The Curse of King Tut

The Curse Of King Tut

The Death Mask of King Tutankhamen
Photo credit: Jon Bodsworth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tutmask.jpg

King Tutankhamen, who was he? A boy king? A brave ruler? A god? An unknown pharaoh? Many stories abound surrounding this child king ever since the discovery of his tomb in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter and his friend, George Edward Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon
(Lord Carnarvon) who was financing the expedition.

When the young pharaoh was laid to rest in his secret shadowy vault in the Valley of the Kings, the tomb was sealed and the young king was set to begin his journey into the afterlife. At that time, the ancients who buried the young ruler could never imagine that one day, thousands of years later; he would be wrested from his sleep, by intruders from a modern world, in quest of the ancient past.

As Tut lay in utter darkness in his earthen hollow dug deep under three thousand years of desert sand, a dull tapping broke the silence and grew stronger. Against the thick warm walls of his death chamber, the echo of a thump, as the heavy carved out stone landed on the floor of the crypt, leaving an opening in the wall of the vault. Then a torchlight shone through the opening, illuminating a wall of gold...

...The king was awakened from his eternal rest, along with a curse that was inscribed near the entrance to his tomb:

"Death Shall Come On Swift Wings To Him Who Disturbs The Peace Of The King."

This was known as the Curse of the Pharaohs. So what is a curse? It is an appeal, prayer, or spell to invoke evil or misfortune upon another. But did this curse really exist? Some historians consider the hex theory as valid, while others remain unconvinced. What is known is that there were a number of unfortunate individuals who entered Tut's tomb and death did come swiftly, to others it did not.

So why did some suffer misfortune while others remained impervious to the spell? To find the answers, one can only examine the facts, detract from the myths, then decide for themselves what they choose to believe.

Note: The inscription above Tut's tomb comes from legendary tales of his discovery. Journalist in 1922 claimed the inscription existed. However, some historians claim it is only a myth.

A Brief History of Egypt
Along With a Select Few Dynasty Kings and Queens

NOTE: While Egypt is steeped in history, mythology, mystery, religion, and wonder, this page contains only a few select portions of that history, and not in chronological order. The enormous volumes alone of Egyptian history are too immense for this author to cover, therefore, this very brief description will have to suffice.

Facts may vary from expert to expert of Egyptology, so what is written here may not be completely based on perfected time lines and biographies. What is contained here has been researched only limitedly and is obviously lacking many essential facts needed to comprise the vast historical facts that sum up ancient Egypt in its totality. Many opinions and facts may vary depending on the sources of information gleaned.

Ancient Egypt. Land of the Great Pyramids, the Nile River, The Great Sphinx, Valley of the Kings and Queens, and home to some of the most powerful and celebrated pharaohs of millennia's past. A land steeped in history and unprecedented splendor. Here along the sun drenched stretch lays thousands of shrouded secrets in a vast network necropolis, where the sting of death left its remnants. However, before the shadow of death fell upon these once noble, potent, and enigmatic figures, a vital part of history was born.

Early Egyptian Life At A Glance

Ancient Egyptian civilization begins with the Nile River, which is the largest river in the world (next to the Amazon). The Nile was said to be the giver and sustainer of life in Egypt. The Nile is a force of nature that stretches for 6,695 kilometers (4,184 miles). It winds from Uganda to Ethiopia and touches Kenya, Zaire, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan, and Burundi. For ancient Egyptians, the Nile was an imperative part of their existence.

The Nile River
Photo Credit: Plugwash, Aoineko http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Egypt_Nil.jpg

"Egypt is the gift of the Nile." Herodotus

The soil surrounding the Nile (commonly known as the Black Land) is said to be quite fertile, making it easy for civilization to spring up along the river. The Nile River was utilized for irrigation which produced bountiful harvests of fruits, vegetables, and grains, and also served as drinking water. The papyrus reeds that grew along the Nile was utilized for writing, while the mud along the river was maximized for pottery and brick making, for building structures in Egypt.

Beyond the magnificent Nile lay the mountains of the desert which possessed precious stones and gold that was a valued commodity and often used to adorn the royals, their tombs and palaces. And just outside of this lush area of the Nile River was a region of utter bleak contrast; the arid desert land that stretched out as far as the eye could see. In this desert (Red Land) nothing grew and or survived. This wasteland became home to great temples and mortuaries of the dead where kings and queens were entombed. It was known as the land of the dead.

Life Expectancy

Because the ancients life expectancy at birth was (on the average) in the early twenties, those that made it past those critical years might look forward to a few more decades at best. For this reason, the Egyptians planned early for the afterlife. Childbirth and disease proved fatal to many of the inhabitants of ancient Egypt alone, while hazardous working conditions and battles claimed many more lives.

Despite the fact of a possible early death, the Egyptians were known as lovers of life and lived life to the fullest. Over, the next few thousand years, Egypt became a powerful empire where history was made and where myths, legends, and gods were born.

Dynasties and Kingdoms

Ancient Egypt was divided into two regions: The Upper Kingdom and The Lower Kingdom. To the north was lower and to the south was the upper. The two kingdoms united around 3000 BC, but each retained its own regalia. A pharaoh ruled both upper and lower Egypt and was Lord of two lands.

He was the religious and political leader to his people and owned all of Egypt, so he defended it against his foes and often went into battle to protect it. The pharaoh was also considered semi-divine and in direct communion with the gods. He represented them and built temples to honor them.

. Historians of Egypt divide its history into the following dynasties:
(3100-332 BC) Dynasties refer to a series of rulers in the same family line.

