With great joy, scientists all over the world were greeted by the news that a tomb was found in Egypt, literally filled with ancient treasures. But this joy soon gave way to a chilling horror. Those who were somehow related to the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun suddenly began to die under rather mysterious circumstances.
Since ancient times, people have been attracted by the tombs of the pharaohs. They all have different goals. Someone wants to enrich themselves with the knowledge of Ancient Egyptian culture, to unravel the secrets of the great pharaohs. Others just want to plunder the tombs and make a lot of money on it. But quite often, instead of treasures, adventurers stumble upon curses and misfortunes! The tomb of Tutankhamun bears the glory of the tomb, bringing misfortune and death to those who encroached on its rest.
Tutankhamun - Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, during his short reign (1333 - 1323 BC) was not particularly noted for anything. As the famous archaeologist Howard Carter put it: "With the present state of our knowledge, we can only say with certainty: the only remarkable event in his life was that he died and was buried."
But unlike its master, the pharaoh's tomb was a colossal discovery. Thanks to the objects that Tutankhamun took with him into the afterlife, thousands of secrets of the ancient state were revealed to the modern world. The scale of the things found, among which: utensils, samples of art, luxury items, a sarcophagus of pure gold, potions, is striking in its scope. Found treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun occupy 10 rooms of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, each of which is equal to the area of a football field.
The opening of this unique monument of eternity took place on November 4, 1922. The pioneers were Egyptologist Howard Carter and amateur archaeologist George Cornavorn. The entrance to the tomb was filled up, so it remained untouched by robbers for centuries. It was a phenomenal success!
But later the joy of the archaeologists was overshadowed by a strange series of deaths of the expedition members and their loved ones. The whole world started talking about the "curse of the Pharaoh." It is no coincidence that a clay tablet was left in the tomb of Tutankhamun with an ominous inscription: "The pitchfork of death will pierce the one who disturbed the peace of the Pharaoh."
The curse began to take effect … The first victim was Lord Cornarvon, who financed the expedition. It happened in April 1923 in Cairo, the reason is pneumonia. Together with Cornarvon, a dead woman was found in the room of the Continental Hotel, the Lord's nurse. Just a few days later, the life of the archaeologist Arthur Mace, who participated in the excavation of the pharaoh's tomb, was interrupted in the same hotel.
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After that, death took the lives of millionaire George Gould, who also visited the tomb, and the radiologist who worked with the mummy of Tutankhamun Archie Reid.
The curse did not end there, for several years Cornarvon's half-brother, the Lord's widow, American professors James Henry Brasted, Norman de Harris Davis and Sir Alan Henderson Gardiner died under mysterious circumstances. There are 22 “victims of the curse” in total.
However, some scholars are skeptical about the "curse of the pharaoh". The average life expectancy of "victims of the curse" is 74.4 years. But it is impossible to firmly assert that all 22 people died a natural death. There are too many mysteries associated with the demise of the "damned". It is also worth noting that, by a strange coincidence, Lord Cornarvon, who financed the expedition and possibly pursued mercenary motives, and his loved ones suffered the most. The fact that George Cornavorn, going to the Valley of the Kings, pursued his own goals, is evidenced by the fact that the grandson of the lord, Henry Herbert, found in the old castle that belonged to his grandfather, numerous hiding places containing works of ancient Egyptian art and jewelry. Perhaps that is why the wrath of the pharaoh was more reflected in this family.
Also, the cause of death of the members of the expedition and those close to them could have been the poisons in the tomb. It is known that the ancient Egyptians masterfully prepared poisons. Their pharmaceutical knowledge was legendary.
Another possible cause is fungus and other microorganisms that usually form in caves and, in particular, in tombs.
It is curious that during the visit of the USSR Secretary General Nikita Khrushchev, the KGB strictly forbade the Soviet delegation to enter the tomb. The ruler of the USSR politely refused the offer of the Egyptian authorities to visit the pyramid.
Now the mysterious tomb of Tutankhamun itself risks sinking into oblivion, since the walls of the tomb are covered with stains of unknown origin. The Egyptian authorities decided to close the tomb for restoration work, the preliminary work period is 5 years.
Perhaps, thanks to these works, mankind will reveal more than one secret of Ancient Egypt. Or will such an intervention turn into a new series of "victims of the Pharaoh's curse"..?