How old was King Tut's wife when she died?
King Tut's wife, Ankhesenamun, was between 20 and 26 years old when she died.
Ankhesenamun was a significant figure in the Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, famously known as the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. She was born Ankhesenpaaten, the third of six daughters of Pharaoh Akhenaten and his Great Royal Wife, Nefertiti. Her life unfolded during a tumultuous period in Egyptian history, marked by profound religious and political shifts.
Ankhesenamun's Life and Royal Tenure
Ankhesenamun's early years were shaped by her father's revolutionary religious reforms, which centered on the worship of the sun disk, Aten. Following her father's reign, she married her half-brother Tutankhamun, who ascended to the throne at a very young age. During their rule, Egypt saw a return to traditional polytheistic worship, moving away from Akhenaten's monotheistic emphasis on the Aten.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Ankhesenamun (originally Ankhesenpaaten) |
| Born | circa 1348 BC or circa 1342 BC in Thebes |
| Tenure | Queen Consort: c. 1332–1323 BC (during Tutankhamun's reign) |
| Died | After 1322 BC |
| Age at Death | 20-26 years old |
| Burial | KV21 (uncertain) |
| Spouse | Tutankhamun |
| Parents | Akhenaten and Nefertiti |
The precise circumstances surrounding Ankhesenamun's death are not definitively known and remain a topic of historical study. After Tutankhamun's passing, it is widely believed she briefly married Ay, Tutankhamun's successor, though conclusive evidence is scarce. Her final appearance in historical records is thought to be around the time of Tutankhamun's burial. The exact dates of her birth and death are not precisely documented, leading to the estimated age range provided for her passing.
For more in-depth information about Ankhesenamun's life and historical significance, comprehensive historical resources are available here.
