The Burial of Tutankhamun:

A Webquest

by Sharon Deam and Amie Charlson

         

Introduction

Ancient Egypt is full of mystery. Mystery surrounds its origins, its religion and its architecture. The Egyptian pyramids are the most famous of the ancient monuments, the only remaining wonder of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The mighty Nile River, which flows north from the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea, nourished the growth of the kingdom. The long, narrow flood plain was central for life, attracting people, animals and plants to its banks. In pre-dynastic times, nomadic hunters settled in the valley and began to grow crops to supplement their food supply. Seen as a gift from the gods, the annual flooding of the river deposited nutrient rich silt over the land, creating ideal conditions for growing wheat, flax and other crops.

The Pharaohs, great Egyptian leaders, were seen as gods, divine representatives on earth who, through rituals, ensured the continuation of life. After death, they became immortal, joining the gods in the afterworld.

The Egyptians believed that the body and soul were important to human existence, in life and in death. Their funerary practices, such as mummification and burial in tombs, were designed to assist the deceased find their way in the afterworld.

King Tutankhamen, an important Egyptian pharaoh during the eighteenth dynasty, was buried early due to a premature death at age eighteen.  Despite the prominence he attained after the 1922 excavation of his burial site, little is known about this mysterious young king.

Task

 You are ancient Egyptians during the reign of King Tutankhamen, the great pharaoh.  Sadly, your king has unexpectedly passed away at the age of eighteen.  There are many mysteries surrounding his death, but the task at hand is to prepare to bury your king.   Each of you, in your own way, will be playing an important role in saying farewell to young King Tut.  By preparing for the king's funeral, you will learn about the burial customs and practices of the ancient Egyptians and the reign of an infamous Egyptian leader.

Process

I.  Initial Research:  Each one of your four person team will assume one of the roles described below.  Depending upon your individual role, you need to visit both the general web sites listed below as well as the web pages specific to your role (see "Resources").

Roles:

Mummification Apprentice:  You are a young Egyptian wanting to learn the custom and methods of physically preparing a king's body for burial.   Officials in Tut's palace have granted you permission to assist with Tut's mummification under strict supervision of a veteran. In order to prove yourself for future apprenticeship with the palace, you are required to submit a report of your first experience with mummifying to the palace officials.   Write the report that you will give to them.  Use the following questions as a guide:

  • How is the body physically mummified?
  • What are the main differences in the mummification of a king versus anyone else?
  • How long does the process take?
  • Why is mummification done?  What affects does it have on the dead's soul or afterlife?

Tomb Designer:  Because of the king's unexpected death, there is no tomb designed personally for his burial; however, palace officials have decided to use one of the tombs previously designed in the event of a high official's death.  You have been ordered to visit the proposed site of the burial to obtain an overview of the design and appropriateness of the site. You must write a report to the palace officials about your findings and include a drawing of the floor plan.  Use the following questions as a guide:

  • What are the dimensions of the tomb?
  • How many rooms does the tomb contain?  What was each room used for?
  • Why is this tomb appropriate for a king's burial?
  • What type of hieroglyphics would be most appropriate for the walls of the tomb?

Palace Historian:   As the palace historian, you are responsible for recording significant events in the life of the king.  Write a brief record to be submitted to top palace officials.  Include the following in your report:

  •  Tut's birth
  • Marriages
  • Wars
  • General reign
  • Cause of death (remember: these are OFFICIAL PALACE DOCUMENTS)
  • Who succeeded him as king?

Spiritual Advisor:  As the spiritual advisor to the king, you are required to compose Tut's funeral rites as they will be recorded in the The Book of the Dead.   Include the following in your record: 

  • Discuss the preparedness of Tut's "ka" for the afterlife.
  • List material items which will accompany Tut on his journey.  Explain the significance of each one.
  • What spirits, gods, and goddesses will be present at his burial?

II.  Final Written Product:   After researching according to your specific role, you will begin writing your reports or records using the writing process (see "Advice" for more specific guidelines).  After your final drafts are completed, share your findings by reading your reports to fellow group members.  Your group will be required to turn in your four published reports, your notes, highlighted copies of web pages, and all writing drafts.  These materials should be presented in an organized folder with labels.

Advice

1.  As you research, be sure to take good notes from the information.  Index cards with each topic you will address in your report work well.  It will also be beneficial to print out each web page and highlight important information.

2.  Don't forget to use proper writing techniques when drafting your report.  You will not be turning in your first draft!  Be sure to brainstorm and pre-write before writing.  After your first draft is written, trade it with another group member for peer revision.  Your final draft should show vast improvement from the first.  

3.  Remember that you are writing from the perspective of a person living in ancient Egypt.  Assume your role carefully and thoughtfully as you write.  It is fine to embellish your report with "authenticity" by making up information about your personal characteristics or lifestyle, but be careful not to exaggerate or distort the general facts you must report.

Resources

 General sites on ancient Egypt:

Sites for the Mummification Apprentice:

Sites for the Tomb Designer:

 

Sites for the Historian:

Sites for the Spiritual Advisor:

Evaluation

This project will be evaluated based upon the following:

1.  Do you have four complete, revised, edited and typed reports?

2.  Does each report address the questions listed below your individual role?  Is the information accurately and descriptively presented?  Is there evidence of material synthesis and not mere encyclopedic listing of facts?

3.  Is each report written in first personal point of view based upon the role?

4.  Has each report been written using the writing process? (Brainstorming, Prewriting, Drafting, Revision, Editing, Publication).  Is improvement evident?

5.  Is the folder presented neatly and professionally?

Conclusion

After planning the funeral of King Tut, you should now be familiar with the funerary practices and religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, as well as with the life and reign of the great pharaoh.  This project should motivate you to further explore the mysteries surrounding this fascinating Egyptian culture as we discover more as a class.