In 1922, archeologist Howard Carter found the tomb of King Tutankhamun, the boy king, also known as King Tut.
In 1907, Lord Carnarvon hired Carter to search the burial tombs of Egypt for dead nobles. For 16 years, Carter hunted for archeological mysteries. His long search was fruitless.
Carter became obsessed with finding the tomb of the forgotten dead king. His patience paid off. On November 4th, 1922, he discovered a step that had been cut into a rock. The step led to 16 stairs. The stairs led to a sealed door covered in royal designs.
An excited Carter immediately sent word to Lord Carnarvon. Three weeks later, the two men went down the steps together. Workmen removed the sealed door. Behind that door were things that no one had seen in 3,300 years.
King Tut’s burial chamber was stuffed with treasure beyond imagining. Its discovery would make household names of Carter and Carnarvon. It would also make a legend of the forgotten boy-king who died at age 18.
Amongst the treasure was the royal Egyptian mummy in his elaborate coffin. His face was hidden by a mask made from gold. Some say something else was in that dark and secret tomb: A terrible curse for anyone who violated King Tut’s final resting place.
Can there be any truth in such a superstition?
In March of the next year, Lord Carnarvon was bitten by a mosquito. The British aristocrat made the bite worse while shaving. Shortly after, he died of blood poisoning. His dog was said to have died the same time his master kicked the bucket. A member of Carter’s excavation team died of arsenic poisoning. And a rich American who visited the tomb died of pneumonia shortly after. People involved with the tomb were dropping like flies.
The creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, called it the ‘curse of the mummy.’ The curse of King Tut was born.
Critics say if such a curse exists, why was Carter spared? The famous archeologist didn’t die until 1939 at the age of 64. They also say that Lord Carnarvon was chronically ill before he entered the tomb.
Despite this, the curse of King Tut has become equally as famous as the archeological discovery.
In 1982, San Francisco police lieutenant George LaBrash suffered a stroke while guarding the ancient mask of King Tut. LaBrash sued the authorities. He believed he was a victim of the pharaoh’s curse. LaBrash said, “I firmly believe that King Tut’s curse is as good an explanation for what has happened to me as any.” The police officer was unsuccessful in his lawsuit.
Did Carter and Carnarvon really unearth a terrible curse, or is it nothing more than a series of coincidences?
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Digging up trouble: beware the curse of King Tutankhamun
In 1907, Lord Carnarvon hired Howard Carter, an archeologist to search for burial tombs in Egypt. For 16 years, Carter searched. He found nothing for a long time.
Carter wanted to find the tomb of the lost king. His hard work finally paid off. On November 4th, 1922, he found steps cut into a rock. These steps led to a door with royal symbols on it. It was closed and sealed.
Carter sent word to Lord Carnarvon about his discovery. Three weeks later, they both went down the steps. Workers opened the sealed door. Behind it were objects hidden for 3,300 years.
Inside King Tut’s tomb, there was treasure. This discovery turned Carter and Carnarvon into household names. It also turned King Tut into a legend. They found his mummy in a fancy coffin. His face was covered with a gold mask.
Some people believe there was a curse in the tomb. They said it would hurt anyone who disturbed the boy king.
The following year, Lord Carnarvon got a mosquito bite. He later died from an infection. His dog also died when he kicked the bucket.
A member of Carter’s team died from poisoning. An American who visited the tomb died from an illness. Many people connected to the tomb were dropping like flies.
Some wonder why Carter wasn’t affected by this curse. He lived until 1939, dying at 64. They also say that Lord Carnarvon was already sick before he went into the tomb.
Nevertheless, the story of King Tut’s curse is as famous as the discovery itself.
In 1982, a police officer in San Francisco had a stroke while guarding King Tut’s mask. He sued, thinking the curse had hurt him.
So, did Carter and Carnarvon really find a curse, or were these just coincidences?
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