hic

Tut restored the land to the old religion, even changed his name for it. I've heard it accounted (although I can't remember where) that Horemheb invoked Tut's name after his death and that would support his popularity. So would the fact that he took steps to ensure the protection of Tut's tomb. You have to remember it had been a very turbulent time before Tut came to the throne. Things were hopeful, but tense as he grew through adolescence. The last children of the Thutmosid line were on the throne, Tut and his sister/wife who had had two miscarriages within three years prior to his death. Some folks might have seen that as a bad sign. Ankhesenamun disappears completely once Tut is gone. Clearly someone felt badly enough towards her. Tut was frequently depicted as a vibrant youth. Who knows if the spin worked or not though.

X

Her (Ankhsenamen) marriage to Aye, while not a proven fact, is strongly suggested, particularly by a ring naming them both that has been found. The Amarna letters, from a widow-queen asking for a Hittite prince in marriage, and saying that she "did not wish to marry a servant" was assumed to be from her, Aye being the "servant" to which she referred. Whatever the circumstances, she disappeared shortly after Aye's "take-over". Neither her mummy or her tomb have ever been found. Political "games" seem to have been in play, big time.