01 | Statue of the Pharoah Tutankhamun

[flapping]

AHMOSE: Come on, Cleo!

[padding footsteps] CLEO: Whoa! Is that what I think it is?

AHMOSE: Uh-huh. Only a statue of one of the most famous Egyptians ever, Tutankhamun.

CLEO: I’ve heard of him. He was a kid, right?

AHMOSE: Yeah, he was only 9 years old when he became pharaoh in the year 1332 BCE.

That’s more than 3,000 years ago. And he was only 18 when he died.

CLEO: Whoa, Tutankhamun got to rule a whole country?

Most kids aren’t even allowed to go to the shops by themselves when they’re nine.

AHMOSE: Most kids don’t get to be a pharaoh.

CLEO: True.

So, what exactly is a pharaoh?

AHMOSE: It’s what they called ancient Egyptian rulers, like a king or a queen.

CLEO: Ah, that’s why he’s sitting on a throne. AHMOSE: Yep.

CLEO: But I can’t see a crown. Actually, I can’t see a head. Pharaohs had heads, right?

AHMOSE: Yeah. Unfortunately, this statue was in pieces when it was found.

CLEO: Meow, so it could be anyone sitting on the throne then. How do we know this is a sculpture of a pharaoh?

AHMOSE: Look between his legs, that’s actually an oxtail, and look at what he’s wearing.

His collar has flower petals on it.

These are ancient Egyptian symbols that tell us he’s a pharaoh.

But there, above the collar, is something extra special.

Get in close, you can just see the bottom of a false beard.

Only pharaohs wore false beards. And gods!

CLEO: Okay, so it’s a statue of a pharaoh, but how do they know it’s Tutankhamun?

AHMOSE: Come round here. [flapping]

CLEO: Round the back?

AHMOSE: Yeah, come on.

CLEO: Meow, there’s writing on the back. What does it say?

AHMOSE: Part of it is missing, but what’s left reads

‘Beloved of Amun-Re, lord of the thrones of the two lands, who is given life like Re forever.’

The archaeologists are pretty sure this means this is Tutankhamun.

CLEO: Oh meow, and who’s the gorgeous cat?

AHMOSE: Um, the regular looking cat you can see is, uh, you, Cleo.

CLEO: Oh yeah, it is me!

The statue is so shiny I can see my reflection!

AHMOSE: It’s made out of a really hard rock called granodiorite,

which can be polished so it shines beautifully.

But it’s not the only shiny thing to do with Tutankhamun.

His tomb was filled with treasures like figurines, jewellery, beautiful furniture and a spectacular gold mask.

CLEO: In his tomb? So after he died?

AHMOSE: Yeah, they believed this young king needed these treasures in the afterlife.

CLEO: Interesting. AHMOSE: You want to see some more interesting ancient Egyptian artefacts?

CLEO: Meow, yes I do! AHMOSE: Come on then!

[flapping] CLEO: Meow, claws, claws! AHMOSE: Well, come on then!

[flapping, padding footsteps]