The Mummy King

He is the king of ancient Egypt. 

At only 9 years old, he rules over land that stretches across hundreds of miles and includes millions of people.

When he walks, his heavy gold jewelry clanks. At night, his servants wave giant fans over him so he can sleep in the crushing heat. Everywhere he goes, people bow to him. He is known as the pharaoh, or king.

But then, tragedy strikes.

When he is about 18, this young ruler suddenly dies. All of Egypt mourns his death. His body is turned into a mummy. Then he is buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. This is an area that was filled with the tombs of pharaohs who died before him. 

Ancient Egyptians believed that life continued after death. So everything the king might need in the afterlife is sealed in the tomb with him—jewels, statues, food, games, furniture, weapons. 

But what no one could know is that this boy king will be remembered thousands of years after his death. Kids will study him in school. Researchers will spend their lives trying to solve the mysteries of his life and death. Millions will travel from all over to see his treasures. 

His name will be known to all: Tutankhamen [too-tahn-KAH-muhn]. 

He is the king of ancient Egypt. He’s only 9 years old. And he rules over millions of people.

When he walks, his heavy jewelry clanks. At night, his servants wave giant fans over him so he can sleep in the heat. Everywhere he goes, people bow to him. He is the pharaoh, or king.

But then, something terrible happens.

When he is about 18, this young ruler suddenly dies. His body is turned into a mummy. Then he is buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. This area was filled with the tombs of other kings. 

Ancient Egyptians believed that life continued after death. So everything the king might need is buried in the tomb with him. There are jewels, statues, food, and games. 

But no one could know that this boy king will be remembered thousands of years after his death. Kids will study him in school. Researchers will try to solve the mysteries of his life and death. Millions will travel from all over to see his treasures. 

His name will be known to all: Tutankhamen [too-tahn-KAH-muhn]. 

Tutankhamen—or “King Tut,” as he is often called—is a name known around the world. Still, his long-ago life is mysterious. 

Today we know that he became pharaoh at the age of 8 or 9, around 1332 B.C. He ruled for only about 10 years. In the 3,000-year history of ancient Egypt, there were more than 170 pharaohs. Tutankhamen is just one of them—a drop of water in the ocean of history. 

So how did this boy king become a celebrity? It all began with a team of people digging in the golden sands of Egypt in 1922.

Tutankhamen—or “King Tut,” as he is often called—is a name known around the world. Still, his life is mysterious. 

Today we know that he became king more than 3,000 years ago, when he was 8 or 9. He ruled for only about 10 years. In ancient Egypt, there were more than 170 pharaohs. Tutankhamen is just one of them. 

So how did this boy king become famous? It all began with a team of people digging in the golden sands of Egypt. The year was 1922.

In the early 1900s, a man named Howard Carter was exploring the ruins of the Valley of the Kings. With his thick mustache and wide hat, Carter would have been a familiar figure to others in the valley. 

Carter was an archaeologist, a person who studies the distant past. Like detectives studying clues to solve a case, archaeologists dig up and study old buildings, objects, and bones to try to understand how people lived in times past. 

Carter had moved to Egypt from England in 1891, when he was 17. He soon began working on excavation projects. These digs often involved hundreds of people. In the Valley of the Kings, the work was done mainly by the Egyptians who lived nearby. They prepared fragile artifacts for travel over the desert and across the Nile River. Children often helped by carrying away sand and rocks. 

By the time Carter began working in the Valley of the Kings, there had already been important finds there. The tombs of many pharaohs had been uncovered. But these tombs were empty, their treasures stolen long before. In ancient Egypt, looting was a big problem.

In the early 1900s, a man named Howard Carter was exploring the Valley of the Kings. With his thick mustache and wide hat, he was well-known to people in the area.

Carter was an archaeologist. Archaeologists are like detectives. They study old buildings, objects, and bones to try to understand how people lived in the past. 

Carter had moved to Egypt from England in 1891. He was 17. He soon began working on excavation projects. These digs often involved hundreds of people. In the Valley of the Kings, the work was done mainly by local Egyptians. They prepared artifacts for travel so the objects wouldn’t break. Children often helped. They carried away sand and rocks. 

By the time Carter began working in the area, the tombs of many kings had already been found. But these tombs were empty. Their treasures were stolen long before. In ancient Egypt, looting was a big problem.

In 1907, Carter was hired by a wealthy man from England named Lord Carnarvon. Carnarvon was fascinated by ancient Egypt. He had collected many ancient Egyptian artifacts, and he asked Carter to sort and record them. 

Carnarvon was deeply impressed by Carter’s skills. So in 1914, when he got permission to dig in a new area of the Valley of the Kings, he knew just who to hire to lead the project: Carter. 

Excited about what they might find, Carter and his team searched tirelessly. They dug day after day. Yet after seven years, they had nothing spectacular to show for their hard work. 

