Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt who ruled around 1332–1323 BC. He was born Tutankhaten and became king around the age of nine or ten. One of his most important jobs was to bring back the old ways of the ancient Egyptian religion after a time when the ruler before him had changed it. Tutankhamun helped bring back the worship of many gods, especially the god Amun, and moved the royal court back to the city of Memphis.

Tutankhamun died when he was about eighteen years old. Scientists think he may have had malaria and a broken leg. Because his planned tomb was not finished, he was buried in a smaller tomb instead. After his death, another man named Ay became king, followed by Horemheb.

One of the most exciting moments in history happened in 1922 when a team led by Howard Carter found Tutankhamun's tomb. Even though some treasure had been taken long ago, many beautiful items were still inside, including over 5,000 artifacts. The most famous of these is Tutankhamun's mask, which is now kept in a museum. The discovery made people all over the world very excited about ancient Egypt again.

Family

See also: Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt family tree

Tutankhamun was born during the rule of Akhenaten in a time called the Amarna Period of the late Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. His birth name was Tutankhaten, meaning "living image of Aten," showing the big change in ancient Egyptian religion during Akhenaten's time.

People are not sure who his parents were, but he was a prince. He might have been the son of Akhenaten or his co-ruler Smenkhkare. Some think his mother could have been Nefertiti, Beketaten, or one of Akhenaten's daughters, Meritaten or Meketaten. He was cared for by a woman named Maia.

When he became king, Tutankhamun married Ankhesenpaaten, one of Akhenaten's daughters, who later changed her name to Ankhesenamun. They had two daughters who died shortly after birth and were buried with him. Scientists think one was born too early, at about five or six months, and the other at full term, nine months.

Reign

Tutankhamun became pharaoh when he was between 8 and 9 years old, after the reigns of Akhenaten's successors, Smenkhkare and Neferneferuaten. He took the throne name Nebkheperure and reigned for about nine years.

During his time as pharaoh, the position of Vizier was split between Upper and Lower Egypt. The main vizier for Upper Egypt was Usermontu. Another vizier named Pentju is known, but it is unclear which lands he oversaw. It is uncertain if Ay, Tutankhamun's successor, held this position. Some evidence suggests Ay may have had a special religious title connected to the concept of balance and order.

An Egyptian priest named Manetho wrote about ancient Egypt, mentioning a king named Orus who ruled for 36 years. Researchers debate which historical figures match these names, with some linking Orus to Horemheb and Tutankhamun to Rathotis.

Religiopolitical countermand

See also: Atenism

Tutankhamun's reign began while the royal court was still at Amarna, but efforts were made to return to traditional religious practices. By his third year, he ended the worship of the god Aten and restored the god Amun to his important position. He changed his name to "Tutankhamun" and his queen's name to "Ankhesenamun." He supported the priests of Amun and worked to restore old temples damaged during a previous religious change. These actions made his reign a time of great restoration for ancient Egyptian traditions.

Tutankhamun's treasurer, Maya, played a key role in carrying out these restoration plans. In his own writing, Maya described himself as someone who followed the king's orders to improve the temples and create images of the gods.

Architectural projects

As part of restoring traditional practices, Tutankhamun started building projects, especially at Karnak in Thebes. He built a path of sphinxes leading to the temple of Mut. He also added decorations to a temple entrance started by Amenhotep III. Tutankhamun provided resources to support the priests of Amun and Ptah, creating new statues of gods and beautiful religious objects.

Military campaigns

After the weak rule of Akhenaten, Tutankhamun worked to improve Egypt's relationships with other lands. Gifts from many countries found in his tomb show that his efforts were successful. Despite these efforts, Egypt still faced battles with people from Nubia and nearby areas, though these were victories for Egypt.

During-life deification

In ancient Egypt, pharaohs were usually honored as gods after they died, but Tutankhamun was one of the few who was honored in this way while still alive. Evidence of this includes temples built for him in Nubia and special stones created for him. These show that people treated Tutankhamun almost like a god during his time as ruler.

Personal life

Health

Details about Tutankhamun's health and early death are debated. Investigations into his medical conditions focused on his mummy through CT scans and genetic testing. Two confirmed conditions were a malarial infection and a leg fracture. Various foot-related diagnoses have been suggested, including a left clubfoot, but the purpose of the many walking sticks found in his tomb is debated. Some believe they were mobility aids, while others think they were status symbols or religious items.

Malaria

Malaria was common in ancient Egypt due to the Nile Delta's environment. Testing on Tutankhamun's mummy indicated he had malaria, which may have contributed to his health issues.

Leg fracture

A CT scan showed Tutankhamun had a compound fracture in his left leg. Evidence suggests the injury happened before his death, and it is believed to have contributed to his passing, possibly worsened by malaria.