* The Predynastic Period: Around (3100-3000 BC).
* The Early Dynastic Period: The 1rst- 2nd Dynasties. (3100-2686 BC)
*The Old Kingdom: which was the 3rd -6th Dynasties. (2686-2134 BC)
*The First Intermediate Period: The 7th-10th Dynasties. (2181-2055 BC)
*The Middle Period: 11th-13th Dynasties. (2040-1640 BC)
*The Second Intermediate Period: 14th-17th Dynasties.
*The New Kingdom: 18th-20th Dynasties. (1570-1070 BC)
*The Third Intermediate Period: 21rst-25th Dynasties. (1070-664 BC)
*The Late Period: 26th-31rst Dynasties. (664-323 BC)

Ancient Egyptian Religion

In ancient times, the Egyptians invoked a pantheon of deities to help guide them through life. But like all religions, not everyone worshiped alike nor the same god. Some of the people, priests, and kings worshiped gods and goddesses of their choice. The Pre-dynastic period formulated ideas of deities that were depicted on wall paintings where the gods lived, gave birth, and had emotions like us.

The dominating god or gods changed depending on the ruler of the time and as rulers died and new kings took the throne, so the names, myths, and gods did change. And depending on the myth of creation for that particular time, all things began with either of the following gods: Re, Aten, Khnum, Amun, or Phat.

The gods themselves were known to have risen above all perils that life presented them, thus giving them the wisdom and power to assist when the ancients relied upon them. Isis and Osiris were greatly revered for their inspiring tale, which was a fundamental element that helped shaped the belief and practices of the ancients, and which also gave hope for life after death.

The Myth of Creation

Osiris, Isis and Horus

When the gods ruled Egypt, the mother of the gods (the sky goddess) Nut gave birth to four children. Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. Three of Nut's children were perfect and pure, but Seth was born inherently evil. Osiris took the throne, and after many years of reigning over Egypt in peace, as a just and much loved ruler, with his sister-wife, Isis, his brother Seth became jealous of his brother and set out to murder him so that he might rule over Egypt.

Seth lured his brother to a chest/coffin during a banquet, and locked his brother inside of it. The coffin was then thrown into the River Nile. In Osiris' absence, Seth proclaimed himself king and took the throne. In time, the coffin found its way to the shores of Byblos and was entangled in a giant tree which grew over the coffin. The tree was later cut down and used as a pillar. Isis searched for Osiris' body and eventually found and returned it to Egypt for burial.

She hid his body in the marsh where Seth discovered it and dismembered it, scattering the fourteen pieces around the world. With the help of Nephthys, the two sisters transformed into birds and retrieved all the body parts of Osiris and returned him to Egypt. The only part that was missing was his penis, having been consumed by the Nile fish. So Isis fashioned a replica and recited a powerful spell to bring her dead husband back to life. The spell worked and soon Isis gave birth to a son, Horus, who grew up to avenge his father.

Horus rose up against his uncle Seth to avenge his father's murder but lost an eye during the battle. After overthrowing his uncle, he took his rightful place on the throne and became ruler of Egypt. While Horus ruled the physical world of the living, Osiris descended to the Underworld and became the King of the Dead.

Osiris' tale gave new meaning and hope for life after the physical death. In ancient Egypt, the ruler of the kingdom, was identified with Horus, while the kings that died became one with Osiris.

The Eye of Horus: (Wedjat)
A Great Symbol of Protection and Power

Out of this story, many more gods were born. Some were protectors, others assisted the dead, there were even minor gods and goddesses that were represented as animals and even plants.

Exclusive Rights To The Afterlife

In the beginning, the afterlife or "Kingdom of Osiris" was exclusive to kings and queens only, as a result, elaborate tombs and mortuaries were built to prepare for their final journeys into the afterlife. By the time of the New Kingdom, the afterlife was promised to anyone deemed worthy, but there were many hurdles to overcome in order to obtain it.

During the "Old Kingdom" the pharaohs were buried with "Pyramid Scrolls" containing spells to protect and ensure their entry into the afterlife.
During the "Middle Kingdom" the deceased were buried with spells and paintings on the coffins to help guide them into the afterlife.

During the "New Kingdom" a papyrus scroll known as "The Book of the Dead" was buried along with the deceased, along with paintings on the coffins, to allow them a guaranteed acceptance into the afterlife.

Mummification

Long before the dynastic period in Egypt, the rich and poor alike buried their dead in simple pits in the sand without coffins, along with their earthly goods to take into the next life. The bodies were wrapped in animal hides and other wrappings and the effect was amazing. Because of the hot dry conditions of the desert, the bodies were surprisingly well preserved with organs, hair and nails intact. The corpses were essentially dehydrated and baked by the heat of the sun and sand. What remained was a complete body in a hard shell-like casing rather than just bones.

With time came change, and with the threat of grave-robbers desecrating the burial plots of the deceased, the rich quickly abandoned the old ways and began burying their dead in coffins and tombs which offered more protection. But there arose a problem---the bodies were reduced to skeletons. For a people who believed in the importance of preserving the body to enable the soul to survive, this was a catastrophe. So the Egyptians found a way to preserve the body of the deceased and it was nothing short of astounding.

The Process

Around 2600 BC, (4th-5th Dynasty??) the art of embalming and preservation of the body was practiced and became a tradition in order to keep the deceased from decaying. But the process itself took some doing. Priests were also embalmers who treated, wrapped, and recited rituals and prayers over the dead.

They started by removing the organs. The brain was removed with a special hooked instrument which was forced through the nose to pull the brain matter out. The organs were then placed in canopic jars. Other methods include organs treated and buried in the corpse.

Canopic Jars

The body was dried out with natron which was poured over the body and placed within the body cavity itself. The natron was later removed after drying was completed. The body was left in a recognizable state. False eyes were added and areas of the body stuffed in order to keep it from depressing in some areas. Next, the wrapping began, using special resins at various stages, while amulets, prayers, and spells were added. It took hundreds of yards of wrapping to completely cover the corpse. In all, the whole ritual and embalming process took about 70 days or so.
The final stage was set for the funeral.

The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony

The priests performed the traditional "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony, which was done by touching the mummy's mouth and other areas of the body, with an instrument. This would ensure the deceased ability to eat, drink, and retain bodily senses needed in the afterlife.

After the opening of the mouth ceremony was completed, the mummy was then positioned in its coffin and placed within the burial chamber, along with everything it would need for the afterlife. This included household items, food, drink, clothes, statues of gods, riches, etc...

