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Overview:

Dynasty: 18 Reign: 1334 - 1325 BC

Biography:

King Tutankhamun is one of the single most famous egyptian Pharoahs today. His near household name status is not due to a long and memorable reign, large number of monuments or major changes during his time as king. He is most famous because his was one of the most intact burial tombs. Howard Carter discovered the tomb on November 4, 1922. Contrary to popular belief it had in fact been robbed twice before but the robbers never made it to the actual burial chamber. Tutankhamun is believed to have been the son of Akhenaten but may have only been the son-in-law having married Akhenaten's daughter, Ankhesenpaaten. Tutankhamun was only nine years old when he became Pharoah. Given is young age it is assumed that for many years he was little more than the puppet of his counselors. Still there are quite a few reliefs of Tutankhamun throughout the country for his short reign. He died around age 17. No one knows how he died but x-rays of his skull sugggest he may have suffered a severe blow on the head. It's not certain that this is his cause of death much less whether the injury was the result of an accident or an assignation. There are some minor references to campaigns during his reign but their extent isn't known and it's unlikely Tutankhamun took a part in them. Trade did not appear to change much either. The primary change occured in the reversal of Akhenaten's monotheism movement. Tutankhamun didn't do away with the continued worship of Aten but he (or his counselors) did reinstate the temples and revenues for the other gods. Content provided by: eHistory Staff

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