Tutankhamun’s Treasures
A hundred years ago, archaeologists made a great discovery – they discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun. This grandiose scientific event was accompanied by a series of mysterious coincidences.
Key Points
Valley of the Kings
the necropolis of the Egyptian pharaohs – was considered well explored by the beginning of the last century. The gorge was almost completely dug up by archaeologists, casual treasure hunters and simple marauders.
Therefore, when in the summer of 1922 the British amateur explorer Howard Carter began searching for the tomb of Tutankhamun, many scientists were skeptical about this. It seemed almost impossible to find something new there.
Doubted the success of the enterprise and Lord George Carnarvon, who financed the expedition. Months went by and not a single clue.
What was his surprise when, on November 6, he received a telegram from Luxor: “Finally, an amazing discovery has been made in the valley: a magnificent tomb with intact seals; closed until your arrival.”
A few days earlier, Carter’s workers had cleared a small patch of land in the center of the gorge that had once been the site of an Egyptian builders’ village. She showed no interest. But the researcher decided that it was still worth digging here. And I didn’t guess.
Under the remains of one of the huts, a massive stone step appeared, followed by a second, a third. Soon a long underground corridor opened up, and at the end of it – a plastered wall with seals. Jackal and nine bows are royal signs. The leader of the expedition no longer doubted that behind them was the tomb of the highest-ranking person.
who had come from England Lord Carnarvon , was also impatient. The first wall was opened on November 24 and at first they were disappointed. It turned out that the cartouche seals were broken and then carefully restored. “It happened, apparently, in antiquity,” Carter suggested in his diary.
But the second doors were untouched. In addition, “Nebheprura” – the throne name of Tutankhamun – was engraved on them.
“Too good to be true,” wrote the archaeologist.
February 17, 1923, Carter began to open the burial chamber. The government delegation closely followed the work. When the passage was completely cleared, a wall appeared before the eyes of those present – all of gold. A giant ark more than five meters long occupied almost the entire room.
Inside it are three more, also made of precious metal. And finally – the mummy of the pharaoh. The whole room is painted with plots of funeral rituals. Then there was an unwalled passage to the treasury – another storehouse of luxury
Naturally, the sensation could not go unnoticed. Journalists from the world’s leading publications rushed to Egypt to see the tomb with their own eyes and get an exclusive interview with those who were the first to visit it over the past 33 centuries.
Fearing too much noise, Carter and Lord Carnarvon made an exception for The Times, selling the rights to cover the events for £5,000. The rest were indignant. But time has shown: they didn’t care what to discuss.
The Curse of King Tut
In April 1923, at the age of 56, Lord Carnarvon died unexpectedly from a transient blood poisoning, probably caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. Shortly before this, the editors of The New York World magazine received a letter from the English writer Maria Corelli. She warned of terrible consequences for anyone who disturbs the peace of Tutankhamun.
News of the “curse” was quickly picked up by reporters. An inscription, supposedly carved on the wall of the crypt, walked through the pages of newspapers: “Those who enter this sacred tomb will soon be visited by the wings of death.” In addition, in the next five years, under strange circumstances, several more people involved in the discovery died.
Following Cornarvon is a member of the Egyptian royal family, Prince Ali Kamel Fahmi Bey (he was shot by his own wife). A year later, radiologist Sir Archibald Douglas-Reid, from a disease that was not entirely clear. In 1928 – archaeologist Arthur Mays (from the moment of discovery, his health gradually deteriorated). Finally, in 1929, Howard Carter’s secretary died for unknown reasons.
Modern researchers, however, have completely dispelled the newspaper myth. Firstly, all those mentioned (with the exception of the prince) died on average at the age of 70 years – for that time a considerable period. Secondly, if we talk about the death of Carnarvon, then it is not difficult to catch a fever in Egypt. In addition, the lord suffered from a pulmonary disease for many years.
Thirdly – and most importantly – the “curse” for some reason bypassed Howard Carter. It would seem that he deserves retribution in the first place. However, he continued to study the find for 16 years and died in 1939.
British archaeologist Nicholas Reeves suggested that the mummy of another royal person, Nefertiti, his stepmother, might be hiding in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Reeves noticed that there were only four rooms in the pharaoh’s tomb, while in others there were at least ten.
However, the scientist is sure that Tutankhamun still has many secrets.
