In Search of King Tut's Tomb

King Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, was an Egyptian Pharaoh during the 18th Dynasty, ruling from 1333 BC to 1324 BC. What makes King Tut’s rule all the more interesting is that he became Pharaoh at the age of only 9 years old.

Tutankhamun was born in 1341 BC, and while not much is known about his parents, inscriptions in his tomb indicate that he may have been the son of a King. However, history does not clarify this fact, and the real identity of his parents are not known. As Pharaoh he inherited a kingdom with many troubles. He set out to improve his kingdom and re-establish relations with neighboring areas. While he was only ruler for 10 years, and being a young ruler, many exoerts believed he was a successful ruler.

King Tutankhamun died in 1323 BC at the age of 19. While the actual cause of death has not been clearly defined, examination of the remains this past century indicate his death may have been caused by a blow to the back of the head. However, the exact details on who did this, how did this happen and why remain a subject for speculation.

Upon his death, his mummified body was placed in a small tomb, along with many other objects of importance to the king. Normally when Pharaoh’s die, they are placed in a grand tomb with much of the wealth that they accumulated. However, due to the young age of King Tut when he died, the size of the tomb was smaller, and many scientists believe it was originally intended for someone else, but because of the need, they selected this tomb.

The search for King Tut’s tomb had been a subject to archaeologists for many years. Many efforts had been made to find the tomb, only to be unsuccessful. However, in 1922 an excavation led by Howard Carter was successful in finding the tomb of King Tutankhamun. The discovery was a great find for Carter and the archaeological community. They were able to find the mummy of King Tut, avoid the "Curse of King Tut's Tomb" and learned a great deal about the “Boy King”.

In the years following the discovery, King Tut’s tomb has been the subject of many documentaries, books, articles and exhibits. The discovery of the tomb was vital in learning more about the life and times of King Tutankhamun, and of other Pharoahs of this era.