Lecture Notes: King Tut for Kids

Introduction

• Topic: King Tutankhamun (King Tut)
• Audience: Kids

Early Life

• Became king at about 9 or 10 years old
• Full name: Tutankhamun
• Known as the "Boy King"
• Reign began around 1332 BCE

Reign

• Had several advisers due to his young age
• Ruled during a time of war with Nubia
• Married young; wife was the daughter of Pharaoh Akhenaten
• Ruled until his death around 1324 BCE at age 18 or 19

Ancient Egyptian Beliefs

• Pharaohs were considered earthly gods
• Ancient Egyptians worshipped up to 2,000 deities
• Belief in the afterlife was strong; burial practices included mummification

Mummification and Burial Practices

• Mummification preserved the body for the afterlife
• Pharaohs were buried with items needed in the afterlife: food, clothing, jewelry, etc.

Discovery of King Tut's Tomb

• Discovered in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter
• Tomb contained over 5,000 artifacts
• King Tut's coffin was made of gold

Importance of the Discovery

• Artifacts helped recreate the history of King Tut's life
• Changed name to include "Amun" to show respect to the god Amun
• Amun was the god of sun and air, later became the god of creation

Theories on King Tut's Death

• Possible murder by advisors or family
• Modern DNA testing suggests poor health and bone disease
• Small tomb suggests sudden or unexpected death

Review Questions

• True or False: King Tut is known as the Boy King (True)
• Full Name: Tutankhamun
• Mummification was used to prepare a body for the afterlife

Conclusion

• King Tut's legacy lives on
• Discovery of his tomb is historically significant
• Provides insight into ancient Egyptian culture and technology

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