Tutankhamun
Third to last pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Tutankhamun or Tutankhamen (c. 1342 BC – c. 1323 BC) was the third to last pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, ruling from c. 1332 to 1323 BC and dying at about age 18. He is best known for his nearly intact tomb, discovered in 1922, which yielded over 5,000 artifacts and sparked worldwide fascination with ancient Egypt. His reign is notable for the restoration of traditional polytheistic religion after the Atenist shift under Akhenaten.
- born
- c. 1342 BC
- died
- c. 1323 BC
- field
- Pharaoh
- nationality
- Ancient Egyptian
- known_for
- Discovery of his nearly intact tomb in 1922; restoration of traditional polytheistic religion
Lore & Background
Tutankhamun was born Tutankhaten during the reign of Akhenaten, in the Amarna Period. His parentage is debated: he was certainly a prince, but inscriptions do not name his parents. DNA testing suggests his father was the mummy from tomb KV55 (likely Akhenaten or Smenkhkare) and his mother the 'Younger Lady' from KV35, who appear to be full siblings, both children of Amenhotep III and Tiye. However, some scholars question the genetic data and propose alternative parentage, such as Akhenaten fathering him by one of his own daughters. He married Ankhesenpaaten (later Ankhesenamun), a daughter of Akhenaten, and fathered two daughters who died at or soon after birth and were buried with him.
Reader's Guide
Tutankhamun's significance lies primarily in the discovery of his tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, which contained over 5,000 artifacts, including the king's undisturbed mummy and the iconic gold mask. The find generated unprecedented public interest in ancient Egypt and remains a symbol of pharaonic civilization. His reign, though short, marked a pivotal return to traditional religion after the Atenist experiment, as recorded on the Restoration Stela. He reestablished diplomatic ties with the Mitanni and conducted military campaigns in Nubia and the Near East. His death at about age 18 ended the royal bloodline of the Eighteenth Dynasty. He was succeeded by his vizier Ay, then by Horemheb, who completed the religious restoration and usurped earlier constructions. The 'curse of the pharaohs' was popularly attributed to deaths of some involved in the excavation. His treasures traveled worldwide before relocation to the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2025.
Did You Know?
- Tutankhamun was one of only a few kings known to have been worshipped as a deity during his lifetime.
- His tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter and George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon.
- He died from a combination of malaria and a leg fracture, as suggested in 2012.
- His original name Tutankhaten meant 'living image of Aten', reflecting the Atenist religion of his father's reign.
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