20 Amazing Facts About King Tutankhamun

If there’s one Egyptian ruler that everyone knows, it’s probably King Tut. Born circa 1343 BCE, he made history as the youngest ruler of ancient Egypt. But his legacy is far from just that title. As a ruler, he made key political choices; after his death, he became an enduring symbol that captured the public’s imagination and sparked a worldwide fascination with mummies.

The 1922 discovery of King Tut's undisturbed tomb stands as one of the most significant events in Egyptian archaeology. From the mystery of his ancestry to his lasting influence on modern pop culture, here’s everything you should know about the life and legacy of King Tutankhamun.

1. King Tut’s parents were closely related.

Tutankhamun was likely the product of inbreeding—something common among royal families aiming to preserve a 'pure' bloodline throughout history. In 2010, DNA analysis of King Tut and his family revealed that his parents were siblings, although this finding has been contested since.

Tut's father is confirmed to be the heretic pharaoh Akhenaten, but the identity of his mother is still uncertain. One theory suggests that his mother might have been Queen Nefertiti, Akhenaten’s cousin and wife.

2. King Tut had an incestuous relationship of his own.

Tutankhamun married Ankhesenamun, the daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. This made her his half-sister—or possibly his full sister, depending on whether the theory that Nefertiti was his mother holds true.

King Tut and Ankhesenamun had two daughters, both of whom were stillborn. Their mummified bodies were placed in Tut's tomb alongside him. Ankhesenamun survived Tut and is thought to have married Tut's uncle, Pharaoh Ay, after his death.

3. King Tut became pharaoh at just 9 years old.

As the grandson of pharaoh Amenhotep II and the son of pharaoh Akhenaten, Tutankhamun was always in line for the throne. He became Egypt’s ruler at the tender age of 9 and reigned until his death around 1324 BCE, 10 years later. Many believe King Tut holds the title of the youngest pharaoh ever to lead ancient Egypt. Given his youth, his uncle Ay likely played a significant role in governing during the early years of his reign.

4. King Tut reversed his father’s religious reforms.

King Tut didn’t have to work hard to win over his people—his father, pharaoh Akhenaten, had left a reputation of failure. Akhenaten had radically altered the traditional religion by focusing on the worship of a single god, the sun deity Aten, which led to him being viewed as a heretic. He also relocated the capital from Thebes to Amarna.

When Tut ascended to the throne, he quickly rolled back his father’s reforms, reinstating Thebes as the religious heart of Egypt. This move helped him gain the favor of his subjects during his short reign.

5. King Tut changed his name during his reign.

King Tut went through several name changes throughout his life. Born Tutankhaten, which means 'living image of Aten,' he later changed his name to Tutankhamun, meaning 'living image of Amun.' This shift symbolized his growing devotion to the god Amun, whom his father had sidelined in favor of Aten. Today, he is most commonly known as King Tut.

6. King Tut faced several health challenges.

King Tut suffered from a severe bone disease that left him physically disabled. He had a clubbed left foot, making it difficult for him to walk. Ancient artwork often depicts him seated while performing physical activities like archery, unlike other pharaohs who are shown standing in similar depictions. It’s believed that his inbreeding contributed to these health problems. CT scans of his mummy revealed a broken and infected left leg, which may have played a role in his early death.

7. There was once speculation that King Tut had been assassinated.

When King Tut's mummy was discovered, a hole was found in his skull, leading some to believe that he had been assassinated with a blow to the head. However, this theory has since been largely dismissed. Experts now believe the hole was likely made either by the embalmers during the mummification process or by archaeologists when they removed his gold mask. It’s much more likely that an infection in his leg led to his death.

8. A chariot accident might have contributed to King Tut’s demise.

If King Tut's death was indeed caused by a broken leg, the mystery remains of how it happened. One theory suggests that the young pharaoh perished in a tragic chariot accident, explaining why one side of his body, including his leg, was found crushed. The chariots used by Egypt’s royalty were small and lightweight, enabling them to reach high speeds. While there’s no proof that chariots were raced, they were certainly used in warfare and hunting expeditions.

9. King Tut wasn’t the only young pharaoh in history.

Though King Tut is believed to be the youngest pharaoh of Egypt, he wasn’t the youngest monarch in history. Cleopatra became co-regent with her 10-year-old brother and husband, Ptolemy XIII, in 51 BCE. Additionally, many young rulers from countries like China, Russia, England, Spain, and France were crowned while still babies, far younger than Tut.

