Those who "defiled" the tomb of the young Egyptian king Tutankhamun suffered misfortune, illness, and sudden death. Are they really the victims of the three thousand year curse?
After the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun was closed for nine months due to the appearance of fungal formations on its ancient vault, in the summer of 1991 it was reopened for scientific research in an atmosphere of general unrest. With the resumption of work in Luxor, in the south of Egypt, the whole world waited with bated breath to see if the fatal chain of misfortunes, diseases and deaths that had lasted seventy years, which popular rumor associated with the legend of the curse of the pharaoh, would not resume.
Terrible warnings
The legend of Tutankhamun's curse attracted public attention in the early twenties, when plans arose to open the tomb for the first time in three thousand years. When fifty-seven-year-old amateur archaeologist Lord Carnarvon prepared to excavate this fabulously rich tomb, he was well aware of the myth of Tutankhamun's curse. Shortly before the start of the expedition, while in Britain, the fanatic Egyptologist turned for advice to the famous mystic of the time, Count Haymon. The count's conclusion was categorical: “Lord Carnarvon must not enter the tomb. Disobedience is fraught with danger. If this warning is ignored, he will get sick. It won't recover from the disease. Death will come in Egypt. Carnarvon, however, was determined to continue and complete his life's work. His team had been working on a project to excavate Tutankhamun's tomb for many years, ever since the Egyptian government won a concession to search the Valley of the Kings, an already dug valley in Egypt. The Lord and his American partner Howard Carter began serious excavations only in 1917. For five seasons, they were fatally unlucky. Having spent enormous efforts, archaeologists managed to unearth only alabaster vessels with the inscribed names of Ramses II and Merempta. Lord Carnarvon and Carter had a long debate over whether to continue excavating the sixth season. And we decided to make one more last attempt. For five seasons, they were fatally unlucky. Having spent enormous efforts, archaeologists managed to unearth only alabaster vessels with the inscribed names of Ramses II and Merempta. Lord Carnarvon and Carter had a long debate over whether to continue excavating the sixth season. And we decided to make one more last attempt. For five seasons, they were fatally unlucky. Having spent enormous efforts, archaeologists managed to unearth only alabaster vessels with the inscribed names of Ramses II and Merempta. Lord Carnarvon and Carter had a long debate over whether to continue excavating the sixth season. And we decided to make one more last attempt.
Tomb
The only site in the Valley of the Kings, where Carnarvon and Carter had not yet excavated, was so dug up by previous expeditions that everyone believed that it was useless to continue research there. To expand the search area, the partners ordered the demolition of several old huts. When the first one was demolished, a step carved into the rock was found under it. At that time Carnarvon was already in England. He received a call and an agitated lord persuaded Carter to suspend the excavation for three weeks until he returned to Egypt. The researchers then went through the most nervous week of their lives. It was clear that they were on the verge of the greatest archaeological discovery of the century: continuing the excavations, the workers discovered the tomb of the unknown young pharaoh. It turned out to be intact from the day when his mortal body was buried by the slaves of Ancient Egypt. The atmosphere of awe and superstitious dread surrounding the find disturbed the researchers. As they approached their cherished goal, they experienced more and more difficulties in organizing excavations, as local workers went in droves to their villages. The situation escalated even more when the ominous inscription was translated over the entrance to the crypt. It read: "Those who disturb the sleep of the pharaohs will die." The climax came on February 17, 1923. It was on this day that the archaeologists entered the crypt of the young pharaoh. Contemplating with awe the treasures buried there, Carter exclaimed, "What wonderful things!" The front room contained golden chests and boxes, golden chairs, a throne, benches, statues, animal heads, a golden snake, and alabaster bases. We opened the next room. When it was lit with a torch, the archaeologists were faced with a wall of gold. This room had three doors. Two were tightly closed. Researchers have not yet touched them. They opened the third door. It led into a small corridor, behind which was a treasure chest. There were images of gods and goddesses made of gold, scenes from the afterlife. The main miracle of antiquity was still waiting for archaeologists - what was behind one of the two closed doors - a coffin made of pure gold with the mummy of the young king Tutankhamun. But this amazing discovery was to be made a little later.what was behind one of the two closed doors - a coffin made of pure gold with the mummy of the young king Tutankhamun. But this amazing discovery was to be made a little later.what was behind one of the two closed doors - a coffin made of pure gold with the mummy of the young king Tutankhamun. But this amazing discovery was to be made a little later.
