Tutankhamen, Pharaoh of Egypt Posters

Tutankhamun was not a major player in Egypt Pharaonic history, or at least, in comparison with other pharaohs. Prior to Howard Carter's discovery of his tomb, almost nothing was known of him Interestingly, the one disappointment in Carter's discover was that there was little in the way of documentation found within his tomb. Therefore, we still know relatively little about Tutankhamun.

He was the 12th king of the 18th Dynasty and nine years old at his succession.

His name at birth, was Tutankhaten "Living Image of the Aten", placing him in the line of pharaohs following Akhenaten, who was most likely his father.His mother was probably Kiya, though this too is in question. He changed his name in year two of his rule to 'Tutankhamun' or Heqa-iunu-shema, which means 'Living Image of Amun', , Ruler of Upper Egyptian Heliopolis", which is actually a reference to Karnak as Egypt reverted to the old religion prior to Akhenaten's upheaval.

Even so, this did not prevent his name from being omitted fromthe classic kings lists of Abydos and Karnak. We may also find his named spelled Tutankhamen or Tutankhamon, among other variations.

His throne name was Neb-Kheperu-re, which means "Lord of Manifestations is Re.

We do know that he spent his early years in Amarna, and probably in the North Palace. He evidently even started a tomb at Amarna.

At age nine he was married to Ankhesenpaaten, his half sister, and later Ankhesenamun.

It is believed that Ankhesenpaaten was older then Tutankhamun because she was probably of child bearing age, seemingly already having had a child by her father, Akhenaten. It is possible also that Ankhesenamun had been married to Tutankhamun's predecessor.

It seems he did not succeed Akhenaten directly as ruler of Egypt, but either an older brother or his uncle, Smenkhkare (keeping in mind that there is much controversy surrounding this king).

Tutankhamun probably had two daughters later, but no sons.

At the end of Akhenaten's reign, Ay and Horemheb, both senior members of that kings court, probably came to the realization that the heresy of their king could not continue. Upon the death of Akhenaten and Smenkhkare, they had the young king who was nine years old crowned in the old secular capital of Memphis. Since the young pharaoh had no living female relatives old enough, he was probably under the care of Ay or Horemheb or both, who would have actually been the factual ruler of Egypt.