Discovering Tutankhamun

1. Tutankhamun was a pharaoh (an Ancient Egyptian name for king) that ruled over Ancient Egypt from about 1333 to 1323 B.C. This means he would have died 3,352 years ago! Tutankhamun became pharaoh when he was only nine years old and ruled for about10 years before he died aged 18 or 19.

2. Tutankhamun’s father, Akhenaten, had tried to change the religious beliefs of Egypt. He wanted Egyptians to worship just one god called Aten, instead of the 2,000 gods that people had believed in for thousands of years. When Tutankhamun ruled he reversed this and allowed people to continue to worship the gods again. He also changed his name, originally it was Tutankhaten, but he changed it to Tutankhamun.

3. Tutankhamun was incredibly young to be such an important ruler. Because of this he had advisors to help him make decisions. When Tutankhamun died he was succeeded by one of his advisors called Ay. He was probably an old man when he became king, and had a short reign too. 

4. It is not known for sure how Tutankhamun died. Through examining his mummified body it is thought that he wasn’t a particularly well child throughout his life. His death is thought to have been caused by a badly broken leg and a disease called malaria, both of which he couldn’t survive because of his general ill health.

5. As he died so suddenly and at such a young age, his tomb was not ready. He was put in a temporary tomb till his proper one was ready.

6. Tutankhamun was preserved and mummified. Like all pharaohs, he was buried in a series of coffins that fit into each other like a Russian doll. This included his famous golden death mask. His tomb was filled with around 5,000 expensive artifacts. 

7. A pharaohs tomb was filled with all sorts of things as it was believed their expensive possessions and wealth could be taken with them into the afterlife. They also everyday items in there too, like furniture, clothing and even food. Inside Tutankhamun’s tomb there were things such as chariots, weapons and jewellery. Amongst his clothing his sandals were found to have drawings of his enemies on the soles! So everywhere he went he stamped all over them!

8. Tutankhamun’s tomb was found in a place called the Valley of the Kings. Most important tombs had been raided by robbers over the years, but Tutankhamun’s tomb had never been found. When it was discovered thousands of years later it was completely untouched and like a time capsule to the past.

9. Tutankhamun didn’t have a particularly significant reign as pharaoh and is remembered more for the amazing tomb and artefacts that were found in 1922. Some of the amazing artefacts found inside Tutankhamun’s tomb travel around the world as part of an exhibition so people can see them.

10. Other well remembered rulers of Ancient Egypt include Ramesses, who was powerful builder and warrior, Khufu, who had the Great Pyramid of Giza built and Cleopatra, who was the last pharaoh of Egypt.