Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun was an insignificant ruler born at a very exciting time. His Father was Akhenaten, the heretic Pharaoh, who tried to break away from the confines of the old religion and establish a new religion, with himself as sun-god. He moved his capital city away from the old capital at Thebes, and set up a new city 100 miles to the north at Armarna. However on his death, all his ideals were zealously abandoned, the capital was moved back to Thebes, the old gods were re-established - and his son, Tutankhamun, at the time only a boy of 9, was set on the throne.
Tutankhamun only ruled for 9 years before dying an untimely death in 1323 BC. A private tomb in the Valley of the Kings was adapted for the royal burial. Shortly after his death the tomb was broken into and disturbed, and many portable objects and jewels were removed, but the larger objects where perforce left behind. Later the entrance was covered over by huts used by workmen building the much grander tomb of one of his successors, Ramesses VI. The site was completely lost, but in 1922 it was rediscovered by the English archaeologist, Howard Carter, after a long search, lasting over 10 years.
The finds formed the greatest archaeological discovery ever made . . .
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Then, inside the innermost shrine was the actual coffin. But again, like a series of Russian dolls, there were three successive coffins, one inside the other. The finest of these was the second coffin, shown here. It was made of wood, but the surface was covered with gold foil, with ornamentation of lapis lazuli, faience and glass. The pharaoh's hands were clapsed across his breast, holding the twin symbols of authority, the crook, and the the flail. The rods of the flail are here clearly visible in the foreground. |
The
burial, even for this insignificant pharaoh, was incredibly complicated.
At the centre of the burial chamber was a large wooden shrine (see
below). Inside that was another shrine and inside that a third,
and then a fourth shrine.
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This reveals what the well-dressed pharaoh was wearing. For the grandest occasions, the Pharaohs did not wear their crowns, but instead wore an elaborate headdress - the nemes-headdress, with horizontal stripes to make him appear bigger and more impressive. Under the headdress was an elaborate collar - the circular bands can be seen - and on his chin was a plaited false beard - made of gold, but with inlays of faience which have decayed to a dull grey colour. On his brow are the symbols of the vulture and cobra, ready to spit fire at Pharaoh's enemies. |
Inside
the innermost coffin was the actual mummy. However the head of the
mummy was covered by the finest treasure of all - a life-sized mask,
made of solid gold.
 There were four shrines, one inside the other. The body was placed
inside the innermost shrine.
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The sides of the bed were formed by tall slender animals. Whereas the other two beds have recognisable animals - a lion and a cow, the third couch, seen here, shows a composite animal representing the goddess Ammut, with hippopotamus head, crocodile tail, and the legs of a leopard. |
The
antechamber to the tomb was dominated by three great ritual couches
or beds. They were the first objects to be seen by the excavators
when they entered the tomb.
 Four
ritual figurines of Tutankhamun, in various poses: on the right, he
is standing on a leopard. |
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It is a portable shrine - note the long poles for carrying it - and it contained a fine collection of jewellery. On top of it was the superb carved figure of the dog-god Anubis. |
The
innermost chamber, called the Treasury was dominated by this shrine
with a figure of the jackal-god Anubis on top of it. Home