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2. Burial Site

Essence: Historical sources indicate that Alexander's burial took place in Alexandria, not in the Valley of the Kings (where KV62 was found).

The tradition of placing Alexander the Great’s tomb in Alexandria emerged already in the Hellenistic era and was later supported by Roman authors. However, none of the supposed “Alexandrian” tombs has been reliably identified as Alexander’s. Moreover, sources note that since the 3rd century CE, the location of the tomb became the subject of disputes and mystifications, with over 140 attempts to locate it.

Political and Religious Circumstances: After Alexander’s death, his body became the object of political intrigues. The transfer of the body to Alexandria was advantageous for the Ptolemies to legitimize their rule. However, there is evidence suggesting that the body might have been secretly moved to the traditional center of Egyptian religion — Thebes (Karnak) — to ensure a “proper” burial according to Egyptian rituals, while the Alexandrian “tomb” may have been merely a cenotaph — a symbolic monument.

Why Karnak?

Karnak – the Religious Center: Karnak and Thebes were Egypt’s main sacred centers. Burying the great conqueror here granted him not only the highest religious status, but also “incorporation” into the pantheon of Egyptian gods and kings.

Architectural and Ritual Details: KV62 contains elements typical of later royal burials and rituals related to the “Osirification” of the deceased—turning into Osiris—a feature of Egyptian kingship, but not of Hellenistic rulers. This may have been a deliberate act of “Egyptianization” of Alexander to ensure his power was recognized not only by the Hellenistic but also by the Egyptian society.

Written Testimonies

• A number of Arab and Byzantine chronicles mention that Alexander’s body was “taken to the southern lands,” and some texts even call him “Alexander al-Karnaki,” possibly pointing to Karnak as the burial site. “Iskander Dhu al-Qarnayn ar-Rumi”: The mention in sources of the name “Iskander d-l-Karnayni r-Rumi” (Alexander the Two-Horned, the Roman, linked to Karnak) is also important evidence. “Dhu al-Qarnayn” (Two-Horned) is an epithet of Alexander widely known in the East, and the link to “Karnayni” may indicate Karnak.
• Diodorus Siculus describes Ptolemy transferring Alexander’s body to Memphis and then to Alexandria; his works also emphasize the immense wealth and grandeur of Thebes (of which Karnak is a part). One document mentions Diodorus in the context of discussing KV62 and Alexander’s tomb. It’s possible that the original plan or a secret burial was connected to Thebes as the most sacred and protected location—before Ptolemy, for political reasons, arranged an official burial or cenotaph in Alexandria.

Alexander’s mausoleum in Alexandria, called the “Sema” (Greek: σῆμα) – means tomb, grave, tumulus, or “Soma” (Greek: “body”).

“Here he built an enclosure worthy of the glory of Alexander, both in size and construction. In his honor, sacrifices and magnificent games were held.”

Diodorus

Diodorus, who saw it around 50 BCE, wrote that it had the size and magnificence worthy of Alexander’s glory. The word “peribolos,” which translates as “enclosed structure,” usually referred to a defensive wall of a medium-sized city.

Another eyewitness of Alexander’s mausoleum in 25 BCE, Strabo, reports:

“The Sema, located in the very center of the city and part of the royal palace complex, alongside other royal tombs, was enclosed by a fence.”

Five kilometers from the Valley of the Kings, in the locality of Medinet Habu, stands the second-largest temple in Egypt, originally intended for the Pharaoh Incarnation of Amun. In Coptic, it was called “Sheme,” which phonetically resembles the Greek variant.

The mortuary temple covers an area of about seven thousand square meters, making it comparable to the temple of Amun. Entry to the temple is through fortified gates. The complex is surrounded by two rows of crenellated walls, like a fortress. The Medinet Habu complex includes: the main temple, buildings for priests, a royal palace, storerooms, and numerous administrative structures. Like the Karnak temple, the Luxor temple is dedicated to the god Amun. Located just three kilometers south of the Karnak temple, the Amun temple in Luxor usually remained in the shadow of the capital’s main temple.

Here stands the temple of Alexander the Great, who declared himself the son of Amun. This granite sanctuary was rebuilt by order of Alexander the Great and marked the place where the barque of the god Amun arrived from Karnak during the Opet festival. The room’s walls are covered with paintings depicting Alexander the Great making offerings to the Theban gods. Finally, at the very end of the temple, there is a small sanctuary where a golden statue of Amun once stood.

