Who was Tutankhamun? - BBC Bitesize

How did Tutankhamun become Pharaoh?

Pharaohs were the kings of Ancient Egypt. They ruled over the land, collected taxes from the people, enforced the law and led the Egyptian army against invaders.

Tutankhamun, or King Tut as he is also known, was the last of his dynasty of pharaohs.

He ruled as a boy only for a short time. He is most famous because his tomb was discovered almost intact and full of treasures in 1922.

Tutankhamun became pharaoh after the death of his father Akhenaten. Some people liked how Akhenaten ruled but others didn't. He outlawed all of the gods except for one called Aten.

The people were very unhappy with this change and, after Akhenaten's death, destroyed many of his statues and monuments.

Watch: Who was Tutankhamun?

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Learn about the famous Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

What do we know about Tutankhamun?

Tutankhamun inherited the throne around age 9 and became Pharaoh in around 1332 BC. Because he was so young, he had powerful advisers around him to help him rule Egypt. They included General Horemheb and Grand Vizier Ay.

Tutankhamun reversed many of his father’s decisions. People were allowed to worship the old gods again and damaged temples were repaired. He moved the Egyptian capital back to Thebes.

Tutankhamun reigned for roughly 10 years. He died around the age of 18, possibly from malaria, and was buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Tutankhamun married his half-sister but their children did not survive. He was succeeded by his vizier, Ay.

Watch: Tutankhamun's tomb

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Dan Cruikshank tells the story of Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.

Why is Tutankhamun’s tomb so famous?

Tutankhamun's tomb was hidden for many centuries. It was covered in debris from other tombs and then hidden by workers' houses.

Howard Carter holding a lamp as he goes into Tutankhamun's tomb.

In 1907 it was declared that there was nothing left to find at the Valley of the Kings but in 1922 the Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb. On the 17th February, 1923, the seal to the tomb was broken and a living human stepped inside for the first time in 3,200 years.

What was inside Tutankhamun's tomb?

The tomb contained 5,398 items, including:

Tutankhamun’s famous golden death mask
a solid gold coffin
thrones
trumpets
fresh linen
a chariot
a dagger made from meteorite iron.

It took Howard Carter ten years to catalogue the finds from the tomb. Parts of Tutankhamun’s chest with a beaded collar were stolen after the discovery, along with his skull cap!

What did Tutankhamun look like?

We know what Tutankhamun looked like because scientists have done experiments on his skull, bones and DNA.
Tutankhamun was slim, 5’6” tall with rounded hips, a narrow waist and large front teeth.

Famous Pharoahs

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Image caption,
Hatshepsut (1478 - 1458BC)
Hatshepsut was the longest reigning female pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. She is considered one of the most successful pharaohs. She commissioned hundreds of grand buildings and established important trade routes.
Image caption,
Amenhotep III (1391 BC - 1353BC)
Amenhotep III built many of Ancient Egypt's famous monuments, including the Luxor Temple and the Colossus of Memnon.
Image caption,
Ramesses II (1279 - 1213BC)
Ramesses II was one of the most powerful pharaohs. He led many military expeditions, founded cities and had huge statues of himself built.
Image caption,
Cleopatra VII (51 - 30BC)
Cleopatra VII was Ancient Egypt's last pharaoh, after her reign Egypt became a part of the Roman Empire.