“The Story of Tutankhamun” is taken from the writings of Dr. David P. Silverman, exhibition curator, and the text of Dr. Zahi Hawass, as printed in Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, the companion book to the exhibition.	The Story of King Tut Before Tut's Reign
		By the time Tutankhamun was born, Egypt had been a superpower for almost two centuries. The nation itself had been formed about 1,600 years earlier, and the great pyramids at Giza were already ancient edifices more than one thousand years old. King Tutankhamun had indeed inherited a mighty country, rich in resources, power, and history. Understanding Egyptian History Modern scholars divide the history of Egypt into periods and dynasties—families of monarchs that ruled and reshaped Egypt. These monarchs would eventually become known by the ancient Egyptian term pharaoh, which literally meant 'Great House,' in reference to the king’s palace. Some pharaohs were skilled generals; some were religious philosophers; and some were great empire builders. Many left behind the fantastic monuments for which Egypt is famous. But, while the modern world may know of their accomplishments, few people remember the names of these important rulers. Instead, it is the name of Tutankhamun, a short-lived king, which conjures up the image of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh today. He may have ruled for only about a decade at the end of the 18th Dynasty, but because his tomb survived the millennia and provided thousands of marvels of his culture, we think of Tutankhamun as Egypt's most famous pharaoh. Continue to Tutankhamun’s Dynasty >>