TUTANKHAMUN

"King Tut"

King Tut, also known as Tutankhamun, was a famous pharaoh of ancient Egypt who became king at a very young age. He ruled Egypt over 3,000 years ago during the New Kingdom period. Unfortunately, King Tut died at a young age, around 18 or 19 years old, and the exact cause of his death remains a mystery. 

Early Life

King Tutankhamun, known as King Tut, was born in Egypt's royal court around 1341 BC. His father was the powerful Pharaoh Akhenaten. King Tut's original birth name was Tutankhaten, but he changed it after his father passed away. Interestingly, King Tut was not born to his father's main wife, Queen Nefertiti, but to one of his lesser wives. This might have caused some tension in the royal court, as Queen Nefertiti wanted a son to inherit the throne. King Tut's birth and family situation added a unique element to his story and the events that would unfold during his reign. 

His Father

King Tutankhamun's father, Pharaoh Akhenaten, was a controversial figure in ancient Egypt. He is often described as being hated because he made some big changes during his rule. One of the biggest changes was introducing a new religion that focused on worshipping only one god, the sun disk named Aten. This was different from the traditional Egyptian belief in many gods. Akhenaten closed the temples of the other gods and made people worship only Aten. This made him unpopular with the priests and people who believed in the old gods. After Akhenaten died, the people of Egypt wanted to go back to their old religious beliefs, and this is where King Tutankhamun comes into the story. As King Tut's father was disliked by many, it may have made things challenging for the young king when he took the throne.

Becoming Pharaoh 

When Tutankhamun was just seven years old, his father passed away. After a few years, he became the Pharaoh of Egypt. It was common for pharaohs in ancient Egypt to marry their sisters, and Tutankhamun married his own sister. Since he was so young, he had help ruling the country. The true rulers were a strong general named Horemheb and Tutankhamun's advisor called Ay. They made important decisions and guided Tutankhamun in his role as Pharaoh. Even though Tutankhamun was the king, he relied on their wisdom and experience to govern Egypt effectively. 

Life as Pharaoh

After his father's rule, many people in Egypt were unhappy with the religious changes that had been made. Tutankhamun and his advisors worked hard to undo these changes and bring Egypt back to its traditional beliefs. They repaired the old temples and restored the worship of the ancient gods. The capital city was moved back to Memphis, which had been the capital for a long time. Tutankhamun even changed his own name from Tutankhaten, which meant "the living image of Aten," to Tutankhamun, which meant "the living image of Amun," one of the most important gods in Egypt. By making these changes, Tutankhamun aimed to restore Egypt's traditions and bring back stability to the kingdom. 

A Mysterious Death

When Tutankhamun was just 19 years old, he tragically died. The cause of his death is still a mystery, but some believe he may have had an injury or illness. After his death, he was prepared for burial according to ancient Egyptian customs. His body was carefully preserved through a process called mummification. The mummification involved removing the organs, treating the body with preservatives, and wrapping it in linen bandages. Tutankhamun's mummy was placed in a beautiful golden coffin, adorned with precious jewels and symbols of power. He was then laid to rest in a tomb known as KV62, located in the Valley of the Kings. 

Tomb of Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun's tomb, known as KV62, is a special place where he was laid to rest after his unexpected death. The tomb is located in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Compared to other royal tombs, Tutankhamun's tomb is quite small, but it is filled with many precious treasures and artifacts. This is because his death came as a surprise, and there wasn't much time to prepare a grand burial place. Inside the tomb, there are beautiful golden coffins, statues, furniture, and other valuable objects that were meant to accompany Tutankhamun in the afterlife. The discovery of his tomb in 1922 by the archaeologist Howard Carter amazed the world and gave us a glimpse into the rich history and treasures of ancient Egypt. 

Information compiled in this site come from the following sources; British Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian Institute, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Acropolis Museum, Encyclopedia Britannica, Egypt Time Travel, Journey to Egypt, Getty Institute, Boston Museum of Fine Art 

If you have edits you would like to suggest, please email Michael.Veley@ship.k12.pa.us