The deceased was now ready to continue its journey into the next life.

The Elements of the Soul

The Egyptians believed the soul to be comprised of several elements which made up the soul of the deceased. Three often recalled are the Ba, Ka, and the Akh- which were set free after death.

*The Ba-Represented as a bird with a human head, made up the individual uniqueness or personality of the deceased. The Ba dwelt in the tomb, but was free to come and go as it willed. The Ba often visited the land of the living assuming any form it chose.

The Ba Hovering Over The Deceased

*The Ka-Was portrayed as having two arms upraised above its head. It was a double for the deceased, both physically and emotionally and dwelt within the body of the deceased as well as statues. The Ka remained close to the body and never left the grave, but was free to eat and drink. It could not survive without nourishment, which fell to family of the deceased to leave offerings at the tomb.

The Ka
Photo Credit: John Bosworth Cairo Museum http://www.egyptarchive.co.uk/html/cairo_museum_24.html

*The Akh- Represented as a crested Ibis, symbolized immortality and was free to leave the tomb. To shine in the night sky among the stars and roam the earth. The Akh was the resurrected spirit of the deceased restored to its former splendor.

The Akh

It was important that proper mummification and funerary rites were followed in order for the Ba and Ka to be reunited with the body, allowing the deceased to dwell forever in the afterlife.

The Ultimate Destination

Field of Reeds

The "Field of Reeds" or "Field of Osiris" was much like heaven to the ancients, but it was ruled by the dead rather than a living king.
It was obtained only after the spirit of the deceased "Akh" set on a long and perilous journey which eventually led to the
"Hall of Judgment." There, 42 gods sat on the divine court.

The deceased faced Osiris and presented his past life and deeds. In the end, the jackal headed "Anubis" weighed the heart of the deceased against a feather.

Hall of Judgment

Thoth recorded the results in a scroll, and only a pure or true heart would pass the test. If the heart was evil it was consumed by Ammit, "Eater of the Dead." Those that failed were doomed to roam the world of the living as malevolent spirit.

If, however, one passed with a pure heart, he or she went on to the Field of Reeds, where there was a flowing river, abundant crops and cattle. There was no more floods or famine, disease or death. They were reunited with loved ones and restored to perfection and health. They were free to eat, drink and enjoy the pleasures of the afterlife.

Past Rulers of Ancient Egypt
The following are a few select well known rulers of Egypt
King Khufu

Stone Carving of King Khufu
Photo Credit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Khufu.jpg

King Khufu, (4th Dynasty) also known as Cheops by the Greeks, was the son of King Sneferu and Queen Hetepheres. He took the throne in his early 20's and reigned for approximately 23 years, although the dates vary. While Khufu is not recalled as often as other rulers in ancient Egypt, he was known as a merciless and cruel pharaoh among historians.

Khufu is responsible for building the Great Pyramid of Giza which took as long to build as his reign on the throne. The pyramid was built to house his body in after death and in so building such an impressive tomb, this would assure him a successful journey into the afterlife, as was part of the ancient religion and culture.

His burial chamber resides inside the Great Pyramid with a broken, empty sarcophagus, and remains one of the seven wonders of the ancient world which is still standing.

The Great Pyramid is Located on the Giza Plateau Left to right: Menaure Pyramid, Khafre Pyramid, and Khufu Pyramid
Photo Credit Ricardo Liberato http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:All_Gizah_Pyramids.jpg

King Khafre and King Djedefre

Khufu's Sons and Successors, King Khafre and Djedefre (4th Dynasty)
Khafre Photo Credit Jon Bodsworth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Khafre_statue.jpg

The Great Sphinx (4th Dynasty?), King Dejedfre (4th Dynasty)

Other 4th Dynasty kings were Khufu's sons, King Khafre or his older brother King Dejedfre, thought to be the builder of The Great Sphinx. Theories as to the the exact time and origin of the Sphinx are debated among Egyptologist, but several believe the face of the Sphinx to be the likeness of King Dejedfre, but historians believe it could be either one of the brothers. Who do you think the face resembles most?

Queen Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut in Granite Metropolitan Museum of Art
(With a false beard as a symbol of her power)
Photo Credit by Keith Schengili-Roberts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hatshepsut-CollosalGraniteSphinx02_MetropolitanMuseum.png

Hatshepsut
Photo Credit Postdlf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hatshepsut.jpg

Hatshepsut's Funerary Temple
Photo Credit Hajor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Egypt.HatshepsutsTemple.01.jpg

Queen Hatshepsut was the 5th ruler of the 18th Dynasty (1479-1458 BC) and the most well-known and powerful female rulers(next to Cleopatra) of Egypt. Queen Hatshepsut was the eldest daughter to King Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose (first in a series of Thutmose rulers of the 18th Dynasty and wife to Thutmose II).

Statues Representing Hatshepsut at Hatshepsut'sTemple
Photo Credit Stevesheriw http://www.flickr.com/photos/8177037@N06/651654826/

She took the throne after the death of her husband (which was an exclusive position for males) and became a female pharaoh and ruled for about 22 years. She was known for her business acumen, trade accomplishments, amassing great wealth, and as a great builder in Upper and Lower Egypt. Hatshepsut wore the traditional male regalia of Egyptian kings, including the traditional false beard and is often recalled as:

"The Queen Who Would Be King."

In 2007, Egyptologist found a mummy in the Valley of the Kings, believed to be that of the queen. DNA and CT scans were done. The consensus seem to agree that it may in fact be the remains of Hatshepsut. Other experts will not agree until further testing is done.

King Tuthmosis III

Wall Engraving of King Tuthmosis and Carving of Tuthmosis III

Tuthmosis III (meaning son of Thoth) was the 6th king of the 18th Dynasty who ruled Egypt for 54 years 1479 BC-1425 BC
( this is including the 22 years he was co-regent to Queen Hatshepsut). He took the throne sometime after the death of his aunt Queen Hatshepsut. Although Tuthmosis was only five feet tall, he was considered a giant in the military arena.

