Daily News
31st July 2019
History
World News
Who was Tutankhamun?
Restored
Coffin
• Tutankhamun was an ancient
Egyptian pharaoh.
• Howard Carter, a British
archaeologist discovered his
tomb in 1922.
Photo: The mask of Tutankhamun.
Pharaoh’s Coffin to Be Restored
Egypt is restoring the golden coffin of
Tutankhamun. It’s the first time it’s been
restored since the tomb was discovered in
1922, nearly 100 years ago!
In fact, the coffin is one of three coffins.
The other two were taken to the Egyptian
Museum in Cairo in 1922.
Eissa Zidan, the head of the project, said
that it had suffered “a lot of damage”. He
went on to say that the work will “take
about eight months”.
So who was Tutankhamun? He became
pharaoh of ancient Egypt at the age of nine,
ruling for around ten years.
The pharaoh was the ruler of ancient
Egypt. He had a lot of power. He would have
made the laws and he was also the high
priest of the temples. He would also have had
to defend Egypt against its enemies.
Tutankhamun died around 1324BC and
was buried in an area called the Valley of
the Kings. This is an area in Egypt where
many pharaohs were buried.
The location of his tomb was forgotten
for hundreds of years. In 1922, it was
discovered by British archaeologist
Howard Carter.
There were an incredible total of 5000
artefacts in the tomb, including golden beds,
chariots and a decorated throne.
The coffin has been taken to the
Grand Egyptian Museum near Cairo, the
capital of Egypt.
The brand-new museum is being built close
to the Great Pyramid of Giza, a large tomb
that was built for a pharaoh called Khufu.
Glossary
restoring Bring back to its
original state.
priest A person who performs
religious ceremonies.
archaeologist A person who studies
human history through
physical remains.
artefacts A historical object made by
a human.
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Questions
Pharaoh’s Coffin to Be Restored
1. How old was Tutankhamun when he became pharaoh? Tick one. eight
nine
ten
eleven
2. The pharaoh was the most important person in ancient Egypt. Find two pieces of evidence
that shows this.
1. 2. 3. Compare and contrast what happened to the different coffins.
4. Find and copy a phrase that shows the author thinks Howard Carter’s discovery
was remarkable.
5. Why do you think the Grand Egyptian Museum is being built near to the Great Pyramid of
Giza? Explain your answer.
6. Summarise the story in 15 words or fewer.
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Answers
Pharaoh’s Coffin to Be Restored
1. How old was Tutankhamun when he became pharaoh? Tick one. eight
nine
ten
eleven
2. The pharaoh was the most important person in ancient Egypt. Find two pieces of evidence
that shows this.
Accept any two from the following: he would have made the laws; he was also the high
priest of the temples; and he would also have had to defend Egypt against its enemies
in battle.
3. Compare and contrast what happened to the different coffins.
Two of the coffins were taken to the Egyptian Museum in 1922 but this one was left in
the tomb.
4. Find and copy a phrase that shows the author thinks Howard Carter’s discovery was
remarkable.
an incredible total of 5000 artefacts.
5. Why do you think the Grand Egyptian Museum is being built next to the Great Pyramid of
Giza? Explain your answer.
Accept any answer which refers to the story, e.g. The Grand Egyptian Museum is being
built next to the Great Pyramid of Giza because the pyramids were built by the ancient
Egyptians and the musuem will contain aretefacts about them.
6. Summarise the story in 15 words or fewer.
Accept any reasonable summary that was 15 words or fewer, e.g. Tutankhamun’s tomb
is being restored. It’s the first time since it was discovered.
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