Tutankhamun’s sandals: 3,300-year-old footwear that allowed King Tut to walk over his enemies.

When British archaeologist Howard Carter and local Egyptians excavated King Tut’s tomb in 1922, they discovered thousands of artifacts buried with the young pharaoh. These sandals, one of the dozens of pairs of footwear that carried Tutankhamun to the afterlife, are unique because the insoles feature depictions of defeated enemies.

According to Carter’s original object card, these sandals measure 11.2 x 3.6 inches (28.4 x 9.2 centimeters), roughly equivalent to a U.S. men’s shoe size 11.5 (EU 45). Carter found them lying under a basket in the grave. However, many items were moved and some were plundered in ancient times, so it was not clear whether it was the original location.

The sandals were made of wood and covered with bark veneer, green leather and gold leaf pieces over a layer of white paint. The arch of each sandal features two figures connected by a lotus and papyrus. Each sandal has eight bow weapons (four near the toe and four on the heel) and a bow-shaped strap. Together these formed the Nine Bows, the collective symbol of Egypt’s enemies.

you may like

This sandal is on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The information card states that the bound captives refer to King Tutankhamun’s power, and that the nine bows are “placed to be trampled by the king’s feet, embodying the monarch’s trampling of Egypt’s enemies.”

When the mummy was discovered, Tutankhamun was found wearing shiny gold sandals and gold toe covers. However, it is unclear whether King Tutankhamun wore the sandals found in his tomb during his lifetime, or whether they were specially made for his posthumous attire.

For more amazing archaeological discoveries, check out our Astonishing Artifacts archive.