Tutankhamun's Death Mask

Tutankhamun
(1344 BCE - 1325 BCE)

Egyptain Boy King

The Life of Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun was nine years old when he became king of Egypt. He died ten years later. His reign was of little significance in Egypt's history. His fame arises from the fact that his tomb and its treasures was one of the few to remain undisturbed. It was discovered in 1922, over 3000 years after the boy king's death. The king's death mask (above) is almost a symbol of Egypt.

Tutankhamun's vizier, Ay, ran the kingdom for the young king and eventually succeeded him.

Tutankhamun's father was either Amenhotep III his son Akhenaten. His name means "Living Image of Amun" (Amun being a deity). He was born Tutankhaten around 1344 BCE and married his sister Ankhesenpaaten when he became king. The two previous kings of Egypt had adopted a heretical monotheistic religion called Atenism. During Tutankhamun's reign Egypt reverted to its older multi-god religion and the couple took the ending Amun to their names. There were two children, both girls who died in childbirth.

In early 2005 the ruler's mummy was analysed. He died aged 19 years. He had been in general good health with no signs of any major infectious disease or malnutrition during his childhood. He was short, approximately 1.70 m (5� ft) tall. He possessed the large front incisor teeth and slightly elongated skull typical of the line of kings (Thutmosid) that he was a member of.

Tutankhamun died from gangrene after breaking his leg a few days earlier in the winter of 1325 BCE. His mummification took about two months and he was buried in the spring of the same year.

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