Tuthmosis III Smiting his Enemies Engraved on the 7th Pylon at Karnak

Mummified Head of Tuthmosis III

He is often recalled as one of "Egypt's Greatest Conquerors" or "The Napoleon of Egypt" by some historians, and considered a genius for his military conquests. King Tuthmosis captured over 300 cities, thus making Egypt a superpower by expanding the geographical boundaries of his empire. He was also a great builder in Egypt. His mummy resides in the Royal Mummies Hall at the Cairo Museum.

King Amenhotep III

King Amenhotep III in Granite British Museum
Photo Credit Jon Bodsworth http://www.egyptarchive.co.uk/html/british_museum_23.html

King Amenhotep III and Sobek
Photo Credit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amenhotep_III_and_Sobek1.jpg

King Amenhotep III (meaning Amun is satisfied) was the 9th ruler of the 18th Dynasty (1386-1381?) and was married to Queen Tiy. He ruled during Egypt's most prosperous years and helped in building extensively, the Temple of Karnak and Luxor Temple of Amenhotep III.

His wife, Queen Tiy was thought to be the originator of "Monotheism" (the belief in one god) by some historians. He was the father of the "Heretic Pharaoh" Akhenaten.

King Amenhotep was also a great hunter of lions, slaying them with his arrows. Large scarab stones (over 200 discovered) depict the kings life and also his slaying of the lions which were memorialized on these stones.

King Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV)

Carved Head of King Akhenaten
Photo Credit Néfermaât http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amenhotep.jpg

Akhenaten was the 10th ruler of the 18th Dynasty (1350-1334 BC) and was known as the "Heretic Pharaoh" who led a reform of ancient Egyptian religion and nearly caused a revolt by deposing polytheism and the priesthood (worship of several deities) for monotheism, (the worship of one single god), the solar disc "Aten." He was married to Queen Nefertiti who was considered one of the world's most beautiful women.

King Akhenaten and his offspring were known for their odd physical characteristics, including elongated or egg shaped heads. Some medical experts hypothesize the king and his offspring could have had a condition known as "Marfan Syndrome" or "Froehlich's Syndrome" which was passed down to his children.

The Boy Tutankhamen and One of the Daughter's of Akhenaten Note the Odd Shaped Heads
Photo Credit Dalbera http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/2080372150/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/1815600644/in/set-72157602827251285/

Another theory of few historians is that the royals wrapped their infants heads to shape them that way, which is unlikely. Akhenaten himself had a peculiar shaped body that was almost feminine in some respects. His neck was quite long, his hips were wide, and he had a condition known as Gynecomastia (male breasts).

Akhenaten and Family Worshiping the Solar Disc Aten

Other experts who did CT scans of Tutankhamen's skull (thought to possibly be the son of Akhenaten) said there was no disease present and that his skull fell within the normal range of size, albeit its odd shape. Other wild theories suggest the royal family were actually space aliens.

Akhenaten
Photo Credit by Néfermaât http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GD-EG-Caire-Mus%C3%A9e061.JPG

While Akhenaten ruled Egypt, he was considered a mad man. His demise came as a relief to those who had long hated him. After the death of King Akhenaten, priests of Amun and a series of kings sought to regain worship to what the Egyptians had once known.

As a result, the new kings attempted to erase all traces of the Akhenaten and his heretical religion. His face and name were removed from monuments and also those of the sun god, Aten. His once powerful temples in Armana were abandoned and left to crumble.

There are stories that suggest a curse that was placed on Akhenaten and his heirs after his death. Fact of Fiction?

King Tutankhamen (Tutankhaten)
The Short Life of A Boy King

Boy King Bust Emerging from a Lotus Flower
Photo Credit Dalbera

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/ / CC BY 2.0

Painting of Tutankhamen and his wife A nkhesanamun from the Back of His Throne

King Tutankhamen (Tutenkh-amun) or King Tut (Meaning "Living Image of Aten) was born in Ankhetaten ( 1341-1323 BC) which is modern day Tel-el-Amara. Little was known of this boy king until his burial chamber was discovered.

On the walls of his tomb and among artifacts were stories painted depicting his life. It told of his love for hunting, his chariots, defending Egypt against its foes, his wife Ankhesanamun, and his life as a young pharaoh in Egypt. The paintings also told of a life cut short at a young age.

A View Inside King Tutankhamen's Death Chamber KV62
Photo Credit Hajor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Egypt.KV62.01.jpg

King Tutankhamen was only nine years old when he ascended to the throne. He was a ruler during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom for nearly a decade until he died. This king ruled during one of the most glorious periods of Egypt's history. Many historians believe Tut was the son of King Akhenaten, the "Heretic Pharaoh."

Experts believe his mother was possibly Queen Kiya, Akhenaten's minor wife. He married his half-sister, Ankhesanamun, who was the daughter of Nefertiti.

King Tutankhamen Receiving flowers from his Wife Ankhesanamun

Tut obviously had advisors because he took the throne at such a young age and was influence by them. Some historians believe General Horemheb to be one of them, also his Vizier, Aye (who would both rule as pharaohs in Egypt after Tut's death). The king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamen in his second year.

Since the pharaoh was considered to be a semi-divine in human form, the responsibility of restoring the traditional Egyptian religion fell upon him. And during his reign, he helped reestablish the former practices of worship to its former pantheons of gods and goddesses, which was lost during the rule of King Akhenaten.

As a pharaoh warrior, wall paintings depict the young victorious king in battle, but there is some debate over this after finding over a hundred walking sticks (along with his royal staffs) in his tomb.

King Tutankhamen Battling his Foes,  A Victorious King with his Enemies Trampled Under Foot
Photo Credit ThutmoseIII http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kingtut2.jpg

Some historians believe one of his advisors would have gone in his stead, that possibly being General Horemheb, but other Egyptologist disagree with this assumption and claim the king had no type of illness' when he died and would have been able to fight or use a chariot in battle. The various chariots in his tomb seem to point to this theory, but here again, it all comes down to theories.

