Tutankhamun

One hundred years ago, archaeologist Howard Carter stumbled across the tomb of ancient Egypt’s King Tutankhamun. Carter’s life was never the same. Neither was the young pharaoh’s afterlife. Newspapers around the world immediately ran stories about Carter’s discovery of a long-lost pharaoh’s grave and the wonders it might contain, propelling the abrasive Englishman to worldwide acclaim. A SN: 12/18/76). It all started on November 4, 1922, when excavators led by Carter discovered a step cut into the valley floor of a largely unexplored part of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. By November 23, the team had uncovered stairs leading down to a door. A hieroglyphic seal on the door identified what lay beyond: King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Tutankhamun assumed power around 1334 B.C., when he was about 10 years old. His reign lasted nearly a decade until his untimely demise. Although a minor figure among Egyptian pharaohs, Tutankhamun is one of the few whose richly appointed burial place was found largely intact. An unusually meticulous excavator for his time, Carter organized a 10-year project to document, conserve and remove more than 6,000 items from Tutankhamun’s four-chambered tomb. While some objects, like Tut’s gold burial mask, are now iconic, many have been in storage and out of sight for decades. But that’s about to change. About 5,400 of Tutankhamun’s well-preserved tomb furnishings are slated to soon go on display when “The [Tut] burial hoard is something very unique,” Shirin Fran...

King Tutankhamun (c. 1342 BCE – c. 1323 BCE) Ancient Egypt’s famous boy-king Tutankhamun, also known as Tutankhamen, was a pharaoh from the 18th dynasty of Egypt. Commonly known today as “King Tut”, Tutankhamun was a young 8/9-year-old boy who inherited the throne from his father, the “heretic Pharaoh” Akhenaten (Akhenaton) in the year c. 1333 BCE. Tutankhamun would go on to have an unremarkable reign for 10 or so years. All throughout the course of his reign, King Tut immersed himself in the daunting task of reversing all his father’s religious policies. Along with his trusted royal advisers, Ay and Horemheb, Tutankhamun returned However, the stigma attached to his father Akhenaten’s reign proved very difficult for the young king to shake off. Under bizarre circumstances, Tutankhamun’s life was cut short in 1323 BCE. He was probably in his late teens when he died. Birth of Tutankhamun Because it is widely held that Tutankhamun inherited the throne around 1333 BCE, at the age of nine, we can say that he was born around 1342 BCE. Archaeological findings place him as the son of Pharaoh Akhenaten (also known as Amenhotep IV). Not much is known about Tutankhamun’s mother, whom archaeologists like to refer to as the Younger Lady. As a matter of fact, to this day, archaeologists still do not know her name. However, it is believed that his mother and father were siblings. Back then, it was not uncommon for the pharaoh to marry (i.e. as queen consort) his own sister or mother. Anc...

• About • About us • Meet the Team • In the Media • We Give Back • User Rewards • Member Rewards • Expeditions • Site Map • Membership Site • Submissions • Login • Register • Links • Media • Gallery • Videos • Books • Book Reviews • Recommended Books • Events • Events • Forums • Contact • Tours • Membership • News • General • History & Archaeology • Science & Space • Evolution & Human Origins • Mysterious Phenomena • Human Origins • Science • Religions • Folklore • History • Ancient Traditions • Famous People • Important Events • Artifacts • Ancient Technology • Ancient Writings • Other Artifacts • Myths • Europe • Asia • Americas • Australia • Africa • Places • Europe • Asia • Americas • Australia & Oceania • Africa • Antarctica • Unexplained • Weird Facts • Premium • Preview • Subscribe • SHOP November 4, 2022, marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Egyptian Valley of the Kings, a watershed moment for the world of archaeology. The spectacular nature of the tomb and its Harry Burton (1879-1940) was the official photographer for the The Valley of the Kings where Tutankhamun’s tomb was uncovered. Several tombs in the Valley of the Kings lay open continuously from ancient times onward, but the entrances to many others had remained hidden until the 19th century (Public Domain) The entrance to Tutankhamun’s tomb found beneath piles of debris. (Public Domain) Harry Burton's photograph records the intact necropolis seal and cord fastening on th...

While it was initially thought that Tutankhamun was a minor ruler, whose reign was of little consequence, opinion has changed as further evidence has come to light. Today Tutankhamun is recognized as an important pharaoh who returned order to a land left in chaos by his father's political-religious reforms and who would no doubt have made further impressive contributions to Egypt's history if not for his early Amenhotep III ruled over a land whose priesthood, centered on the god Amun, had been steadily growing in power for centuries. By the time Amenhotep IV came to power, the priests of Amun were on almost equal standing with the royal house in terms of wealth and influence. In either the 9th or the 5th year of his reign, Amenhotep IV outlawed the old Tutankhamun's reforms would have an immense impact on the people of Egypt. Tutankhamun was named Tutankhaten (`living image of Aten') when he was born and, while still a child, was engaged to the fourth daughter of Nefertiti and Akhenaten, his half-sister Ankhesenpaaten (`her life is from Aten' or `her life is of Aten'). Ankhesenpaaten must have been older than Tutankhaten, however, as she was previously married to her father and may have had a daughter by him. The historian Margaret Bunson claims she was five years older than Tutankhaten citing inscriptions which indicate she was thirteen when her half-brother took the throne at age eight (23). It is believed that the Lady Kiya (or his unknown mother) died early in Tutankha...

• Back to previous menu • — Object trails • — Collecting and empire trail • — Greek revival architecture at the British Museum • — Members' highlight object trail • — One hour at the Museum • — Tutankhamun: ancient and modern perspectives • — Three hours at the Museum • — Twelve objects to see with children • — Desire, love, identity: LGBTQ histories • — Accessibility • — Food and drink • — Late opening on Fridays • — Museum map • Exhibitions and events • Collection Toggle Collection submenu • Back to previous menu • — Membership • — Membership • — Renew Membership • — Events • — Buy Membership • — Young Friends • — Existing Members • — Buy Under 26 Membership • — Upgrade your Membership • — How your money helps • — Buy Gift Membership • — Visiting as a Member • — Members' Room • Support us Toggle Support us submenu Tutankhamun's reign as an Egyptian pharaoh lasted around nine years (about 1336– 1327 BC), but his legacy continues to shine centuries later. The 1922 discovery of his tomb in Egypt brought his story to the world. Much was learnt from the nearly intact tomb, which included thousands of objects. Trace Tutankhamun's period through objects at the British Museum: come face-to-face with a statue of the young king, the figure of the man who claimed the throne after him, and an inscription showing how his reign was officially deleted from history. The trail focuses on a small number of objects in Follow the trail below and 1. Statue of Amenhotep III ( The reign of Tut...