Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun
The Rule of Tutankhamun: The Boy King and His Legacy
Tutankhamun, often referred to as the “Boy King,” ascended to the throne of Egypt at the tender age of nine or ten, following the death of his father, Akhenaten, who had attempted to introduce monotheism to Egypt. Tutankhamun’s reign, which lasted from 1332 BCE to 1323 BCE, was marked by political instability and uncertainty, largely due to his youth and the controversial religious reforms of his predecessors. As a child king, Tutankhamun’s reign was initially controlled by regents, including the influential vizier Ay and the military leader Horemheb. Early in his reign, the young pharaoh reversed his father’s religious reforms, which had centered around the worship of the sun god Aten, and re-established the worship of the traditional polytheistic gods, including Amun. This return to the old religious practices helped to restore political stability in Egypt and was pivotal in the restoration of the priesthood's power, which had been diminished under Akhenaten.
Although Tutankhamun’s reign was brief, his contributions to Egyptian art and culture were significant, despite his lack of military campaigns or major architectural projects. Much of what we know about Tutankhamun comes from the discovery of his nearly intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter. The discovery of the tomb provided unparalleled insights into the material wealth of the Egyptian elite and the burial practices of the New Kingdom. The tomb contained thousands of artifacts, including the famous gold mask of Tutankhamun, which has become one of the most recognized symbols of ancient Egypt. These treasures not only demonstrated Egypt's wealth and craftsmanship but also provided a glimpse into the lavish lifestyle of the royal court. While Tutankhamun’s reign was not marked by monumental building projects or military victories, his tomb has left an indelible legacy, offering historians and archaeologists a unique and well-preserved record of ancient Egyptian burial customs and material culture.
Works Cited
- Carter, Howard, and Arthur C. Mace.** *The Tomb of Tutankhamun: Volume I: The Discovery of the Tomb*. Macmillan, 1923.
- Manning, J. G.** *The Ancient Egyptians: A History and Culture Reader*. Blackwell, 2002.
- Bard, Kathryn A.** *An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt*. Wiley-Blackwell, 2015.
- Reeves, Nicholas.** *The Complete Tutankhamun: The King, The Tomb, The Royal Treasure*. Thames & Hudson, 1990.
- Goyon, Jean.** *Tutankhamun: The Life and Death of the Boy King*. W. W. Norton & Company, 1995.