Speculated podiatric diagnoses

Various foot conditions have been suggested for Tutankhamun, including flat foot and bone issues. The many walking sticks found in his tomb sparked debates about whether he needed them for support. Research suggests the sticks showed little wear, indicating they were likely ceremonial items rather than walking aids.

Misdiagnoses

Several medical conditions were initially speculated for Tutankhamun but later dismissed through further testing. These included conditions affecting his appearance and health, but genetic testing did not support these ideas.

Other speculated diagnoses

Other health issues were suggested to explain art depictions and his early death, but caution is advised in these diagnoses. Some researchers proposed conditions like partial cleft palate and mild scoliosis, but evidence was inconclusive.

Physical appearance

The appearance of Tutankhamun remains a topic of interest. He was of lean build and taller than average for his time. Analysis of clothing from his tomb suggested certain body features, but skeletal confirmation was limited.

Facial appearance

Attempts to reconstruct Tutankhamun's face have caused debate. Different studies produced varying results, sparking discussions about skin tone and representation. Some reconstructions faced criticism for their depiction of skin color and features.

Full-body reconstruction

A 2014 documentary showed a computerized reconstruction of Tutankhamun's body based on CT scans. The image depicted various physical traits and sparked controversy for its sensationalized portrayal. Experts criticized the reconstruction for lacking scientific basis and for being insensitive.

Ancestral genotyping

A genetic study revealed details about Tutankhamun's ancestry. His DNA indicated connections to both Near Eastern and sub-Saharan African populations. Further analysis of royal mummies suggested strong affinities with sub-Saharan African groups, though the interpretation of these findings remains complex and continues to be studied by scientists.

Death

We do not know exactly how Tutankhamun died. Some think his health was weak, and he might have gotten very sick or hurt himself. Others have looked closely at his remains but found no clear signs that he was killed.

Funeral

After Tutankhamun died, there was a funeral. We can tell from flowers used that it happened in early spring. A man named Nahktmin, who was a general, gave gifts for the funeral. Another pharaoh, Ay, performed a special ritual for Tutankhamun, showing that he was already the new ruler by then.

Mortuary cult

It was common for pharaohs to be remembered and honored after they died. There is evidence that people did this for Tutankhamun. Some statues that may have been made for his temple were later used by another pharaoh, Ay. However, the temple where Tutankhamun was honored may have been destroyed later on.

Succession

The way Tutankhamun passed the throne was complicated because after his death, there was no clear next ruler. Tutankhamun’s children did not survive, and he was the last of his royal brothers. Horemheb was named as the likely successor, but Queen Ankhesenamun might have wanted to marry someone of royal status, which Horemheb was not.

After Tutankhamun's death, the vizier Ay may have taken steps to become pharaoh himself. Ay ruled for a short time and tried to name his son Nakhtmin as the next ruler, but Nakhtmin died before he could take the throne. Another man named Nay was also chosen but died too.

Eventually, Horemheb became pharaoh. He finished the work Tutankhamun had started to restore the old ways of Egyptian religion. Horemheb chose Ramesses I to be his successor, and Ramesses II, Ramesses I’s grandson, started the Ramesside dynasty and became one of Egypt’s greatest rulers.

Tomb

Main article: Tomb of Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun was buried in a smaller tomb than expected for a pharaoh. This may be because he died suddenly, before a larger tomb could be finished. His tomb was robbed a couple of times long ago, but many valuable items were still inside when it was found.

Rediscovery

Main article: Discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun

The tomb was found in 1922 by Howard Carter. It had been hidden by dirt and old buildings built on top of it. When Carter uncovered the tomb, he found many items still inside, including a famous golden mask.

Contents

Main article: Mask of Tutankhamun

See also: Tutankhamun's mummy

Tutankhamun's tomb is special because it was found almost unchanged. Inside were over 5,000 items, such as a golden coffin, a golden mask, chairs, bows, and even clothes. These items give us clues about life in ancient Egypt.

Rumoured curse

For many years, people talked about a "curse" linked to the tomb. However, most of those who entered the tomb lived for many more years after the discovery.

Legacy

Tutankhamun's fame comes from his well-preserved tomb and the worldwide exhibitions of his artifacts. In life, he was not very well-known, but after his tomb was discovered, he became one of the most famous pharaohs.

His treasures have traveled the world, drawing millions of visitors. Exhibitions of Tutankhamun's artifacts began in 1962 and have been shown in many countries. These exhibitions have helped people everywhere learn about ancient Egypt. Even today, his treasures continue to attract people from all over the world.

Main article: Exhibitions of artifacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun

Family tree

The family tree shown here is based on the idea that the body found in tomb KV55 was that of Akhenaten. This helps us understand the family connections of Tutankhamun and the kings and queens around him in ancient Egypt.