Tutankhamun was a young Boy King, lost to history, until his fully intact tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. He is now one of, if not the most famous of all the Egyptian Pharaohs!
Tutankhamun became Pharoah of Egypt at the young age of nine years old, and reigned until his death at around the age of nineteen.
He is known in Ancient Egyptian history for reversing the unpopular laws his father, Akhenaten imposed on the ancient Egyptian people during a period known as the Armarna Period.
Tutankhamun restored the traditional ancient Egyptian Religion, the worship of many gods, undoing the religious shift known as Atenism, the worship of one sun god, and moved the royal court away from Akhenaten’s capital, Amarna.
Tutankhamun unusual in that he was worshipped as a deity during his lifetime; this was usually done after death for most pharaohs.
In popular culture, he is known for his incredible tomb, found during the 1922 discovery of tomb KV62, the only such tomb to have ever been found in near-intact condition. The discovery of his tomb is widely considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time.
Tutankhamun took the throne under the supervision of his eventual successor, ‘Ay’, to whom he may have been related. His only known wife was Ankhesenamun, a ‘Disc Dancer’ who was also his paternal half-sister. Their two daughters died in infancy.
His names — Tutankhaten and Tutankhamun — are thought to have meant “living image of Aten” and “living image of Amun” in the ancient Egyptian language, with the god Aten having been replaced by the god Amun after Akhenaten’s death.
Tutankhamun initiated a restoration of old monuments, that were damaged during the Amarna Period, and reburied his father’s remains in the Valley of the Kings.
Tutankhamun’s health and early death are heavily debated. The most recent study suggests Tutankhamun had bone necrosis and a possible clubfoot, which may have rendered him dependent on walking canes. This theory though is disputed, as neither the canes nor his sandals show the kinds of the wear expected.
He also had other health issues, including Scoliosis, and had contracted several strains of Malaria. He is though to have died of complications from a broken leg, sustained in a chariot accident, which was possibly compounded by malaria.
Our siter site, EducationalMusicals, have created a fabulous musical all about Tutankhamun’s life called The Boy King -The Legend of Tutankhamun.
It is a fantastic show created especially for children, with an exciting and fun script and 12 amazing songs. Goto The Boy King -The Legend of Tutankhamun where you can see samples of script and listen to excerpts from the score.
Isn’t History fun?
10 questions to discuss:
- How old was Tutankhamun when he became Pharoah and how long did he reign?
- What were the unpopular laws Tutankhamun reversed after his father’s reign?
- Why was worshipping a Pharoah during his lifetime unusual in Ancient Egypt?
- What unique aspect of Tutankhamun’s tomb made its discovery so significant?
- Who was Ay and what role did he play in Tutankhamun’s reign?
- What is the meaning behind Tutankhamun’s changing names and their connection to different gods?
- How did Tutankhamun honor his father after his death?
- What specific health issues did Tutankhamun allegedly suffer from?
- What is the current leading theory about the cause of Tutankhamun’s death?
- Besides the famous “Curse of the Pharaohs,” are there any other controversies surrounding Tutankhamun’s life or tomb?
For more information on Tutankhamun:
© Anthony James