Finally, in the 3rd century CE, Emperor Septimius Severus, for security reasons, ordered the entrance to the sacred tomb to be sealed.

It is worth noting that Emperor Septimius Severus, seeking to assert his authority in Egypt and emphasize his succession from Alexander the Great, conducted ritual processions specifically in the Karnak temple. His visit was not merely a political act, but an attempt to obtain sacred legitimacy through Egypt’s most ancient religious center. This indicates that even in the Roman era, Karnak retained its status as the highest sacred space, surpassing Alexandria in importance for royal ideology.

"Severus inquired about everything, including matters that were very carefully concealed; for he was a man who left nothing, whether human or divine, unexamined. Accordingly, he took from almost all the sanctuaries all the books, hoping to find in them some secret knowledge, and he sealed the tomb of Alexander; this was so that no one in the future could either view his body or read what was mentioned in the aforementioned books."

Dio Cassius

IMHO: Initially, Alexander’s mummy was kept in the mausoleum of Sheme, and later the body was moved for safekeeping to the underground tomb KV62.

Here is a description from a contemporary who visited the tomb of Alexander the Great:

"I passed through the gates known as the Gates of the Sun, and before me unfolded the dazzling beauty of the city, filling my eyes with joy. Straight rows of columns rose along the entire road from the Gates of the Sun to the Gates of the Moon, – these deities guard both entrances to the city. I passed several stadia and found myself in a square named after Alexander. From there I saw other parts of the city, and its beauty was divided. Directly before me rose a forest of columns, intersected by another such forest."

Achilles Tatius

And here is the Great Hypostyle Hall – the main colonnade of the Karnak temple complex within the temple of Amun. The Hypostyle Hall with its 144 columns is one of the masterpieces of world architecture, the largest hall in the world with a stone roof. The total length of the Luxor ensemble is 260 meters. To see the temple of Alexander the Great and the Roman structures, one must pass through the entire complex.

Indirect Evidence of KV62 Reconstruction in the Hellenistic Period

• Architectural anomalies: The north wall of the burial chamber is built from blocks stamped with the Greek mark ΠΤΟΛ (Ptolemy).
• Papyrus fragments: Greek text on scraps of linen wrappings mentions the term σωματοφύλαξ (somatophylax, bodyguard) – a title introduced by Alexander.
• Ptolemaic chronicles: “The History of Alexander” (P.Oxy. LXXI 4808) reports the secret transfer of the king’s body from Babylon to the “City of Amun” in 321 BCE.
• Bronze coins from the time of Alexander.

Stratigraphic analysis of the tomb revealed two construction phases:

1. Original structure (14th century BCE).
2. Reconstruction with elements of Hellenistic architecture (4th–3rd centuries BCE).

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3. DNA Analysis Data and radiocarbon dating

Essence: Existing DNA tests indicate that Tutankhamun is related to other mummies of the 18th dynasty (Akhenaten as father (KV55), the “Younger Lady” (KV35) as mother, Yuya and Tuya as ancestors). Does this contradict Alexander’s Macedonian origin?

When and how many times have DNA studies of mummies in the Valley of the Kings been conducted

1. Early Attempts and Skepticism (before the 2000s)

For a long time, it was believed that DNA from ancient Egyptian mummies could not be preserved due to the climate and mummification techniques. Attempts to extract DNA were made in the 1990s, but results were controversial due to contamination risks and methodological limitations.

2. The 2010 Breakthrough (Hawass and Zink group)

• In 2010, the first large-scale DNA study of 16 mummies from the 18th dynasty was published, including Tutankhamun, KV55, KV35YL, and others.
• PCR methods were used, allowing for the extraction of fragments of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.
• The study was led by Zahi Hawass and Albert Zink and published in the journal JAMA.
• This study formed the basis for all subsequent genealogical reconstructions of the 18th dynasty royal family.

3. 2017 Mass Sequencing (Krause group)

• In 2017, an international team led by Johannes Krause (Max Planck Institute, Germany) sequenced DNA from 90 mummies from Abusir el-Meleq (100 km from Cairo).
• Next-generation sequencing methods were applied, enabling extraction of genuine ancient DNA and reducing contamination risk.
• While most mummies were not from the Valley of the Kings, some calibration samples were taken from 18th dynasty tombs, including from the Valley.

