The name Tutankhamun is familiar to most of us, as a symbolic figure from the tales of Ancient Egypt. Yet how many of us really know that much about his life? In truth, his life was a short one, and yet the discovery of his tomb has since driven a great curiosity in many of us to find out more about him. This you can certainly do on Egypt holidays to Luxor, where you can also visit his final resting place.
The burial site of Tutankhamun, Luxor is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. With its close proximity to both The Valley Of The Kings and The Valley Of The Queens, and its maze of ancient ruins and temples, Luxor holidays offer a plethora of historical sites to the thousands of international tourists that flock their every year – and the city is the starting point to anyone wanting to find out about the compelling story behind the boy king, Tutankhamun.
The young Pharoah came into power at the mere age of about 9. This alone has always made him an interesting figure in history, but it was also his mysterious demise which has left us with so much curiosity of him. He died at the age of 18 yet no one is sure what killed him. Studies say it was likely a combination of a broken leg, and the disease malaria. Whatever it was, he still lives on in the history books.
His tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter and George Herbert, sparking a new found worldwide fascination with ancient Egypt, and making his beautiful and almost entirely intact burial mask a new symbol for the wonders of the ancient world.
It’s true that Egypt holidays can conjure up images of anything from scuba diving along the beautiful miles of Red Sea coast to 4X4 drives through the desert, but when you talk about Luxor holidays, it’s pure history that comes to mind. Awash with monuments, temples and tombs, the city’s history has shaped the culture and identity of this place but none in quite the same way as the boy king, Tutankhamun.
Claire Collins writes about her favourite travel destinations, from Luxor sights to Egypt holidays.
