When his tomb was discovered in 1922, King Tutankhamun quickly became the most well-known pharaoh from Ancient Egypt. Known as the “boy king”, due to ascending the throne at just nine or 10 years of age, King Tut’s life was certainly more fascinating than most. Here are some mindblowing facts about the Pharaoh Tutankhamun that may forever change your perception of the boy king.
Short Reign
Although King Tut has been revered due to the discovery of his tomb, it appears as if his tomb is actually more impressive than what he was. While many may think of pharaohs as mighty, powerful figures, King Tut was actually quite frail. In addition to a sever bone disease, he also had a clubbed left foot, leaving him unable to participate in many physical activities. In fact, CT scans revealed that it may have been infected, leading the boy king to die at just 19 years of age.
Keeping it in the Family
Despite the identity of Tutankhamun’s mother remains unknown, genetic analysis showed that he was a product of inbreeding. Upon marrying a woman named Ankhesenamun, the pharaoh kept this trend alive. This is because Ankhesenamun was the daughter of King Tut’s father Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti.