LESSON 3.7 Who were Tutankhamun, Akhenaten and Nefertiti? LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to: • explain why the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb was a signiýcant archaeological event • describe the religious changes made by Akhenaten and Nefertiti • evaluate the signiýcance of these individuals.
Tune in ‘Can you see anything?’ Lord Carnarvon asked. ‘Yes, wonderful things!’ replied Howard Carter. These were the words of the British archaeologist when he discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun. 1. What do you think was behind the door in SOURCE1? 2. Lord Carnarvon died a year after this door was opened. Did he die from the mummy’s curse?
SOURCE1 The unbroken seal of Tutankhamun’s tomb
3.7.1 An archaeologist’s dream The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb was a key twentieth-century archaeological event. This was not because of the tomb’s size or the pharaoh himself. Tutankhamun, a teenage king, had just a small tomb with four chambers. Its importance lies in its untouched treasures — over 5000 priceless objects. We can only imagine the treasures lost from larger tombs that were robbed.
SkillBuilder discussion Historical signiýcance 1. Describe the condition of Tutankhamun’s head. 2. Identify the materials used for Tutankhamun’s head. 3. Explain the signiýcance of this head in ancient Egyptian history.
SOURCE2 Head of the 19-year-old pharaoh Tutankhamun
102 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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