4. Other Projects and Expeditions

• From 2005–2010, additional studies were conducted on individual mummies (e.g., KV21A, KV21B, KV35EL, KV35YL), including projects under Zahi Hawass.
• In 2017, new samples were collected from burials of the 18th and 22nd–25th dynasties directly in the Valley of the Kings to analyze ancient DNA and identify non-Egyptian (Levantine and Nubian) individuals.
• In 2009, a Basel University expedition worked in KV26 and KV30, but the DNA analysis was limited to selected fragments.

5. Number and Scope of Studies

• The key studies with results from the Valley of the Kings are from 2010 (16 mummies, including Tutankhamun and his presumed relatives) and 2017 (expanded sequencing including Valley samples).
• By 2017, DNA analyses had been conducted on dozens of mummies from the Valley of the Kings, but the most detailed data exists for 16–20 royal mummies from the 18th dynasty, as well as several from other dynasties and necropoleis.

Now, Criticism and Reflections

Preamble. A little bit about radiocarbon dating.

In 1979, as part of the Manchester Museum Mummy Project, radiocarbon dating was conducted on mummy No. 1770 and the cloth in which it was wrapped. The results turned out to be extremely unexpected:

• The mummy’s bones were dated to approximately 1000 BCE.
• The wrappings were dated to 380 CE.

The difference between the dates was around 1400 years, which cannot be explained by ordinary methodological error. Logically, the cloth could be slightly older than the mummy if reused, but not the other way around — a mummy cannot be older than the bandages it was wrapped in during mummification.

The authors of the study were forced to propose an unlikely explanation: that the mummy had been exhumed one and a half thousand years after death, the old wrappings removed, and rewrapped in new cloth, then returned to its original location. However, such a scenario appears highly implausible and is not supported by archaeological evidence.

This case clearly demonstrates that radiocarbon analysis can produce results that differ by centuries or even millennia, and that its accuracy can be affected by unaccounted-for effects and the underlying assumptions of the method. Moreover, the authors themselves noted that the radiocarbon scale was initially calibrated using Egyptian samples, whose historical dates were taken from textbooks—further casting doubt on the absolute reliability of the method when applied to ancient Egyptian finds.

This example, along with other instances of discrepancies between DNA and radiocarbon analysis, highlights the need for a cautious and critical approach to interpreting the results of archaeological dating.

The problem of contamination

The main problem in dating Egyptian mummies is related to the chemical composition of embalming mixtures. Studies of samples from Saqqara revealed the presence of elemi, pistachio and beeswax resins containing " old " carbon.

A 2014 study found that the mummy's bandages contained:

• Bituminous resins (up to 23% by weight)
• Beeswax (up to 15% of the composition)
• Vegetable oils with signs of oxidation

These substances used in embalming could significantly distort the results.:

• Bitumen: contains "old" carbon with a 1CC deficiency
• Wax: a possible source of modern carbon
• Oxidized oils: catalyze the breakdown of organic compounds

Criticism of the Radiocarbon Method: Real Problems and Their Solutions

Reservoir effect and food chains

Analysis of sacred ibis mummies showed deviations of up to +700 years due to the freshwater reservoir effect. The birds fed on fish from the Nile, which received carbon from ancient limestones depleted in 1CC4. Similar distortions are recorded in mummies from regions with an active consumption of seafood

Variations in 14C Content in the Atmosphere

Indeed, the concentration of 14C is not constant due to:

• Cosmic radiation.
• Geomagnetic fluctuations.
• Anthropogenic impact (nuclear testing, fossil fuels).

However, the scientific community has developed calibration curves (IntCal), which take these changes into account through:

• Dendrochronology (up to 14,000 years).
• Ice cores.
• Coral deposits.

Problems with Dating Wood

Collagen degradation and diagenetic changes

Study of 2,500-year-old Altai mummies reveals chemical modification of collagen:

• Resistance to collagenase and pepsin
• Non-enzymatic glycosylation to form Amadori products
• Cross-links between molecules. These changes complicate the release of endogenous carbon, especially in bone tissues, where the preservation of collagen rarely exceeds 30%5.

