17. Tut Had Many Different Names
In the religion of ancient Egypt, the people believed that the pharaohs were from the gods and, often, that they were incarnations of the gods themselves. The name that King Tut received at birth was Tutankhaten, “living image of Aten.” He had many other names, which were also associated with his supposed divinity. One was Kanakht Tutmesut, in honor of Horus, which means, “pleasing of birth,” or, “the strong bull.” Another was Neferhepusegerehtawy Werahamun Nebrdjer, in honor of Nebti. This mouthful of a name means that he brings peace and perfect laws, or that the palace of Amun is great.
In particular, the religion of ancient Egypt positioned the pharaohs as either son of the sun god, Ra, or as manifestations of Ra himself. Worship of Ra and beliefs about him were closely related to those of Aten, the sun god that Tut’s father worshiped to the exclusion of all others. Tut’s name Nebkheperure meant that he was the lord of the manifestation of Ra. However, he disposed of his Aten name, Tutankhaten, when he ascended the throne and brought back the polytheistic religion. He may have distinguished between Ra and Aten and favored Ra, in defiance of his father.