WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 5-⑤ Tutankhamun

King at Nine! Who was Tutankhamun? When was he born? A painted wooden head of Tutankhamun from his tomb Who was Tutankhamun? He was the king of Egypt. When was he born? He was born in 1341 BC. How old was Tutankhamun when he became king? He was only nine years old. Did he live a long life? No, he died when he was still a young man. They believed that their rulers were gods. Tutankhamun was the messenger between the gods and people. How did Egyptians view their kings? Was Tutankhamun a great leader? No, he wasn’t ruler for very long, and he didn’t do much as ruler.

The entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun, in the Valley of the Kings Why Is He Famous? The entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun, in the Valley of the Kings If Tutankhamun wasn’t a famous or popular leader, why is he famous? He is famous because of his tomb. Did he have a large tomb? No, he died suddenly, so there was no time to build a big tomb for him. What happened to his tomb? Sometime after his tomb was sealed, the opening to his tomb was covered by debris when a later tomb was built. Did thieves steal the treasure from his tomb? No, they didn’t.

Why Is He Famous? What happened when his tomb was discovered? Great treasures being removed from the tomb of Tutankhamun What happened when his tomb was discovered? The treasure was still inside, and it was a huge breakthrough for archaeologists. Tutankhamun’s tomb is still the best-preserved tomb ever found. What did the tomb teach us? A gold painting from Tutankhamun’s tomb Even though his tomb was smaller and more modest than others, most of the things inside were just as they were when they had been put there many years before. These things, together with the paintings on the walls, helped explain a lot about both Tutankhamun and Egyptian culture.

King Tut’s Father Who was Tutankhamun’s father? His name was King Akhenaten. Aten, the sun god No, he made the Egyptians pray to one god, the sun god, instead of their many gods. Was he a good ruler? An Egyptian priest making an offering to the god Ka How did this change things? Suddenly, society was not based on a priest-based system any longer. Instead, it was ruled by the military and government officials. What happened after his death? His enemies removed all records of his time in power.

King Tut’s Power A statue of Horemheb Who helped Tutankhamun rule when he was young? A military general named Horemheb and a legal advisor named Ay An image from a temple wall showing a pharaoh praying to the god Amun Ra Was Tutankhamun like his father? No, he wasn’t. In fact, he removed most of his father’s changes to the laws. He brought back respect for the old gods, especially the god Amun Ra. Did he do anything good during the time he ruled? Yes, he repaired some of the temples and holy sites. He brought back traditional festivals created for the gods. He also improved foreign relations and moved the capital back to Thebes.

King Tut’s Life No, none that survived. Life in the times of Tutankhamun An image of Tutankhamun hunting birds Tutankhamun with his wife Ankhesenamun Who was Tutankhamun’s wife? His wife’s name was Ankhesenamun, and she was his half-sister. Did they have children? No, none that survived. No, he probably had bad teeth, wide hips, and a deformed foot. He had to use a walking stick to get around. In fact, there were 130 walking sticks found in his tomb! Was he a strong, handsome leader?

King Tut’s Life How did he die? What happened to his body? An Egyptian mummy We’re not sure. He was in poor health when he died. He might have died from malaria. Or perhaps he died from an injury he got while riding a horse. How did he die? After he died, he was mummified like other pharaohs. What happened to his body?

The entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922 Finding King Tut Howard Carter (1874-1939), British Egyptologist Who found Tutankhamun’s tomb? Howard Carter did. It took him years to find it. Looking for a tomb Who was Lord Carnarvon? He was a rich man who paid for the search for the tomb. The entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922 When was it found? What was so special about the find? It was found in 1922. The tomb was intact.

Treasure in Tutankhamun’s tomb Finding King Tut Treasure in Tutankhamun’s tomb Tutankhamun’s gold chair Tutankhamun’s coffin What did they find in the tomb? How long did it take for them to go through all the treasure? Art on the walls Oils Jewelry Clothes 130 walking sticks Thousands of priceless artifacts Tutankhamun’s mummy 17 years

The Boy King Remembered The entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun today Are people today still interested in Tutankhamun? Yes, thousands of people visit Egypt every year to see the artifacts from his tomb and his mummy. Also, museums across the world have featured Tutankhamun exhibits. Artifacts from his tomb are among the most traveled artifacts in the world. Tourists visiting the site of Tutankhamun’s tomb Do you think Tutankhamun will be forgotten again? A gold sculpture of Tutankhamun No, he was forgotten for thousands of years, but now he is the most famous boy king of all.

Vocabulary archaeology n. candle n. the study of human life and activity from long ago by looking at things such as their buildings and tools candle n. a long piece of tallow or wax with a string inside that is burned to give light

Vocabulary debris n. jewelry n. loose natural material, mostly broken pieces of rock jewelry n. ornaments for the body such as bracelets, rings, and necklaces

Vocabulary pharaoh n. temple n. a king of ancient Egypt a building used for the worship of a god or gods

Vocabulary urgent adj. walking stick n. needing immediate action or attention walking stick n. a long, thin piece of wood to help someone to walk better