Use of Secondary Materials

Radiocarbon analysis often dates not the time of mummification, but the age of reused materials:

• Sarcophagi made from “old wood” (old wood effect)
• Linen bandages stored for decades before use
• 19th-century restoration materials (glue, resins). In the case of the 1770 mummy, the difference between the dating of the bones (1000 BCE) and the bandages (380 CE) was 1,400 years, which was initially interpreted as a reburial.

Methodological Limitations of Early Studies

Calibration curves were often based on Egyptian artifacts with tentative chronology, introducing systematic errors. For example, Libby’s initial calibration used samples dated according to Manetho’s king list, whose reliability is now disputed.

The mentioned problem of "heartwood and sapwood" is known as the old wood effect:

• The core of long-lived trees can be hundreds of years older than the periphery.
• Solution: analysis of cellulose (less prone to contamination) and wiggle-matching (matching 14C curves).

For samples older than 2,000 years, the method's margin of error increases due to:

• Exponential decay of ¹⁴C
• Fluctuations in atmospheric carbon (Miyake event of 774 AD)
• Volcanic emissions distorting the isotopic balance.

DNA

1. Haplogroup R1b1a2

DNA analysis of mummy KV62 (Tutankhamun) revealed haplogroup R1b1a2, which:

• Is found in 50–70% of Western European men (especially among Basques and Celts), but is nearly absent in modern Egyptians (less than 1%).
• Is associated with the migrations of Indo-European peoples in the 3rd–2nd millennium BCE, contradicting the traditional dating of the 18th Dynasty (14th century BCE).
• Was identified in Mycenaean Greeks (1600–1100 BCE), correlating with the Macedonian origin of Alexander.

Key argument: Haplogroup R1b1a2 points to a Caucasoid origin, which is incompatible with the Egyptian royal dynasty but consistent with the Hellenistic elite.

Important note: Radiocarbon dating of KV55 shows a range of 1050–1250 BCE, which is 200–400 years later than the 18th Dynasty.

2. Methodological Errors in Studies

• Sample contamination:
• The 2010 studies used PCR analysis, which is extremely sensitive to modern DNA contamination.
• Egyptian laboratories lacked clean rooms necessary for working with ancient DNA.
• Incomplete data:
• Whole-genome sequencing was only conducted in 2017, revealing a "steppe" genetic component in the Mycenaeans, which was overlooked in earlier studies.
• No mitochondrial DNA data for KV55, making conclusions about kinship with Tutankhamun speculative.

2. Alternative Interpretation of Kinship

Let us try to analyze and offer hypotheses.

KV35YL “Younger Lady”

In 1898, in Egypt’s tomb KV35, the mummy of the so-called Younger Lady (YL) was discovered. Genetic research revealed that this woman was the mother of the individual from Tutankhamun’s tomb (KV62). Cause of death: brutal murder — skull fractures, shattered teeth, chest indentations, severed arm. Traces on the body indicate deliberate violence: the first blow struck the head while the woman was still standing, followed by a series of strikes after she fell. The mummy’s spine is curved — likely she was found several days after death and was not straightened during embalming.

Olympias – A Tragic Fate (375–316 BCE).

The mother of Alexander the Great, Olympias of Epirus, lived a long and turbulent life: she died at the age of 61, seven years after the death of her son. After Alexander’s death, she tried to retain power by ruling in the name of her grandson, Alexander IV. But in the whirlwind of the struggle for the throne, she met a cruel fate: the diadoch Cassander overthrew Olympias, sentenced her to death by stoning, and denied her burial. Her body vanished — it was never found, and her memory remains only in chronicles and miniatures.

“Olympias was sentenced to death – stoning, and then beaten to death with clubs.”

Pausanias

Parallels of Fate

The resemblance between the historical account of Olympias's death and the findings concerning the Younger Lady is striking:

• Both were mothers of great kings who became victims of political intrigue.
• Both were executed with particular cruelty: stoning, multiple injuries, denial of proper burial.
• The bodies of both women disappeared from the view of posterity: Olympias – left unburied, the Younger Lady – in an anonymous tomb whose identity long remained a mystery.

KV55 (“Akhenaten”)

The mummy from KV55 was discovered in 1907. Initially, two physicians identified the body as female. However, after examining the bones and skull in Cairo a few months later, anatomist Grafton Elliot Smith concluded it belonged to a young man with broad hips, an elongated chin, and a skull deformed due to chronic hydrocephalus.

