Some researchers suggest that the mask, which has become synonymous with Tutankhamun’s image, might not have been intended for him at all. A team of researchers from the University of York believes the mask was originally intended for Queen Nefertiti, Tutankhamun’s stepmother. This has led researchers to believe that the face was hastily redone to fit the needs of Tutankhamun’s burial. Mask of Tutankhamun, egyptian pharaoh.Credit: CanvaOne of the primary reasons for this hurried preparation seems to be Tutankhamun’s unexpected death. The Mask’s Place in HistoryEven if Tutankhamun’s mask wasn’t originally intended for him, it has become one of the most defining symbols of Ancient Egypt.