ClassX Video Lessons King Tut and His Treasures for Kids: Biography of Tutankhamun, Discovery of his Tomb
King Tutankhamun, often called King Tut, is one of the most famous pharaohs from ancient Egypt. He became famous because of the amazing discovery of his tomb in 1922. Let’s dive into the story of his life, his rule, and the incredible treasures found in his tomb that have amazed people all over the world.
In 1922, an archaeologist named Howard Carter made an exciting discovery in a place called the Valley of the Kings. He found the tomb of King Tutankhamun! Unlike many other tombs that had been robbed, King Tut’s tomb was almost untouched. This gave us a special look into how ancient Egyptians lived and buried their kings. The treasures found inside made people really interested in learning more about ancient Egypt.
King Tutankhamun was born around 1341 BC and was originally named Tutankhaten. His father was a pharaoh named Akhenaten, who made big changes to the Egyptian religion by focusing on one god, Aten, the sun god. After Akhenaten died, Tutankhamun became king when he was just nine years old. He had help from powerful advisers to rule the kingdom.
To show that he was different from his father, Tutankhamun changed his name and brought back the old Egyptian gods. He ruled for about ten years, working to restore the traditional beliefs of Egypt.
King Tutankhamun had health problems throughout his life. This might have been because his parents were siblings, which was common in royal families back then. At nine years old, he married his half-sister, Ankhesenamun. They had two daughters, but sadly, both died before they were born.
King Tutankhamun died when he was only about 19 years old. The cause of his death is still a mystery. Some people think he might have been injured or had an infection. Because he died so young, his tomb wasn’t fully ready, so he was buried in a tomb meant for someone else.
King Tutankhamun was mummified and placed in a special box called a sarcophagus, which had three smaller coffins inside. The innermost coffin had a beautiful golden mask decorated with glass and gemstones. His tomb was filled with thousands of items, like furniture, jewelry, and toys, which were meant to help him in the afterlife. Even though the tomb was robbed twice, it stayed mostly intact for over three thousand years, hidden under rubble.
Finding King Tutankhamun’s tomb was a big deal and made news all over the world. Over 5,000 items were found and taken to the Cairo Museum, which took ten years to do! These treasures have traveled to museums around the world, allowing millions of people to see and learn about ancient Egypt’s amazing history and art.
Even though King Tutankhamun ruled for only a short time over three thousand years ago, he has become a lasting symbol of ancient Egypt. The treasures in his tomb, which are full of history and beauty, continue to fascinate and inspire people to learn more about this young pharaoh and his world.
Create Your Own Tomb: Imagine you are an ancient Egyptian pharaoh like King Tutankhamun. What items would you want to take with you to the afterlife? Draw a picture of your own tomb and fill it with drawings of these items. Think about why each item is important to you and write a short sentence about each one. Share your drawing with the class and explain your choices.
Explore Egyptian Art: King Tutankhamun’s tomb was filled with beautiful art and treasures. Find some pictures of Egyptian art online or in books. Try to recreate one of the pieces using materials you have at home, like colored pencils, markers, or clay. Pay attention to the colors and patterns used by the ancient Egyptians. Bring your artwork to class and discuss what you learned about Egyptian art styles.
Time Travel Interview: Pretend you are a reporter who has traveled back in time to interview King Tutankhamun. What questions would you ask him about his life, his rule, and the treasures in his tomb? Write down at least three questions and then imagine how King Tut might answer them. Share your questions and answers with a partner and discuss what you found most interesting about King Tut’s story.
