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Curse of King Tut
After Howard Carter opened King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, Lord Carnarvon and others connected to the excavation died under mysterious circumstances. Media sensationalized it as the 'Mummy's Curse.' While most deaths have mundane explanations, the legend persists.
1922
Valley of the Kings, Egypt
50+ witnesses
Did disturbing the boy king bring death?
The Discovery
November 26, 1922:
- Howard Carter
- Funded by Lord Carnarvon
- Valley of the Kings
- Intact tomb found
- Greatest archaeological find
The First Death
Lord Carnarvon:
- Died April 1923
- Infected mosquito bite
- Five months after opening
- Cairo hotel
- Lights allegedly flickered
The Deaths
Others who died:
- George Jay Gould (visitor)
- Prince Ali Kamel (visitor)
- Aubrey Herbert (Carnarvon’s brother)
- Multiple early deaths
- Media connected to curse
The Inscription
Alleged warning:
- “Death comes on wings…”
- Never actually found
- Journalist invention
- But stuck in legend
- No curse text exists
The Reality
Skeptical view:
- Carter lived to 64
- Many involved lived long
- Average age at death: 70+
- Confirmation bias
- Media sensationalism
The Legacy
Cultural impact:
- “Mummy’s Curse” born
- Horror films inspired
- Tourism increased
- Legend persists
- Still referenced today