400 years ago, a trio of tiny kingdoms were perched on some damp islands off the coast of Europe.

Within three short centuries, these islands would become the centre of an empire which ruled a quarter

of the globe and on which the sun never set. I'm Samuel Hume, a historian of the British Empire,

and my podcast Pax Britannica follows the people and events that built that empire into a global

superpower. Learn the history of the British Empire by listening to Pax Britannica,

everywhere you find your podcasts, or go to pod.linkslashpax.

This episode includes extended descriptions of skeletons, human remains, and pathology.

We discuss the mummy of Tutankhamun and what it can tell us about his childhood.

In particular, we explore features of Tutankhamun's skull, bones, and infancy.

I realise some listeners may wish to avoid discussion of human remains,

so please bear that in mind and use discretion when listening to this episode. Thank you.

Hello and welcome back to the history of Egypt podcast, episode 143, The Boy King.

A look at the childhood of King Tutankhamun. Thanks to the preservation of his tomb and his mummy,

we can examine aspects of his early life. Today, we introduce the childhood of Tutankhamun.

What his mummy tells us about his early experiences. This podcast comes to you on behalf of Jesse,

Angela, and Laura, who generously support the show as overseers on Patreon. Friends, you are

too kind. Your gifts bring all good things and help sustain the cycle of Mahat. May this episode

bring you joy. To everyone listening, thank you for joining me, on with the story.

The year was approximately 1338 BCE. Reignal year 6 under the majesty of Tutankhamun,

the son of Ra, the king of southern and northern Egypt. Tutankhamun was about 15 years old,

give or take. So he was a teenager, physically maturing, and leaving his childhood behind.

These days, the world knows Tutankhamun as the boy king, a child emperor ruling the greatest

...