Tutankhamen
King Tutankhamen by John R. King Tutankhamen served as king of Egypt from about 1347 BC until his death in 1339 BC. His reign was unimportant, but interest in Tut began in 1922 when the British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered his tomb. The tomb had not been opened since ancient times and still contained most of its treasures. It is the only tomb of an ancient Egyptian king to be discovered almost completely undamaged. Tut became king about the age of nine. He probably received assistance from Ay, his minister of state. Archaeologists are still unsure who his relatives were. Tut’s original name was Tutankhanton, meaning “the living image of Aton” or “the life of Aton is pleasing”. Akhenaton was ruler of Egypt before Tut and tried to make the people of Egypt worship Amon the chief Sun God instead of other traditional gods. When Tut began as ruler, he restored Egypt’s old religion. Archaeologists and some historians believe that Tut died at about the age of eighteen, but are unsure of the cause of his death.
