King Tut - The Boy King and His Wife

Tutankhamen never won a great battle and neverplayed and went to school most of the time. Then
built a colossal monument yet this Egyptian King isone morning at age 13 she was informed that her
the best known today. He died in 1340 B.C. but hisuncle had died and that she and her boy friend
name will not be forgotten. This is almost asTutankhaton, now age ten, had to get married. In a
accidental as the discovery of his tomb.few days the boy would suddenly become the
Egypt in the days of the young boy was a richPharaoh of Egypt and his name had changed to
country and their life depended on the flooding ofTutankhamen. At age ten with his wife age 13, her
the Nile. In order to prepare for the flood theyname now Ankhesnamen had all the power. And
studied the river and the stars. They became thewhen they wanted to play, Ay, the old courtier was
primitive worlds most successful astronomers. Thenthere to help out. He stayed in the palace and was
Akhenaton decided to change the way they believedthere when documents were signed. The young
and as a visionary ordered his followers to pray topharaoh and his queen grew seemed to live happily
one god only, Amon-Re. He made his home at Tell elwhen six years later, the pharaoh, still a boy at 17,
Amarna and here he lived with Queen Nefertiti andwas dead.
his daughters. The worship of the new god broughtTragically the young queen found herself without a
happiness to all it seemed.husband. Then, as more ironic events unfolded, at
In the capital a boy was born. Tutankhaton whoseage 20, she suddenly found herself with nothing but
name would later change. Back in the palace therea wreath of spring flowers in her hand and a mummy
were only girls and since the Pharaoh was morein an open sarcophagus. She placed the wreath on his
concerned worshipping the Aton than managing theforehead, turned, walked up the steps and out of
country, the country was slipping into economichistory as her plan to marry quickly was derailed. The
chaos. His brother married his daughter MerytamenHittite prince, on his way to rescue her was
and helped rule the country. Nefertiti took upmurdered. Like her mother, father, uncle, sister and
residence in her own palace and soon the heretichusband, her entry on the world stage was brief. Ay
Akhenaton died.mounted the throne and history would always
The situation was that at least Smenkhkare ruleswonder if it was with a great deal of blood on his
part of Egypt while the young princess Ankhesnamenhands.