“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 Tutankhamun’s Restoration
		Akhenaten’s religious innovations were not to last. His radical ideas became unacceptable to most Egyptians, who felt that maat—the order of the universe—was jeopardized by these heretical beliefs. In fact, some of Akhenaten’s people had retained images of traditional deities even in the new capital city of Akhetaten. Ultimately, the job of restoring the orthodoxy fell to the young Tutankhamun and his advisors. Restoring Harmony to the Universe Only a few years into his reign, Tutankhaten (“Living Image of the Aten”) changed his name to Tutankhamun (“Living Image of Amun”). Likewise, his queen Ankhsenpaaten, became Ankhsenamun. During his rule of almost ten years, the young king worked hard to restore the worship of Amun and the other gods who had been neglected under Akhenaten. He rebuilt their temples, replenished their treasuries, and left Amarna to return to Memphis and Thebes. Reconciliation After Tut’s Death After Tutankhamun’s untimely death, his elderly successor Aye, who reigned for less than four years, continued his policies of reconciliation. Horemheb took the throne after Aye’s death and reigned for 13 years. He reaffirmed the might of Amun, but balanced it with the other great state gods, especially Re and Ptah. Taking credit for many of the policies initiated under Tutankhamun, Horemheb began the process of erasing the memory of the Amarna Period by claiming to be the direct successor of Amenhotep III. He died without an heir, and with his death the 18th Dynasty came to an end. Continue to Daily Life in Tut's World >>