Because his tomb is the only tomb of a Pharaoh discovered in the Valley of the Kings that had not been robbed. All of the treasures buried with the king were still there.
Most Pharaonic tombs had been looted over the centuries, so only the tomb itself and none of its actual contents remained. Not Tutankhamun though, his tomb was crammed full of “wonderful things” in Howard Carter's own words.
As a matter of fact, Tutankhamun renown in the modern world is somewhat ironic, given that during his reign he actually accomplished fairly little of note. Today, he is, along with Cleopatra and possibly Ramesses the Great, among the only Egyptian Kings that most ordinary people can name.
It is unlikely, however, that most ordinary people living in Ancient Egypt some time after Tutankhamun death would be able to recall him, or at least name any of his achievements, which were few.
Given that he was a child for most of his reign and died at 19, with the proceedings of the Royal Court likely being overseen by the vizier Ay, Tutankhamun was probably regarded as a footnote in history, insofar as a monarch viewed as a living god could be considered inconsequential.
It seems that even soon after his death, the Egyptians didn't waste too much time mourning, despite the riches interned within, the tomb of Tutankhamun is uncharacteristically small for king, and the priceless treasures buried with the Pharaoh were literally stacked unceremoniously on top of each other to maximise space, rather like one would cram bicycles into the back of car.
The whole thing appears to have been a rather rushed affair, probably owing to the Pharaoh's sudden and unexpected demise.
Going by the size of the tomb, and some of the wall paintings, it was originally intended to house less important official or royal noble, possibly Tutankhamun’s mother (who was also his aunt - inbreeding probably contributed to his early death) and it was reprised at short notice.
This is possibly what spared it from robbers; nobody would have suspected such riches would be buried in such a modest tomb.
Most Pharaonic tombs had been looted over the centuries, so only the tomb itself and none of its actual contents remained. Not Tutankhamun though, his tomb was crammed full of “wonderful things” in Howard Carter's own words.
As a matter of fact, Tutankhamun renown in the modern world is somewhat ironic, given that during his reign he actually accomplished fairly little of note. Today, he is, along with Cleopatra and possibly Ramesses the Great, among the only Egyptian Kings that most ordinary people can name.
Given that he was a child for most of his reign and died at 19, with the proceedings of the Royal Court likely being overseen by the vizier Ay, Tutankhamun was probably regarded as a footnote in history, insofar as a monarch viewed as a living god could be considered inconsequential.
It seems that even soon after his death, the Egyptians didn't waste too much time mourning, despite the riches interned within, the tomb of Tutankhamun is uncharacteristically small for king, and the priceless treasures buried with the Pharaoh were literally stacked unceremoniously on top of each other to maximise space, rather like one would cram bicycles into the back of car.
The whole thing appears to have been a rather rushed affair, probably owing to the Pharaoh's sudden and unexpected demise.
Going by the size of the tomb, and some of the wall paintings, it was originally intended to house less important official or royal noble, possibly Tutankhamun’s mother (who was also his aunt - inbreeding probably contributed to his early death) and it was reprised at short notice.
This is possibly what spared it from robbers; nobody would have suspected such riches would be buried in such a modest tomb.
Tutankhamun was actually born Tutankhaten to the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Akhenaten, who is notable for his sweeping religious deviation - Akhenaten was ostensibly the world's first monotheist, replacing the vast pantheon that made up Egyptian religion with the single cult of Aten - the sun disk - who was until then a minor solar deity.
The precise reason for Akhenaten fixation with Aten in particular is unclear, but his radical ideas shook Egypt to its core. Akhenaten attempted build a new capital at Amarna (Akhetaten in Egyptian, meaning “horizon of the Aten”), featuring numerous grand temples honouring the sun disk and Akhenaten as its prophet.
It came as no surprise to anybody apart from maybe Akhenaten himself that these religious reforms were not popular, the priesthood were naturally outraged, and even the young Tutankhaten must have known it because immediately after ascending to power he reinstated the old pantheon, and Amarna was largely abandoned.
Tutankhaten made a bold personal step in distancing himself the Amarna Heresies as they have come to be known, by changing his name to Tutankhamun - “living image of Amun,” Amun being the traditional chief God.
And that was about the only notable thing Tutankhamun did during his years on the throne, several generations of inbreeding resulted in a number of severe health problems including a clubbed foot, scoliosis and probably developing breasts that only worsened during his adolescence.
While some have suggested murder, it is more likely in my opinion that the young Pharaoh died from complications from an injury resulting from his debilitating condition.
In death, however, Tutankhamun achieved what most Pharaohs with more lavish burials could not - sort of immortality. Or at least an undying legacy arising from the fact that his tomb was found unlooted, just as it had been left when it was first sealed over 3,000 years ago.
In 1923, the story of the riches of the tomb of the boy king took the world by storm, and is remembered to this day as one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history.
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