Here is a What Is a Pharaoh? who ruled for only about nine years and died young, yet his name is known all over the world: Tutankhamun.
Key idea
Tutankhamun became king at about eight or nine years old and died at about eighteen (he ruled c. 1336–1327 BC). His small tomb in the Valley of the Kings was found nearly untouched in 1922, full of treasure.
Why it works
Robbers broke into almost every royal tomb long ago and took the treasure. Tutankhamun's tomb was small and hidden under later rubble, so most of it survived. That is why he is famous: not for great deeds, but because his tomb shows us what a king took with him. Nobody knows for sure why he died so young.
Worked example: A new name
He was born Tutankhaten, "living image of the Aten." Why did he change it to Tutankhamun?
- The king before him had put the sun disk, the Aten, above all other gods.
- The boy king brought back the old gods, led by Amun.
- His new name honored Amun.
Answer: To show he had brought back the worship of the god Amun.
Common mistake
Thinking Tutankhamun was the greatest pharaoh. He was a young king who ruled only a short time. He is famous because his tomb was found nearly complete. You can read how it was found in Finding Tutankhamun's Tomb.