The "Curse of Tutankhamun" is one of history’s most enduring legends, born from a mix of tragic timing, sensationalist journalism, and the deep human fascination with the macabre.
While the "curse" is widely considered a myth by historians and scientists, the series of events following the opening of the tomb in 1922 remains eerie.
1. The Origins: A Media Sensation
The legend took flight primarily because of the death of Lord Carnarvon, the man who funded the excavation.
- The Incident: In 1923, just months after the tomb was opened, Carnarvon died in Cairo. The cause was an infected mosquito bite that he accidentally sliced open while shaving, leading to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
- Fueling the Fire: At the moment of his death, all the lights in Cairo reportedly went out due to a power failure. Simultaneously, back in England, his dog Susie is said to have let out a howl and dropped dead.
- The Press: British newspapers (hungry for a scoop after being denied exclusive access to the dig) sensationalized every death connected to the team, even reporting on a "curse" inscribed on the tomb that never actually existed.
2. The "Victims" and the Statistics
While headlines claimed dozens of people were struck down by the Pharaoh, the numbers tell a different story:
- Howard Carter: The man who actually opened the tomb and spent the most time inside lived for another 17 years, dying at age 64 of natural causes (lymphoma).
- Survival Rates: A 2002 study published in the British Medical Journal analyzed 44 Westerners who were in Egypt when the tomb was opened. It found that those who entered the tomb lived an average of 70 years, while those who didn't lived to about 75—a statistically insignificant difference for the era.
- Within 6 years of the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, 12 of those present at the discovery had died. And within 7 years only two of the original team of excavation were still alive. No fewer than 22 others connected with the expedition had died prematurely, including Lady Carnavon and the earl's half brother.
Other "Victims":
- Arthur Mace: One of the leading member of the expedition, complained of tiredness and suddenly sank into a coma. He died before the doctor could decide what was wrong with him.
- Richard Bethell : Carnavon's personal secretary during the expedition, was found dead in bed from heart failure.
- Joe Wool: British industrialist, one of the first visitors invited to visit the tomb. He died soon afterwards from a mysterious fever.
- Archibald Reid: a Radiologist who x-rayed Tutankhamun's body. He was sent home to England after complaining of exhaustion. He died shortly afterwards.
- George Jay Gould: A financier who died of pneumonia shortly 12 hourse after visiting the Pharaoh's tomb.
- Sir Bruce Ingham: His house burned down twice after receiving a paperweight made from a mummified hand.
- Royal Airforce Transport command:The aircraft was loaned for the job of conveying the relics to Britain. Within 5 years of the flight, six members of the aircraft's crew had been struck by death or ill fortune.
3. Scientific Explanations
If there was a physical "curse," scientists have proposed a few "earthly" culprits:
- Ancient Molds: Sealed for 3,000 years, the tomb could have harbored spores of Aspergillus flavus, a fungus that can cause severe allergic reactions or lung infections (aspergillosis), especially in someone already ill like Carnarvon.
- Toxic Gases: Decaying organic matter (food offerings) could have released ammonia, formaldehyde, or hydrogen sulfide.
- Radiation: A controversial 2024 theory suggests that some Egyptian tombs may contain natural radioactive elements like uranium, though this is not widely accepted as the cause for the 1920s deaths.
4. Was there a real inscription?
Unlike the movies, there was no tablet saying "Death shall come on swift wings to him who disturbs the peace of the King." However, some Old Kingdom tombs (centuries before Tut) did have warnings. One famous one reads:
"As for any person who shall enter this tomb... I shall seize his neck like a bird."
Google Gemini AI
20 January 2026: 3.12 p.m
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