Born Tutankhaten, probably a son of Akhenaten, the young king changed his name to Tutankhamun as the court returned to Thebes and Memphis and the old gods were restored.
His short reign would be a footnote if not for KV62. Discovered in November 1922, it was the only royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings found largely intact, and its treasures — the gold mask above all — shaped the modern image of ancient Egypt.
Key achievements
- Became king at about nine years old and died at around nineteen.
- Restored the worship of Amun after the Amarna period, recorded on his Restoration Stela.
- His nearly intact tomb (KV62), found by Howard Carter in 1922, held over 5,000 objects.