A Side View of Tutankhamen's Death Mask
Photo credit Dalbera http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/1815588692/in/set-72157602827251285/

During the young king's reign, it is believed he and his wife may have tried to have children but none survived, sadly two female infant mummies were discovered in coffins in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Howard Carter believed at least one of them was thought to be stillborn.

Note: Updates on Recent DNA testing has revealed at least one of the mummy's was stillborn at nine months of age, and was King Tut's daughter.

While Tutankhamen ruled, he set about restoring temples and statues of the gods that had fallen in disrepair or had been obliterated during the reign of Akhenaten. Tutankhamen went on to dedicate temples to Amun in both Karnak and Thebes before his death at the young age of 19 years old.

Burial of a King

Tut was prepared and mummified in the tradition way. After the "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony, he was interred within his chamber, along with everything he would need in the next life. Clothes, chariots, furnishings, food, then the chamber was sealed off. The king was now set for the next phase; the afterlife.

A common practice at the time would have been that an inscription be left above the tomb warning about desecration of a kings grave. Anyone who was said to enter the grave of a pharaoh would have suffered a terrible fate or even death. So this was the end of the life of a king. He was buried in the Valley of the Kings in a secret crypt which was discovered over 3000 years later.

Seti I- Sethos I

Abydos: Temple of Seti I Wall Painting of Anubis and Seti I
Photo Credit Jon Bodsworth http://www.egyptarchive.co.uk/html/seti_abydos_14.html

Wall Painting of Seti I Crushing his Foes

King Seti I, also known as King Sethos I (meaning "Set" as being blessed by the god Set), ruled for over 11 years (some Egyptologist believe) during the 19th Dynasty. He was the son of Ramses I and Queen Sitre, he was the father of Ramses II, and husband to Queen Tuya.

The Well Mummified Head of Seti I

Seti is recalled for re-establishing order and restoring the empire of Egypt after the tumultuous religious reforms of kings past, most notably Akhenaten.

The Temple of Seti I

He was known for his military campaigns and fought at several wars, including Libya and Nubia (as depicted on the front of the Temple of Amun, and north walls of Karnak Hypostyle Hall ), and for the capture of Kadesh from the Hittite Empire, which was lost to Egypt during the reign of Akhenaten, Tut, and Horemhab.

Ramses II - Ramses The Great

Ramses II
Photo Credit Hajor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RamsesIIEgypt.jpg

Ramses II, or better known as "Ramses The Great" ruled during the 19th Dynasty. This pharaoh had several wives and sired over a hundred children. He ruled over Egypt for 67 years. Ramses II fought in several campaigns against his foes, the Hittites, including the battle of Kedesh. He later signed what came to be known as one of the first peace treaties in history with the Hittite king, Hattusili III.

Temple at Abu Simbel Statue at Luxor
Photo Credit Hajor http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Egypt.LuxorTemple.02.jpg

He was a regarded as one of Egypt greatest builders of temples, monuments, and statues. His temple, Ramses II Temple at Abu Simbel is one of his greatest achievements (among others) which still stands, along with Neferteri's Temple. Ramses II is also known as the pharaoh from the Bible's Exodus story (the story of Moses and the mass exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt).

Temple of Ramses II Abu Simbel

Ramses II at the B attle of Kadesh Abu Simbel

Colossal Statue of Ramses II Memphis

The Mummy of Ramses II
Photo Credit Wikipedia Creative Commons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RAMmummy.jpg

He is recalled for his military campaigns, and observance of religious traditions and will always be remembered as one of history's best known pharaohs. His mummy can be found at the Cairo Egyptian Museum.

Fast Forward 3000 Years
The Discovery of King Tut's Tomb

Bust of Tutankhamen
Photo Credit Dalbera http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/ / CC BY 2.0

Valley of the Kings
Photo Credit Nikola Smolenski http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Valley_of_the_Kings_panorama.jpg

Valley of the Kings. The necropolis of the royal dead and a part of ancient Thebes. A place of profound history and mystery. Standing in this wilderness, one might imagine a dark wind blowing through the valley after the golden jewel of the sky has set, carrying with it, whispers of a far off distant past.

Whispers of kings and queens long ago buried whose voices merge with the night wind and speak of a time when living gods once ruled Egypt and were buried in this place of shadowy dominion. The Valley of the Kings lay only miles from the west bank of the Nile. It was here in this necropolis that one of the greatest hidden secrets was discovered.

Aerial View of The Valley of the Kings
Photo Credit Luesting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Luxor,_Tal_der_K%C3%B6nige_(1995,_860x605).jpg

November, 1922, after seven long exhaustive years of searching for the tomb of King Tutankhamen (KV62), archaeologist, Howard Carters' dreams were realized. Years before, in 1907, archaeologist Theodore M. Davis' team concluded digs in the Valley of the Kings. Davis' team discovered artifacts bearing the name of Tutankhamen but believed that the young kings tomb had been robbed like all the other tombs discovered before that.

The Entrance to Tut's Tomb
Photo by Stevesheriw http://www.flickr.com/photos/8177037@N06/652838437/

Davis believed that the Valley of the Kings had no more secrets to yield. Undaunted, Carter continued searching and found the burial site in a most unusual place. Right away, he knew it was the discovery of a lifetime. While excavating an area near the tomb of Ramses VI, workers came to the remains of old workers huts.

In years past, the huts had been discounted but now Carter, who was close to giving up, ordered that the huts be removed to search the site. The first hut was removed and after three days of excavating, Carter and his team discovered the beginning of steps. Could this be what he had been searching for all these years?

Indeed it was. Carter's team cleared the stairway until they reached the bottom of the16 steps and found the sealed entrance to the tomb, with the seals of the royal necropolis. In utter shock and excitement, he called his patron, Lord Carnarvon, who quickly arrived at the tomb with his daughter Lady Evelyn Herbert on November 25, 1922.

