Nebkheperura
There are many theories about the parentage of Egypt’s
most famous pharaoh, Tutankhamen. Some say he was a son of Akhenaten,
others that he was his brother or half-brother, still others that he was a
distant and minor relative. We know that he was born into the royal family and
that he was probably raised at al Amarnah. Originally named Tutankhaten
(“Living Image of the Aten”), his name was changed to Tutankhamen (“Living
Image of Amen”) after the death of Akhenaten and when he succeeded Semenkhkara
to the throne. He was crowned pharaoh when he was only nine years old and two
principal royal advisors, Iy and Horemheb, apparently managed the affairs of
state. Each of these advisors would succeed Tutankhamen in turn when the
boy-king died eight years after his coronation.
One of the first acts of Tutankhamen’s reign was to re-open the temples of
Egypt’s traditional deities. Authority was restored to priesthoods that
Akhenaten had ignored, especially the priesthood of Amen at Karnak.
There, and at Luxor Temple, the young king’s advisors authorized major
building campaigns. A stela at Karnak, called the “Restoration Stela,” tells
of these activities.
Tutankhamen died when he was only seventeen years old. The cause of death is not
known, although a small fragment of bone in his skull (visible in x-rays) has
led some to suggest that he was murdered. He was apparently to have been buried
in Tomb 23, but that tomb was not finished at the time of his unexpected death,
and he was therefore hastily interred in Tomb
62, buried with thousands of magnificent objects, but virtually devoid of
the usual carved and painted walls. When his tomb was discovered by Howard
Carter in 1922, Tutankhamen became the most famous ruler of the ancient world.
