Tutankhamun’s Canes: Purpose in Life and Death By: Courtney Raney Bui October 23, 2022 Staves, walking sticks, and canes alike when depicted with kings in royal Egyptian art usually represented the transition to divinity in the afterlife. 1 While this was typically accurate, it is possible that there were exceptions. Fischer has thoroughly reported on the details and purposes of canes and staffs found in royal Egyptian tombs and claims that they were generally only included as props and “not intended for actual use.” 2 Using the scientific findings from an examination of Tutankhamun’s mummy, as well as visual analysis of art featuring Tutankhamun utilizing canes and staffs in different ways, it can be suggested that any images of King Tut with a cane did not exclusively represent ritual symbolism, but sometimes expressed his realistic daily lifestyle. Zaki noted that an ivory chest (fig. 1a) found in Tutankhamun’s tomb contained two scenes of great importance. 3 The carvings of Tutankhamun and his wife Ankhesenamun from this ivory chest depicted him in a manner that could indicate he had trouble standing or walking without assistance. The first carving (fig. 1b) from the ivory chest portrayed Tutankhamun holding a staff at an angle in his right hand, implying that he was putting his weight on it. This is consistent with Zaki’s notation that “[Tutankhamun] is leaning on a cane with one hand,” implying that the king was not simply holding a staff in a ritual gesture. 4 The other carving of Tutankhamun and his wife from the ivory chest (fig. 1c) depicted him in a hunt while seated. The 1 Fischer, 21-23. 2 Ibid., 25-27. 3 Zaki, 172. 4 Ibid., 172.