Initially Carter was concerned that the tomb had been pillaged because it bore evidence of holes in the door that had been repaired. He could only hold on to hope from here on out. After Carnarvon arrived, the sealed door was opened and beyond that there was a passageway cut through solid rock that was filled with debris.

When the debris was cleared, they reached another sealed doorway 25 feet from the entrance, this was the antechamber. Carter found this door had also been repaired, so naturally he assumed the worst. Carter made a hole on the upper left hand corner of the doorway and held up a candle. Immediately, hot air whipped the flame about and when the archaeologists eye grew accustomed to the lighted room, his heart raced with excitement. Everywhere was treasures beyond his wildest dreams. The tomb had not been pillaged after all.

Note: After careful study of the artifacts within Tuts tomb, Carter was able to ascertain that the tomb had in fact been robbed at least twice after Tuts initial burial, but the tomb was mostly and amazingly intact.

Unable to contain his excitement, Lord Carnarvon asked, "Can you see anything?" Carter responded, "Yes, wonderful things." Those famous words would only begin to describe the treasures that lay in store for the archaeologist and his team. Inside was a multitude of golden treasures including several chariots, vases, thrones, statues of gods and much more. It seemed odd that everything was stacked upon itself as if it was done in great haste. Carter would also find more rooms filled with treasures, and the greatest find of all...the mummy of King Tutankhamen.

First Unusual Event After Breaching The Tomb

After breaching the antechamber, Carter and his team left for the night, drained and overworked. When Carter got to his home, he was immediately approached by a wild eyed servant with yellow feathers in his grasp. When Carter asked what happened, the servant showed him to his pet canary's cage; it was empty. Apparently, a cobra had entered the room and eaten the canary.

The servant cried,
"The Pharaoh's serpent ate the canary for leading us to his tomb." He warned Carter to stay away from the tomb, it was cursed. Carter was a practical man and simply waved the distressed servant away, telling him to make sure that the snake was not in the house.

News of the Discovery

November 29, 1922, an announcement was made to the world of the discovery at a ceremony at the tomb of Tut. Carter hired a photographer, Harry Burton, he took all of the photos from inside the tomb. He photographed the antechamber and all that was in it before anything was even touched. Then he photographed each item after its removal. There was hundreds of items stored within the antechamber itself.

Anubis at the Entrance to The Treasury
The Treasury, October 1926
Harry Burton (British, 1879–1940)
Gelatin silver print; 6 7/8 x 9 1/8 in. (17.5 x 23.2 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Archives of the Department of Egyptian Art
© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Two Guardians guard the Sealed off Burial Chamber inside the Antechamber
Photo Credit Nextreal http://www.flickr.com/photos/nextreal/556008665/

Some of Tut's Chariots
Photo Credit Nextreal http://www.flickr.com/photos/nextreal/555716330/in/photostream/

On February 17, 1923, Carter opened the burial chamber (west room) of the king. He began chipping away and when he made a hole large enough to look through, he saw a solid wall of gold in front of his eyes.

Several Doors Lead to the Innermost Shrine and Sarcophagus,
Carter and his Team Looking Into the Shrines

When he and Carnarvon entered the chamber they were met by a remarkable sight. An immense wooden golden gilded shrine filled up most of the space in the room. It stood seventeen by eleven feet and stood nine feet tall. Within that shrine were three more shrines that housed the sarcophagus of the king, which then contained a series of mummiform coffins, holding the mummy and the death mask in the last one.

There was another unsealed doorway with monument that was so dazzling, the men could scarcely believe their eyes. In all, there were four chambers filled with treasures that Carter would eventually discover and catalog.

Note: At the time of the discovery, Carter had no idea his work would take over a decade to complete.

It was a grueling job but Carter and his team began removing items from within the tomb after they were tagged and numbered. But as the workers began removing the artifacts, some couldn't help but feel as though something evil overshadowed them and pondered the idea of confiscating the relics from the cursed tomb. Was this not considered sacrilege?

And while many were terrified of the curse, Carter did not believe in it. He continued his work while Carnarvon went back to Cairo, where he took part of the treasure with him. He would never see England again.

Carter Packing The Guardian Statue
Harry Burton (British, 1879-1940)
Carter Wrapping a Guardian
Statue for Removal from the Tomb
Gelatin silver print
6 7/8 x 9 3/16 in. (17.6 x 23.4 cm)
Archives of the Department of Egyptian Art
© The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Inside Tutankhamen's Tomb
Credit Arthur's Free Egyptian Clipart

The Curse Claims Its First Victim

Lord Carnarvon

As some of the archeologist's team whispered among themselves about the curse, in April of 1923, while Carter began the process of opening the sarcophagus, his friend Lord Carnarvon suddenly fell ill with a severe fever. While he lay dying, his son arrived in Cairo to witness the end of his father's life.

Carnarvon's breathing was shallow as fever wracked his body. While aid was administered to the Earl, he continued to slip further into death's enveloping grasp. Lord Carnarvon's son asked the nurse to call him if anything should happen.

After returning to his hotel room, the young Carnarvon went to sleep. He was later wrested from sleep at 2 a.m. His father had just died. As he stood up to dress, all the lights in Cairo suddenly went out. In darkness he rushed to Lord Carnarvon's bedside. As legend has it, at that very moment back in England, Lord Carnarvon's beloved dog Suzie suddenly began howling in distress and dropped dead.

Carnarvon's death came as a shock so soon after breaching the tomb. He and Carter had glimpsed as far as the death chamber, but sadly, he never saw the face of mummy. And the news of how the had Earl died was even more baffling. Carnarvon died from blood poisoning that followed soon after a mosquito bite to his face. The Earl nicked the bite with his razor while shaving and it became infected, subsequently killing him.

Immediately rumors spread in Egypt about the mysterious death of Carnarvon. Then the Egyptian Press and London Times exploded with stories of Tut's Curse, and soon superstitious minds fed into it, believing that Carter had brought bad luck upon himself and others by opening the cursed tomb.