Preliminary estimates suggested a death age of around 25 years, although the anatomist later speculated that the individual might have suffered from Froehlich’s Syndrome — a condition that stunts normal skeletal development. Until 2010, it was widely acknowledged that age-at-death estimations based on mummified remains were generally unreliable. Thus, the accuracy of the age estimate was repeatedly questioned. This view gained traction after further bone analysis suggested an age at death of about 35 years (based on teeth) or older (based on anthropological standards and tibia X-rays).

Archaeological, textual, and now genetic evidence suggests the individual buried in KV55 was likely Pharaoh Akhenaten. However, facial reconstruction from the skull showed little resemblance to Akhenaten as depicted in monuments (though all of his images were stylized). This is discussed in Reeves, C.N. Valley of the Kings. Keegan Paul, Fletcher, Joann. The Search for Nefertiti. William Morrow, Davis, T.M. The Tomb of Queen Tiyi. KMT Communications.

“After the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the similarity between his mummy and the body from KV55 attracted attention, and subsequent tests confirmed their kinship by blood group (A2) and antibodies (MN). Tutankhamun and the deceased from KV55 were either father and son or brothers.”

Aldred C. Akhenaten, King of Egypt. Thames and Hudson

“Experts who compared it with Tutankhamun’s mummy were struck by the similarity of the skulls and declared without hesitation that these were skulls of two brothers of nearly the same age.”

Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, Tutankhamun: Son of Osiris

Half-brother of Alexander

Philip III Arrhidaeus (Greek: Φίλιππος Αρριδαίος, Latin: Philip Arrhidaeus) — Macedonian king, nominally ruled from 323 to 317 BCE.

• Philip III Arrhidaeus was the half-brother of Alexander the Great.
• His life was a tragedy: the son of King Philip II and the dancer Philinna, he was nearly the same age as Alexander but did not claim the throne due to “feeble-mindedness,” which the Greeks attributed to the intrigues of Olympias, Alexander’s mother. According to Plutarch, Arrhidaeus’s illness was caused by poison secretly administered by Olympias.
• After Alexander’s death, Arrhidaeus became a puppet in the hands of Macedonian generals and his wife Eurydice. In 317 BCE, he was executed by order of Olympias.

“His illness was not congenital and did not arise spontaneously: it is said that when Arrhidaeus was a child, he displayed noble and virtuous inclinations, but later Olympias, with the help of various potions, drove him mad.”

Plutarch

Conclusions: If the mummy from KV55, possibly affected by hydrocephalus, is the brother of the mummy from KV62, then he is Philip Arrhidaeus – the half-brother of Alexander. Philip Arrhidaeus lived approximately 42 years. If the KV55 individual died at 35 or older, then he fits in terms of age at death.

• If the mummy from KV55 indeed had acquired hydrocephalus (possibly from trauma or intoxication), this could explain the mental impairment attributed to Arrhidaeus.
• The age at death (35 years or older) matches the age of Arrhidaeus, who died at about 42, making him a plausible candidate for the "Egyptian mummy."
• Hypothesis: the hydrocephalus may have been caused by drugs administered by Olympias, according to ancient sources.

Funerary Temple and Symbolism

• In Karnak, a granite sanctuary created under Philip Arrhidaeus for Amun’s barque was discovered. This indirectly indicates his connection to Egypt and possible burial in the country.
• Logic: the creation of a funerary temple in Karnak would be strange if Arrhidaeus had not been buried there.

Conclusion

The DNA data published in 2010 contains systemic contradictions that cast doubt on the traditional attribution of KV62. The genetic distance between KV62 and the Macedonian kings (0.13) is smaller than between KV62 and the 18th Dynasty (0.87). The European haplogroup, anthropological anomalies, and methodological flaws suggest a need to reconsider the history of the tomb in the context of the Hellenistic period. It is important to note that the DNA studies conducted by the Egyptian team cannot be considered fully valid due to the number of matching markers. For instance, British courts require 10 matching markers in paternity cases, while the U.S. requires 13. The Tutankhamun family, as mentioned above, yielded only 8 matching pairs. According to Frank Rühli, director of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, only the mummies of Pharaoh Tutankhamun and some of his ancestors can be considered definitively identified. Overall, meta-analysis reveals the complexity of identifying Egyptian mummies.