Tutankhamen

The most famous Egyptian pharaoh today is, without doubt, Tutankhamun. However, before the spectacular discovery of his almost intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings in November 1922, Tutankhamun was only a little known figure of the late 18th Dynasty.

The picture on the right show Tutankhamun's death mask

Note: There are different variations of the spelling of Tutankhamun. It can be spelt as Tutankhamon or Tutankhamen.

On this page will answer the following questions about Tutankhamun:

When and where was Tutankhamun born?

At what age did Tutankhamun become a Pharaoh?

Why is Tutankhamun so famous?

When was Tutankhamun's tomb discovered?

Who was Howard Carter?

How did Howard Carter know where to look?

Where was Tutankhamun buried?

What did they find inside the Tomb?

When did Tutankhamun die?

What did Tutankhamun die from?

What was Tut's funeral like?

What is the Mummy's Curse?

When and where was Tutankhamun born?

Tutankhamun was probably born at Akhetaten which was the capital city of Egypt. He was born in about the year 1346 BC.

At what age did Tutankhamun become a Pharaoh?

He became pharaoh at the tender age of nine in 1337 BC and reigned during the 18th Dynasty when the Egyptian Empire was at its height. He reigned from about 1337 to 1328 BC.

His tomb was discovered by a team of British archaeologists in 1922, nearly 3000 years after his death.

Why is Tutankhamun so famous?

The reason that Tutankhamun is so well known today is that his tomb, containing fabulous treasures, was found early this century (1922) by British archaeologists Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon.

When was Tutankhamun's tomb discovered?

The tomb of Egypt's boy-king Tutankhamun was discovered on November 4, 1922 by English archaeologist Howard Carter.

Read the story of the Discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb

Who was Howard Carter?

Howard Carter was born in 1874 in Norfolk, England. His father named Samuel Carter was an artist who taught Howard Carter the fundamentals of drawing and painting.

How did Howard Carter know where to look?

Several finds made in the Valley of the Kings over the years led Howard Carter to believe that the king was still somewhere in the Valley.

Carter believed he found clues to Tutankhamun in the discoveries made by Theodore Davis. Davis had found a cup and other fragments bearing the name of Tutankhamen and his queen.

Where was Tutankhamun buried?

Valley of the Kings

He was buried in a hastily prepared tomb in the Valley of the Kings at Thebes, the traditional burial place of his predecessors. The person responsible for his burial, and shown on one of the walls in Tutankhamun's tomb, was Ay who succeeded him on the Egyptian throne.

Quick Fact : The first of a flight of 16 descending steps was found on 4 November 1922, just in front and to the north side of the entrance to the tomb of Ramesses VI.