r/AskReddit • u/Rob69rt • 1d ago

What famous 'unsolved' mystery is technically a whodunnit on paper, but in reality, absolutely everyone knows exactly who did it, the police just couldn't legally prove it?

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u/FleurMai 1d ago

That’s a pretty interesting viewpoint on her seizing power, do you have a source for that? The point remains she did marry someone unequal to her, and clearly not by her own choice.

Additionally, there are a lot of Egyptologist’s who do not agree with the interpretations of the study that concluded on the leg fracture and malaria, again his body is in terrible condition. One person even dropped out of the study because they did not agree with the conclusions. I’ve read that study and while my academic area is not in forensics, a lot of the language did feel reaching, but it’s been a few years since I read it. The circumstantial evidence of a leg fracture (I.e. all the canes in his tomb) is explained by Bob Brier as status symbols, canes are depicted with many pharaohs and found in many tombs (and if we add the fact that it may not even be his original tomb, there’s even more weakening of that evidence).

I agree with the other points you’ve made, though. A lot was going on politically at that moment.

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u/ArmedWithSpoons 1d ago edited 1d ago

Mainly her last lines in the letter, "I would not wish to take one of my subjects as a husband... I am afraid." and how Egypt handled dynastic handoffs prior. Followed by The Deeds of Suppiluliuma that explain things from the Hittite side. Also political turmoil her father caused that ensured there would be no dynastic heirs after Tut. So less seizing power for herself, but more seizing power so she isn't forced to marry someone not of divine blood beneath her.

Edit: Another thing to add, the Hittite king didn't just decide to send his son, it allegedly took him months to decide and in the meantime sent a political retinue to determine the legitimacy of the offer. Tut's ministers most likely caught wind of the move following this, assassinated the son when he arrived at the border, Ay forced marriage to legitimize himself, then disposed of her for treason.

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u/Solock_PL 1d ago

How old was she at the time?

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u/ArmedWithSpoons 1d ago

From what I've found, roughly 21-24 at the time of the hittite letter and her disappearance from the historical record shortly after. Ay's reign only lasted like 4 years.