The young Carnarvon went back to England where he took refuge behind the walls of Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England, where the memories of that awful night would stay with him. When he was later interviewed by NBC in New York in 1977, he claimed he was ambivalent in regards to the curse, yet said he would never enter that tomb, not even for a million pounds.

Desecration of A King

Saddened by the death of his friend Lord Carnarvon, Carter went back to work. Now the task of opening the sarcophagus lay ahead. Beneath the carved stone sarcophagus, Carter was in for a real surprise, there was a series of golden coffins, one within the other, the last one containing the mummified corpse of the king with a funeral mask over his face.

Surrounded in the layers of wrap near the neck of the mummy was a magnificent golden pendant of the vulture goddess Nekhbet. Carter immediately understood the significance of the collar. It was a warning to intruders to leave the resting place of the king alone.

Carter and an Assistant Studying the Coffin

Carter couldn't believe his find. Buried with the mummy were more valuables and the only way to retrieve those artifacts was by removing the mummy from its coffin. The task was an arduous one since the mummy was stuck to the coffin.

When the king was buried, special resins were poured over him to keep him from decaying, and those resins essentially glued him in place. Carter employed the help of Dr. Douglas Derry to remove the king from his coffin. Derry resorted to drastic measures to remove the mummy when he discovered it couldn't be dislodged, he unceremoniously began heating a knife and cutting the body in pieces to remove it.

Now the kings body had been desecrated. Surely, this was one more reason for the curse of the pharaoh to persist.

At the time, Derry did the only thing he could think of, but in the process, he snapped off the kings head and completely destroyed the mummy.

More Deaths Attributed To The Curse ?

In 1975, internationally known archaeological author Philip Vandenburgh wrote
in his book, "The Curse of the Pharaoh's"
the following deaths associated with the curse of King Tutankhamen's tomb:

Archaeologist Aurthur Mace, who helped open Tut's tomb, fell ill, lapsed into a coma and died in the same Cairo hotel as Carnarvon, shortly after the Earl's death.

Carter's assistant, Richard Bethel died unexpectedly from a circulatory problem after working in the tomb.

Shortly after, Bethel's father, Lord Westbury, committed suicide.

Egyptologist for Paris' and New York's Metropolitan Museum died after entering the tomb of Tut.

George Jake Gould, an American railway magnate suddenly died just days after seeing King Tuts resting place.

Joel Wood, a British business man, suddenly began burning up with fever and died while sailing back home after visiting the tomb.

Radiologist Archibald Reed returned home after working on the mummy of Tutankhamen, then fell ill and died.

Lady Alimina, Lord Carnarvon's wife, died (coincidently) of an insect bite, like
her husband.

Other deaths would be attributed to the curse of the king's tomb, including Douglas Derry and others connected with the dig, or after entering the tomb. And if Vandenburgh is correct, that number would stand at around 22 deaths.

In his book he wrote of a tablet that was found in the antechamber of the tomb, which warned of disturbing the Pharaoh's rest, much like the inscription that was supposedly found at the entrance of the tomb. But no such tablet was ever recovered.

So one question remains. Why did Howard Carter live out his remaining years successfully? He lived for 17 more years after the discovery and died without complications on March 2, 1939, in his sixties.

Death of a King
A Modern Day Study and Analysis

Modern Day Cairo by Night
Photo Credit by Amrbahy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cairo_by_night.jpg

Much speculation about Tutankhamen's death has been hypothesized over the years. One fact is certain, he died at the age of about 19 years of age. One theory as to the cause of his death is:

Murder by Assassination

After a study was done in 1968 and X Rays were taken by a Liverpool University team of scientists, Professor Archie Harrison concluded that Tut may have died from a blood clot, caused by a blow to the back of the head. The study and conclusion spawned murder theories, documentaries, and books on the subject for many years.

Dr. Zahi Hawass
Photo Credit Archeologo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zahi_Hawass.jpg

Death by Chariot Accident or Injury Sustained During Battle.

New evidence collected from the 2005 CT scan and scientific analysis done by Dr. Zahi Hawass (Egyptian archaeologist and Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities) and his team of scientist concluded the king died terribly and painfully. After studying over 17, 000 images. The team believe they have finally solved the riddle of King Tut's life and death.

After the 1968 Liverpool study and conclusion of a blood clot at the back of the skull, Hawass' team found no evidence of such an injury. What they did find was in fact, hardened resin that had collected and settled, left over from the embalming of Tut. With no hematoma or injury to the skull present, the murder theory was quashed.

What the team also discovered was a hole in the back of the skull which was first thought to be suspicious, but after analyzing it, the team discovered it was done during the embalming process of Tut.

Further study of the odd egg-shaped head of Tut was a family trait rather than an abnormality and said to fall within normal measurements, albeit its strange shape. And with the help from experts in Cairo and international experts, the teams concluded that Tut had no serious illness and was considered healthy before his death.

He stood 5 foot 7 inches and had a slight curvature to the spine (Scoliosis), which may explain the collection of walking sticks found in his tomb. Further CT scans of the young pharaohs mummy indicates that Tut had a serious overbite. He also had an impacted wisdom tooth which may have caused him some pain, but in no way contributed to his death.

The Crux

X-ray of Tut's Head

What killed the king? Finally the answer. The 2005 CT scans and study of the boy king's bones would indicate that he died of an infection that set in from a broken leg. Tut's knee cap was missing and there would have been no way of fixing it. There were no antibiotics in those days so therefore, it was assumed that gangrene set in, killing the king.

After studying the CT scans, the experts agreed that this injury was done before death, and not by Carter's team. There was evidence of hardened resin inside of the wound itself, proving that the embalmers filled it during the mummification process.

June 2009 Update

During a recent lecture in San Francisco, while sharing information on DNA testing of mummies, Dr. Zahi Hawass stated that he now knows how the king really died, and while he is privy to that information, he cannot share that with us just now.

