Tutankhamun (alternately spelled with Tutenkh-, -amen, -amon), twt-n-mn; *tuwt-ankh-yamn Tutankhamun was only 8 years old when he became pharaoh. He died 11 years later, at age 19. In historical terms, Tutankhamun is of only moderate significance, and most of his modern popularity stems from the fact that his tomb in the was discovered almost completely intact. However, he also is significant as a figure among those who managed the beginning of the transition from the heretical of his predecessors and perhaps back to the familiar . As Tutankhamun began his reign at age nine, his vizier and eventual successor was probably making most of the important political decisions during Tutankhamun's reign.