Golden Facts About King Tut, The Cursed Boy King
King Tut’s brief reign in the over 3,000 years ago left little mark on history—until the discovery of his pristine tomb in the 1920s led to an explosion of interest in the ancient and monumental Egyptian civilization.
But despite his shining legacy, Tutankhamun's broken remains, exquisitely preserved, reveal the truth about his life was less than golden.
1. He Took After His Parents
Pharaoh Tutankhamun was born circa 1341 BCE during the chaotic reign of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, in Ancient Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty. His father is widely-accepted to be Akhenaten himself, an iconoclast whose reign was so controversial and sacrilegious that later Pharaohs tried to erase from history completely.
His mother, however, is more of a mystery.
2. His Mother’s Identity Is Mysterious
DNA testing has named the mummy known as “The Younger Lady” as King Tut’s mother, though her name is lost to time. Her mummy was found in a secondary tomb near Akhenaten's resting place, known as tomb KV35.
At some point in her history, the Younger Lady mummy suffered extensive damage, likely caused by ancient tomb robbers. But how did they identify her? Well, it wasn't as hard as you would think...
3. His Parents Kept It In The Family
The same DNA testing that identified King Tut’s parents also revealed that his parents were full siblings.
This kind of inner-family marriage was not uncommon among royal families of the era (and, indeed, in royal families worldwide for many subsequent centuries).
But King Tut’s father didn’t stick around long enough to form much of a bond with his son.
4. He Became Pharaoh Young Age
King Tut ascended to the throne at around nine years old, following the successive passings of his father and his two short-reigning successors. He might have been young, but he was still the king—and like any king, he needed a queen by his side.