He told the audience, with a knowing smile, that he will share that information with the world in some months ahead. He also told of 130 walking sticks discovered in Tut's tomb and knows why the king needed those canes, but he was also reluctant to share that information until the appropriate time.

February 16, 2010 Update

After years of DNA tests and CT scan analysis, a team of experts, led by Dr. Zahi Hawass, has come to a final conclusion as to what really killed the boy king. Malaria (malaria tropica) being the oldest and worst form of malaria.

The young pharaoh also suffered from a degenerative bone condition, a cleft palate and a clubfoot, which caused him great pain. He would have had to use walking sticks (as found in his tomb) to enable him to move around. The leg injury he sustained also contributed to his death, which was exacerbated by the malaria and his compromised immune system.

Finally, after exhaustive studies of genetic "fingerprinting" of several mummies connected with Tut's lineage, scientists claim that Tut's parents were siblings. His father was King Akhenaten. This was not uncommon among the royals, although the births of such incestuous unions would have resulted in physical deformities among other ailments.

The New Face of King Tutankhamen

King Tut Graces the Cover of National Geographic
Photo Credit Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:National_Geographic_-_King_Tut_face.jpg

One of the most informative and influential magazines of all time, National Geographic, covered the story and unveiling of the new face of King Tut by French artist Elizabeth Dayhns. 2005

In 2005, French, Egyptian, and American scientists and artists joined together with National Geographic to recreate the face of King Tutankhamen. From CT scans, busts were made, skin tones and eye color added, and now the world could see, for the first time in over 3,000 years, what the real face of the boy pharaoh really looked like.

French Artist Elizabeth Dayhns was given the CT scan with the knowledge that she was recreating the likeness of King Tut, while Yale University artist Michael Anderson was given the data only, without the prior knowledge of who it came from.

    The results of both artists' work was astonishing. With the information given, both artists created faces that were strikingly similar. But much debate would spark over the actual skin tones and eye color used for the recreation of the face. Some experts claim that the hazel eyes and lighter skin tone of Dayhn's bust is not an accurate representation of Tutankhamen, and claim he was much darker, even African.

But scientist were careful when taking all the facts in, including skin tones, ethnicity, history, and region. The new face was given a skin tone somewhere between dark and light to give a fair balance of the true skin tone of Tut.

Dr. Hawass disagrees with the African hypothesis, despite the fact that Egypt is in Africa. Hawass states that Ancient Egyptians were neither black nor Arab, and believes that the new face of Tut may be a fair depiction of the king.

When all is said and done, nobody can be certain of the eye color or skin tone, but we can glean information from wall paintings and busts of the boy king and decide for ourselves.

In Conclusion

So, did Lord Carnarvon die from the curse? There has been much speculation as to what actually killed Lord Carnarvon over the years. The final answer was an infected mosquito bite. But scientist believed it could have been Toxic mold. In 2005, after careful analysis of similar tombs to that of Tut's and even older, comparative studies were done.

While toxic molds were found in some tombs, it was established that King Tutankhamen's tomb presented no such toxic molds which could have killed Carnarvon. In fact, scientist believe the tomb would have been a very safe environment for the Earl. So an infected insect bite remains the culprit. Still, it does seem peculiar that so soon after entering Tut's tomb the Earl would suffer a mosquito bite to the face, nick the bite while shaving, and die.

Was the tomb of Tutankhamen cursed? While there is no evidence to prove nor disprove it, there seems to be a sinister element connected to the many deaths surrounding Tut's tomb. Is it just possible that the spirit of King Tutankhamen was exacting revenge for the breaching of his tomb and desecration of his corpse?

Were the sudden fevers and deaths of the victims only a coincidence or is it possible that something much more ominous was at work? Maybe the hexed tomb was only a product born out of fear. And fear can supplant the rational way of thinking for those who believe in the power of a curse. And if the hex theory is veritable, why did Howard Carter live out the rest of his life without incident?
Was it because Howard Carter did not believe in the curse and Lord Carnarvon most assuredly did ?

So if the old adage holds true about curses, one could assume that by believing in a curse, it becomes valid and therefore has power over you, but by the same token, if you don't believe in curses, then you cannot be affected by it.

What is known is that long ago, a young pharaoh once ruled Egypt in splendor like that of his predecessors. And like his predecessors, he laughed, loved, worshiped, and lived the life of a pampered royal with his young wife, then died young.

Tutankhamen's life did not boast the successes of other pharaohs before him or after, nor would great monuments be erected for him like those of Ramses II or Khufu, but this king did make his mark in Egypt, albeit a small mark. And because of his discovery in 1922, King Tutankhamen has been venerated and exalted by a modern world that he never knew, by a world who helped to breath life back into this once forgotten ruler.

And perhaps after the golden jewel of the sky has set, and the dark winds blow through the Valley of the Kings, the whisper of a boy king is finally silenced in the shadowy dominion of death. Perhaps he is finally at peace, and at last... the curse of Tutankhamen's tomb
has been lifted.

King Tutankhamun's Mummy reveals secrets

Tut's Treasures: National Geographic

King Tut Exhibit 2007

For Fun

Batman: The Curse of Tut/ The Pharaoh's in a Rut 1966
With one of my favorite classic actors, Victor Buono. R.I.P.

The Mummy: Trailer 1999
This movie is not about King Tut, it is about the curse of the mummy.

I want to thank the following providers for the use of most of the clipart, photos, and graphics:

Jon Bodsworth for his fabulous photos of ancient Egypt at http://www.egyptarchive.co.uk/html/contact.html and
Jeff Dahl, for his clipart of the gods and goddesses at Wikipedia.
Also: Kingtut.com, Arthur's Free clipart, and various free graphics on Home Page links.

Note: All graphics or images on this page have been used by permission, fair use, or are in the public domain.
Please do not copy images and link back to Paranormaland as a source. Thanks.

Sources

National Geographics
Tutankhamen
Tutankhamen's Treasures
Mummies
The Life of Tutankhamen
The Discovery of Tutankhamen
Various other sources
ABC News
New York Times

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