Rulers & Emperors · Head-to-head
Akhenaten vs Tutankhamun
Yes — based on their recorded years, Akhenaten (c. 1353–1336 BCE) and Tutankhamun (c. 1341–1323 BCE) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
Akhenaten
An Egyptian pharaoh who overturned traditional religion in favor of worship centered on the sun disc Aten, and was the father of Tutankhamun.
Key achievements
- Ruled Egypt's 18th Dynasty for roughly 17 years
- Promoted Atenism, a religious movement centered on the sun disc Aten, breaking from Egypt's traditional polytheism
- Founded the new capital city of Akhetaten, dedicated to his religious reforms
- Was the father of Tutankhamun, whose later reign reversed most of Akhenaten's religious changes
Fast fact
Akhenaten built an entirely new capital city, Akhetaten, dedicated to the worship of the sun disc Aten, but the city and his religious reforms were abandoned soon after his death.
Full profile of Akhenaten →Tutankhamun
A young Egyptian pharaoh who restored traditional religion after his father's reforms, and whose nearly intact tomb became one of archaeology's greatest discoveries.
Key achievements
- Became pharaoh of Egypt as a child, around age nine
- Restored the traditional polytheistic religion abandoned by his father Akhenaten
- Was buried with an enormous wealth of grave goods, including his famous gold death mask
- Became globally famous after Howard Carter discovered his nearly intact tomb in 1922
Fast fact
Archaeologist Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 largely undisturbed by looters, filled with thousands of treasures including his iconic gold burial mask.
Full profile of Tutankhamun →Who lived first, Akhenaten or Tutankhamun?
Akhenaten (c. 1353–1336 BCE) lived first, before Tutankhamun (c. 1341–1323 BCE), based on their recorded years.
Were Akhenaten and Tutankhamun contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Akhenaten (c. 1353–1336 BCE) and Tutankhamun (c. 1341–1323 BCE) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Akhenaten and Tutankhamun have in common?
Both Akhenaten and Tutankhamun are grouped among our Rulers & Emperors figures and lived during the Ancient World.