Had everything of value in the Valley of the Kings already been found? 

By then, Carnarvon had spent a small fortune on the dig and was ready to quit. But Carter begged for one last chance.  

In 1907, Carter was hired by a rich man from England. His name was Lord Carnarvon. Carnarvon loved ancient Egypt. He had many ancient Egyptian artifacts. And he asked Carter to sort them. 

In 1914, Carnarvon got permission to dig in a new area of the Valley of the Kings. He thought highly of Carter. So he asked him to lead the project. 

Carter was excited about what they might find. He and his team worked nonstop. They dug day after day. But after seven years of hard work, they hadn’t found anything amazing. 

Had everything of value in the Valley of the Kings already been found? 

By then, Carnarvon had spent a lot of money on the dig. He wanted to quit. But Carter asked for one last chance.  

On November 4, 1922, Carter’s team was clearing sand and rubble when they spotted something buried in the sand: a single stone step. 

The workers eventually cleared the sand to reveal a staircase leading underground. At the bottom of the staircase was a door. 

The door led to a tomb. 

How quickly their hearts must have beaten when they realized what they had found. The seal on the door seemed to be in one piece. Did that mean the tomb was never looted? Was it possible that it held the mummy of a pharaoh? 

In late November, Carter, his team, and Carnarvon opened the door. A rush of stale air met them—air that had not been breathed in thousands of years. They peered into the darkness.

As the story goes, Carnarvon called to Carter, “Can you see anything?”

Carter replied, “Yes, wonderful things.” 

As Carter’s eyes slowly adjusted to the dark, strange shadows took shape. 

“Details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold—everywhere the glint of gold,” Carter would later write in his journal. He was filled with amazement. 

They would soon learn that they had found the tomb of King Tutankhamen. 

In early November 1922, Carter’s team was digging in the sand. Suddenly, they saw something: a stone step. 

The step belonged to a staircase leading underground. At the bottom of the staircase was a door. 

The door led to a tomb. 

What an amazing discovery! The seal on the door was in one piece. Did that mean the tomb was never looted? Was it possible that it held the mummy of a pharaoh? 

In late November, Carter, his team, and Carnarvon opened the door. A rush of old air met them. The air had not been breathed in thousands of years. They peered into the darkness.

As the story goes, Carnarvon asked Carter, “Can you see anything?”

Carter answered, “Yes, wonderful things.” 

Slowly, strange shadows appeared in the dark. 

“Details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold—everywhere the glint of gold,” Carter would later write. He was filled with amazement. 

They had found the tomb of King Tutankhamen. 

Tutankhamen’s tomb held thousands of objects unlike anything the world had ever seen. There were baskets filled with nuts and seeds, and sandals made of gold. There were glittering jewels and stunning statues of Anubis—the god of the dead. Eventually, some 6,000 objects would be found within the tomb’s four rooms.

To archaeologists, the objects were priceless treasures that helped create a lively picture of ancient Egypt. Indeed, King Tut’s tomb would prove to be one of the greatest discoveries of all time. 

But perhaps the most thrilling discovery of all was Tutankhamen himself. It took more than a year to reach the room that held his mummy, and then two more years to remove it from the tomb. The mummy was wearing a beautiful, glittering golden mask. It had been placed inside a gold coffin, held inside two larger gold coffins. 

Tutankhamen’s tomb held thousands of objects. They were unlike anything the world had ever seen. There were baskets filled with nuts and seeds. There were gold sandals and sparkling jewels. Over time, about 6,000 objects would be found inside the tomb.

To archaeologists, the objects were priceless treasures. They helped create a lively picture of ancient Egypt. Indeed, King Tut’s tomb would end up being one of the greatest discoveries of all time. 

But the most thrilling discovery of all was probably Tutankhamen himself. His mummy was wearing a beautiful golden mask. It had been placed inside a gold coffin, held inside two larger gold coffins. 

News of the dazzling discovery quickly spread around the world. Giant photographs of the tomb’s treasures covered the front pages of newspapers. Short films of the excavation drew crowds to movie theaters. 

The public was soon swept up in “Tut-mania” and “pharaoh fever.” President Herbert Hoover named his dog King Tut. Women began wearing their hair in ancient Egyptian styles. There were Tut dances and Tut songs. Companies used Tutankhamen to sell products, from lemons to cookies. 

People in the United States—and all over the world—were obsessed.

News of the amazing discovery quickly spread around the world. Big photos of the tomb’s treasures appeared in newspapers. Short films of the dig drew crowds to movie theaters. 

People soon had “pharaoh fever.” President Herbert Hoover named his dog King Tut. Women began wearing their hair in ancient Egyptian styles. 

There were Tut dances and Tut songs. Companies used Tutankhamen to sell goods, from lemons to cookies. 

People in the United States, and all over the world, were obsessed.