Tutankhamun: The Story Behind the Mask

Tutankhamun was a minor king who reigned about nine years (c. 1332 to 1323 BC) and died at around 19. He is famous because his small tomb, KV62, was found almost intact by Howard Carter in November 1922. His treasures, including the gold mask, are now displayed together at the Grand Egyptian Museum, while his mummy remains in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

He restored the old gods after the religious revolution of Akhenaten, who was probably his father, died young, and was buried in haste in a tomb that was probably intended for someone else. Then he was largely forgotten for more than 3,000 years, which is a big part of why so much of his burial survived.

This is the story behind the mask: who the boy king was, how his tomb was found, what was inside, what science has suggested about his death, and how to see his tomb and treasures on a trip to Egypt today.

Who was Tutankhamun?

Tutankhamun ruled during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom, a powerful period in Egyptian history. He came to the throne as a child, at around eight or nine years old, in the aftermath of an unusual reign.

The Amarna background

Akhenaten, probably Tutankhamun's father, had turned Egypt's religion upside down. He promoted the worship of the Aten, the sun disk, above the traditional gods, and moved the capital to a new city at Amarna in Middle Egypt. The temples of Amun at Thebes, today's Luxor, lost much of their status and wealth.

Restoring the old order

The young king was born Tutankhaten, meaning "living image of the Aten." Early in his reign his name was changed to Tutankhamun, "living image of Amun," a clear sign of a return to the old religion. The court left Amarna, the traditional temples were restored, and the priesthood of Amun regained its influence. Because he was a child, senior officials such as Ay and the general Horemheb almost certainly guided these decisions.

Tutankhamun married Ankhesenamun, who was probably his half-sister. After his early death, Ay became king, followed by Horemheb, and later kings left the Amarna rulers, Tutankhamun included, out of official lists of kings. That forgetting would later protect his tomb.

The discovery of KV62

By the early 20th century, many experts believed the Valley of the Kings had given up all its secrets. Howard Carter, an English archaeologist funded by Lord Carnarvon, disagreed, and spent several seasons searching for Tutankhamun's tomb.

On November 4, 1922, his team uncovered a step cut into the rock, close to the entrance of the tomb of Ramesses VI. Debris from that later tomb and workmen's huts had covered the entrance, hiding it for centuries. On November 26, Carter made a small hole in a sealed doorway and, by candlelight, saw the gleam of gold. Asked whether he could see anything, he is said to have replied that he saw wonderful things.

The tomb had in fact been entered by robbers in antiquity, shortly after the burial, but they were disturbed and the tomb was resealed. Most of its contents remained. Clearing and recording its four rooms took Carter's team about 10 years.

The curse

Lord Carnarvon died in Cairo in 1923 after an infected mosquito bite, and newspapers turned his death into the story of a pharaoh's curse. There was no curse: Carter himself lived until 1939, and most of the excavation team lived long lives.

What was inside the tomb

The tomb is small for a king, with an entrance corridor and four rooms: the antechamber, an annex, the burial chamber and the treasury. Into this space were packed more than 5,000 objects.

• The gold mask: about 10 kg of gold, inlaid with glass and semiprecious stones, placed over the head of the mummy.
• Three nested coffins: the innermost is made of solid gold and weighs about 110 kg.
• Four gilded shrines: large wooden shrines that fitted one inside another around the sarcophagus.
• Furniture and chariots: beds, chairs, chariots, and the golden throne showing the king with Ankhesenamun.
• Personal items: walking sticks, sandals, clothing, board games, and trumpets.
• Offerings: bouquets, jars of food and wine, and shabti figures meant to work for the king in the afterlife.

Two mummified fetuses, probably his daughters, were also buried with him. Many objects show signs of haste, and some appear to have been made for others and reinscribed, which supports the idea that he died unexpectedly.

How did Tutankhamun die?

His death has inspired many theories. CT scans in 2005 and DNA studies published in 2010 suggest he had a deformed foot, evidence of malaria and a broken leg that may have become infected. The once-popular murder theory, based on a skull fracture seen in early X-rays, has been largely discounted, since the damage is now thought to have happened during mummification or after the tomb was opened. Researchers still debate the exact cause, and new studies continue to add detail.

Where to see Tutankhamun today

The Grand Egyptian Museum

The Tutankhamun galleries at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza display the king's treasures together, including the gold mask, the coffins, and the shrines. Much of the burial can now be seen as a single collection. Give these galleries generous time: one to two hours is reasonable if you want to look closely. The museum is near the Pyramids, so many travelers visit both on the same day. You can plan this around a stay in Giza.

What to look for in the galleries

Rather than trying to see every object, choose a few to study closely. Look at the back of the gold mask as well as the face, since it carries a protective spell. Compare the craftsmanship of the coffins, and notice the scenes on the golden throne, where the queen is shown tending to the king in the relaxed style that lingered from the Amarna period. Smaller pieces, from sandals to board games, often say more about daily life than the famous gold.

KV62 in the Valley of the Kings

Tutankhamun's mummy remains in his tomb, KV62, in the Valley of the Kings on Luxor's West Bank, displayed in a climate-controlled case. The burial chamber's painted walls are also on view. The tomb is small, so a visit is short, but standing beside the king's resting place is a moving experience. Entry to KV62 has generally required its own ticket on top of the general valley ticket, so check current arrangements before you go.

Royal mummies of other kings, by contrast, are displayed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo.

Planning a Tutankhamun-focused trip

A trip built around Tutankhamun naturally covers both ends of his story. Start in Cairo with a day at Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then fly to Luxor for the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, and Luxor Temple, which the king himself helped restore. Many travelers continue on a Nile cruise to Aswan.

Tips for your visit

• Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum's Tutankhamun galleries early in the day, before they get busy.
• In the Valley of the Kings, go early to avoid the heat.
• A knowledgeable Egyptologist guide can explain the Amarna period and the objects in context.
• Read a little about the Amarna period before you travel; it makes the treasures far more meaningful.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Tutankhamun's mask?

The gold mask is displayed in the Tutankhamun galleries at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, together with the rest of the king's treasures. It was previously shown at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo.

Can you visit Tutankhamun's tomb?

Yes. KV62 is in the Valley of the Kings on Luxor's West Bank, and entry has generally required a separate ticket. His mummy is displayed inside the tomb, along with the burial chamber's wall paintings.

Was there really a curse?

No. The story grew from Lord Carnarvon's death in 1923 after an infected mosquito bite, and newspapers made the most of it. Howard Carter lived until 1939, and most of the excavation team lived long lives.

How old was Tutankhamun when he died?

He was around 19. He came to the throne as a child of about eight or nine and reigned for roughly nine years, so his early death was not expected.

Why is Tutankhamun so famous if he was a minor king?

His fame comes from his tomb rather than his reign. It is among the most complete royal burials found in the Valley of the Kings, and the richness of its contents gave the world an extraordinary picture of a New Kingdom royal burial.

Plan it with Nourbelle

If you would like to follow Tutankhamun's story from Giza to Luxor, tell us what interests you and we will suggest a route with time for both the museum and the tomb.