King Tut Biography
King Tut Biography -
Pharaoh Tutankhamun
The Ancient Egyptians believed that as long as a pharaoh's name was
remembered he would live for all eternity. Tutankhamun also known as King Tut was a
minor King. He died when he was only nineteen years old, but the
discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun and its fabulous wealth has made
King Tut one of the most famous Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.
This short King Tut Biography provides interesting information about
this famous Pharaoh.
King Tut Biography
- His Family
King Tut belonged to the Eighteenth
dynasty of Egyptian Kings during the period of the New Kingdom. His
family members included the following:
-
The Father of Tutankhamun was
Akhenaten, first known as Amenhotep
-
The Mother of Tutankhamun was
believed to be a noblewoman called Kiya
-
His Stepmother was Nefertiti,
the chief wife of Akhanaten
-
The wife
and consort of King Tut was Ankhesenpaaten (aka Ankhesanamum), who was
also his half sister
-
Children: None survived. His
two daughters were still born and were buried with Tutankhamun
King Tut Biography - His Names
King Tut had five names reflecting
the divine roles that were attributed to pharaohs. Each of his names
defined a sacred function that was overseen by the gods. The five names
of King Tut were his birth name, protected name, Horus name, Golden
Horus name and throne name are as follows:
-
His birth name,
the Sa Ra (“son of the Sun”), Tutankhaten (“the living image
of Aten”) later changed to Tutankhamun (“the living image of
Amun”).
-
In his role as
Horus he is named as Heru: Ka Nakht, Tut Mesut (“Horus:
Strong bull, of perfect birth”)
-
His name under
the protection of Nekhebet and Wadjet is Nebty: Nefer Hepu
Segereh Taui (“He of the Good Laws, Who Pacifies the Two
Lands”)
-
His Golden Horus
name, that identified his kinship to the gods as their son
on earth, was Heru Nebu: Wetches Khau Sehotep Neteru (“He
who Wears the Crowns and Satisfies the Gods”)
-
His throne name
was Nesu Bity (“king of upper and lower Egypt”) and this is
Nebkheperura (“all the transformations of Ra”)
King Tut Biography - His Advisors
The advisors of King Tut were as follows:
-
His Grand Vizier was Ay who
was the father of Nefertiti and the
grandfather of Ankhesenpaaten, the wife of Tutankhamun
-
His General of the Armies
was Horemheb (who was also designated heir to the throne)
King Tut Biography - His Background
Tutankhamun was born in 1343 BC. Tutankhamun was first known as
Tutankhaten, meaning "Living Image of Aten". The background of
King Tut encompasses one of the most chaotic periods in the history of
Ancient Egypt. It was the time when the lives of all Ancient Egyptians
were turned upside down. The father of Tutankhamun was Akhenaten who
became known as the heretic king. The religious ideas of his father
radically changed Ancient Egypt from a polytheistic religion,
worshipping many gods, to monotheism which was the worship of one
god - the Aten depicted as the sun disc. The Ancient Egyptians had
worshipped the same gods for literally thousands of years - the number
of gods they worshipped numbered nearly 2000. The Ancient Egyptians were
forced to abandon their old gods and Akhenaten used the might of the
Egyptian army to enforce these ideas and destroy the old religion and
its priesthood. The entire population of Thebes, numbering over 20,000
people, were moved to the new city of Armana which Akhenaten had built
as his new capital. The powerful priests of Amun were expected to
worship the sole god Aten. Akhenaten ordered that all images of all
other gods were ordered to be destroyed. The traditional temple based
economy, run by priests of Amun, had been replaced by the new regime,
run by local administrators and military commanders.
King Tut Biography - Facts and History
of his Early Life
Tutankhamun was born in 1343 BC. Tutankhamun was first known as
Tutankhaten, meaning "Living Image of Aten". He was brought up
in the new city of Armana. His father became more and more autocratic as
he focussed solely on the new religion. The home and foreign affairs of
Egypt were totally neglected. The new regime became corrupt and in 1337
BC, after a reign of 17 years, it is believed that Akhenaten was
forced to abdicate and soon after died. A mysterious person called Smenkhkare Ankhetkheperure
took the throne (r1336 BC -1334 BC).
King Tut Biography - Facts and History
of the power behind the throne
Then in 1334BC when Tutankhamun was
just 9 years old he was made Pharaoh. In the same year Tutankhamun
married Ankhesenpaaten, his half sister,
the third daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti.
His regent was Ay who was also the Grand
Vizier. Ay was also the father of Nefertiti, his stepmother and also the
grandfather of Ankhesenpaaten. The marriage of Tutankhamun and Ankhesenpaaten
produced at least two daughters who were stillborn. The great military
commander, General Horemheb, was designated as the Boy King's "Deputy"
and was recognised as heir to Tutankhamun until the pharaoh produced
children of his own.
King Tut Biography - Facts and History
about the move from Amarna
In 1331 BC there was a growing
backlash against the new religion and the young pharaoh changed his name
from Tutankhaten to
Tutankhamun and Queen
Ankhesenpaaten changed her name to Ankhesenamun. In 1330BC
the royal court moved back to the old capital
at Thebes
which was the center of worship of the god Amun and the power base of the Amun priests.
Tutankhamun commissioned various building works
at this time including the restoration of some temple properties at Karnak
and Thebes.
King Tut Biography - Facts and History
about the Death of Tutankhamun
King Tut died
unexpectedly in the year of 1325 at the age of 18/19. He reigned for
just 9 years and the cause of his death still remains a mystery.
He was buried in his hastily prepared tomb in
the Valley of the Kings 70 days after his death, according to the death
rituals of the Ancient Egyptians.
King Tut Biography
Each section of this King Tut Biography website addresses all topics and
provides interesting facts and information about the Golden Age of
Pharaohs and of Egypt. The Sitemap provides full details
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of the Pharaoh King Tut Biography - Tutankhamun!
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