10. King Tut’s successors sought to erase his memory from history.

Despite King Tut’s efforts to undo his father’s unpopular reforms, his actions didn’t do much to protect his legacy over time. His successors worked hard to erase the memory of his wife, Ankhesenamun, along with that of Tutankhamun himself.

Tut’s burial was rushed, and he was laid to rest in a small tomb meant for private citizens, not the grand tombs typically reserved for pharaohs. Because his tomb was tucked away, it went unnoticed for centuries until its rediscovery in 1922. Today, King Tut is the most famous of all Egyptian pharaohs.

11. King Tut’s tomb was looted—twice.

Before Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922, it had already been raided by grave robbers. The first intrusion occurred shortly after Tutankhamun's burial. Although the tomb was blocked with rubble afterward, a second group of thieves managed to tunnel their way in. When Carter finally found the tomb, it was in disarray, with entryways sealed to protect the pharaoh’s final resting place.

12. King Tut was laid to rest in three coffins.

Inside King Tut’s stone sarcophagus were three nested coffins: The outer two were made of gilded wood, while the innermost one was solid gold. Resting over the mummy's head and shoulders was the iconic gold death mask most people associate with Tutankhamun. The mummy was placed in these coffins, which were then encased in a large quartzite sarcophagus topped with pink granite.

13. Some believe King Tut’s tomb is cursed.

The discovery of King Tut’s tomb has sparked numerous legends, particularly about a supposed curse. Many individuals connected to the site have experienced misfortune, fueling the myth of the tomb’s curse. Among the reported victims are financier George Jay Gould, who fell ill after visiting the tomb in 1923, and George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who died of blood poisoning shortly after funding the excavation. The so-called curse is believed to have been responsible for more than a dozen deaths.

14. King Tut was buried with a dagger made from a meteorite.

Among the many fascinating objects found in King Tut’s tomb was a dagger made from a meteorite. When the tomb was opened, the dagger was found resting on the mummy. It wasn’t until recent years, through portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, that it was discovered the dagger’s material came from outer space. The iron in the blade contained 10.8% nickel and 0.58% cobalt, a combination that strongly suggests the iron was from a meteorite, not from Earth.

15. King Tut’s tomb doesn’t have any hidden rooms.

Even after its excavation, King Tut’s tomb continued to spark the curiosity of archaeologists. In 2015, a British archaeologist proposed, based on laser scans, that a secret room might be hidden behind one of the tomb's walls, potentially containing the burial of Queen Nefertiti, Tut’s stepmother. However, this theory was debunked when a thorough ground-penetrating radar survey showed there were no hidden chambers or passageways adjacent to the tomb.

16. King Tut’s burial mask underwent some DIY repairs.

After surviving for over 3000 years, King Tut’s famous golden death mask was damaged in 2014 when its braided beard came off. Museum curators applied epoxy glue to fix it, but this temporary solution ended up causing more harm than good. The adhesive was tough to remove, and efforts to scrape it off resulted in permanent scratch marks on the mask’s gold surface, damaging the priceless artifact.

17. King Tut was buried with a board game from ancient times.

One of the oldest known board games in the world was found in King Tut’s tomb. Senet, meaning ‘passing,’ had been played in Egypt for over 1800 years before the young pharaoh’s death. It was popular across all social classes, though its exact rules have been lost to history. The game is believed to have had symbolic ties to life and death and may even be an early version of backgammon.

18. King Tut made waves in pop culture.

When King Tut’s tomb was uncovered in the early 20th century, it had an enormous impact on pop culture. The Egyptian style took over the 1920s, influencing fashion, home décor, and architecture. Americans were so captivated by King Tut that even President Herbert Hoover named his dog after the young ruler. Tut's influence lasted for decades, with his image appearing in numerous films, songs, and TV shows.

19. King Tut’s tomb recently underwent a restoration.

After years of heavy foot traffic from tourists, King Tut’s tomb was closed in 2009 for a much-needed conservation project. By early 2019, the tomb reopened to the public. The updated site now includes an advanced air filtration and ventilation system, restored wall paintings, a viewing platform, and new barriers to safeguard the artifacts. Today, King Tut’s tomb remains one of Egypt’s most visited tourist attractions.

20. We may finally know what King Tut really looked like.

Using CT scan data for a virtual autopsy of his mummy, scientists created a 3D model to imagine what King Tut looked like in life 3000 years ago. The resulting image contrasts sharply with the god-like figure often seen in pop culture. Instead, the computer-generated likeness depicts Tutankhamun as a frail, ordinary teenager rather than the majestic ruler portrayed on his iconic gold mask.