A Closer Look at King Tut's Footwear: The Pharaoh Was Buried With Over 80 Pairs of Sandals Made from Gold and Papyrus

[Judi Lynn]

Ancient Egyptian sandals show how King Tut crushed his enemies with every step he took.

Tudor TaritabyTudor Tarita February 13, 2026
Edited and reviewed by Tibi Puiu

In 1922, archaeologists uncovered the intact tomb of Tutankhamun, exposing thousands of artifacts placed around the young Egyptian king for burial. Among the gold ornaments, chariots and ritual items were dozens of pairs of sandals arranged with care.

These pieces of footwear are now the focus of renewed attention. They offer practical clues about royal life, belief and health in ancient Egypt, including evidence that the teenage pharaoh may have had difficulty walking.

Footwear for a King

(click link for image)

https://tinyurl.com/3wvv2t8h

A sewn sandal made from grass, palm leaf, and papyrus from King Tut’s tomb. Credit: André J. Veldmeijer

At least 80 pairs of sandals and shoes were buried with Tutankhamun. Craftsmen made them from materials ranging from palm leaves and papyrus to leather, gemstones and gold. Artisans made some as simple sewn sandals, while others required entire teams to emboss gold, dye leather and inlay stones.

More:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/king-tut-footwear/

?list=RDFYbavuReVF4

[hlthe2b]

1. Not to make it too personal, but my time working in Egypt is the only time I ever wore sandals..

Seriously. While my feet admittedly may not be runway model-worthy, I just don't feel comfortable wearing sandals. But, boy, with the heat during that time in Egypt, I had no problem changing my mind.

Now, if only MINE had been GOLD & Papyrus, but alas.

Ahh, King Tut. The boy king who continues to yield more secrets.

[Sneederbunk]

2. This very early Imelda.

[blm]

3. Missed you.

🫶🏽

[gay texan]

4. Yasssssssss

Life is short, buy the shoes

[Tom Dyer]

5. I was lucky enough to see the King Tut exhibit in New Orleans in 1977.

Man! I went on Superbowl Sunday. No crowds.
Just stunning. The street that leads to the museum in City Park was painted Nile blue.
Anyone else see this exhibit?

[sinkingfeeling]

6. I could have literally touched Tut's golden death mask back in 2012. We were in the Tut exhibit at the old Egyptian

Museum, in Cairo. I turned around and found myself face to face with the mask, within an arm's length. Two guys were just carrying it through the crowd to be cleaned!
No security, no guns, no alarms, just carrying a priceless artifact through a crowded room.

[cachukis]

7. Had a similar experience around 2010.

We were there at Christmas and the place was empty. My face was two feet away from the mask, the sarcophogi with no one around. We could have picked up pieces scattered throughout the museum. It was overstuffed.
Had sushi for lunch on a felucca. The captain said it was a first for him.

[Harker]

8. Steve Martin, author of "Cruel Shoes."