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The curse works
When the tomb was opened, priceless treasures of antiquity were found. But it seems that a mysterious dark force that had been dormant there for three thousand years was disturbed. Carnarvon died two months later. Complaining of poor health, he took to bed at the Continental Hotel in Cairo. In the last hours the lord was courted by a son. The life of the famous archaeologist, as doctors believed, was carried away by a fever from the bite of a poisonous mosquito. In his hour of death in Cairo, the lights mysteriously went out and re-lit several times. And on the lord's country estate in England, a dog whined and howled in the middle of the night. When her howl lifted the entire family and servants to their feet, the dog fell silent and gave up the ghost. Carter was only able to resume work in the winter of 1925. First, they opened one, then the second of the remaining intact doors leading to the sarcophagus. Carter himself described what appeared to his gaze,with the following words: “With extraordinary excitement, I pushed back the locks of the last doors. They opened immediately. Inside, filling almost the entire space, stood a huge sarcophagus of yellow quartzite. Particularly striking was the sculptural image of the goddess sculpted on the lid with an outstretched hand, stopping or warning someone entering. The lid of the sarcophagus weighed over half a ton, and it took some time to install the lifting devices. The sarcophagus had to be disassembled and taken out. This difficult task was made easier by the fact that its eighty component parts were carefully numbered by the builders. When the lifting device was assembled and the lid of the sarcophagus was carefully lifted, under it everyone saw a heap of half-rotted tissue. But under this heap hid a golden image of Tutankhamun on the lid of the coffin - that very famous image,which was subsequently brilliantly restored, and his photographs went around the world. No wonder Howard Carter described his find so enthusiastically. But soon his delight was overshadowed by an amazing series of tragic events. Lord Carnarvon was not the only one whose life ended untimely shortly after visiting the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Following him died archaeologist Arthur Mace, who was present at the opening of the tomb. He also fell ill and took to bed at the Continental Hotel with complaints of overwork. Carnarvon's close friend George Gould came to Egypt to pay his last respects to the deceased. Just a few hours after his visit to the tomb, he was overcome by a fever. The radiologist Archibald Reid, whose equipment was used to determine the age of the tomb, was sent to England due to complaints of excessive fatigue. He died immediately after arriving home. Within six years after the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, twelve of those who were present at the opening of it died. And the curse continued to operate and take tribute. For ten years, only two of the original expedition members survived. Twenty-five people, one way or another connected with the excavation, died prematurely. Then the curse seems to have calmed down, as if satiated with the sacrifices made to it.one way or another associated with the excavation, died prematurely. Then the curse seems to have calmed down, as if satiated with the sacrifices made to it.one way or another associated with the excavation, died prematurely. Then the curse seems to have calmed down, as if satiated with the sacrifices made to it.
New victims
In 1966, on the eve of an international exhibition of archaeological finds, the director of the Egyptian archaeological department, Mohammed Ibrahim, launched a campaign against the removal of the found treasures from the country. He stated that he would rather die than allow them to be taken out as planned to Paris. His opinion was not taken into account. After a decisive meeting in Cairo, Mohammed Ibrahim was hit by a car and died at the scene. Fear resumed in 1972, when King Tut's golden death mask was being prepared to be sent to an exhibition in London. The successor to the late Mohammed Ibrahim, Dr. Gamal Mehrez, was responsible for sending it from Cairo. Dr. Mehrez, a scientist and atheist, did not fear any curses. He stated: “More than anyone else in the world, I was engaged in work related to the tombs and mummies of the pharaohs. And I'm alive. I am living testimony that all tragediesrelated to the pharaohs, just a coincidence. All preparatory work on the selection of gold items from the tomb of Tutankhamun went without problems. The collections were packed and loaded onto vehicles to be shipped to the airport. That evening, Dr. Mehrez finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to leave the Cairo museum when he suddenly fell down dead from a heart failure. Strange, but of all those who had to do with the tomb of the pharaoh, only the second leader of the excavation, Howard Carter, managed to escape the curse. He died of natural causes in 1939. There have been many theories regarding the curse of King Tutankhamun. Some scholars believed that poisonous substances were immured in the tomb. Atomic scientist Professor Luis Bulgarini has suggested that the ancient Egyptians may haveused radioactive materials to protect sacred burials. He stated: “It is possible that the Egyptians used atomic radiation to protect their holy sites. They could cover the floors in tombs with uranium or decorate the graves with radioactive stones.” The most sinister, however, was Philip Vandenburg's theory. In his book The Curse of the Pharaohs, he wrote that the pyramids and tombs were fertile ground for bacteria that form the fatal virus. Those who reopened the tomb in 1991, of course, could not help but remember this theory, for the tomb was also closed due to the spread of virulent fungal formation generated by bacteria from the breath of millions of visitors. They could cover the floors in tombs with uranium or decorate the graves with radioactive stones.” The most sinister, however, was Philip Vandenburg's theory. In his book The Curse of the Pharaohs, he wrote that the pyramids and tombs were fertile ground for bacteria that form the fatal virus. Those who reopened the tomb in 1991, of course, could not help but remember this theory, for the tomb was also closed due to the spread of a virulent fungal formation generated by bacteria from the breath of millions of visitors. They could cover the floors in tombs with uranium or decorate the graves with radioactive stones.” The most sinister, however, was Philip Vandenburg's theory. In his book The Curse of the Pharaohs, he wrote that the pyramids and tombs were fertile ground for bacteria that form the fatal virus. Those who reopened the tomb in 1991, of course, could not help but remember this theory, for the tomb was also closed due to the spread of a virulent fungal formation generated by bacteria from the breath of millions of visitors. They could not help but remember this theory, for the tomb was also closed due to the spread of a virulent fungal formation generated by bacteria from the breath of millions of visitors. They could not help but remember this theory, for the tomb was also closed due to the spread of a virulent fungal formation generated by bacteria from the breath of millions of visitors.