Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
Curse of Tutankhamun
9
What is the Curse of Tutankhamun?
King Tutankhamun
Life and Death
The Life and Death Story of the Young King
Heritage
Supposed Heritage
To the left is a family tree of Tutankhamun's estimated parents and grandparents. It can never be assumed as to whether these were King Tutankhamun's true birth family, but this is the estimate. The right of each layer names the King, and the left states the wife of the King
Summary - Reign as King
Reign as King
- After the death of Smenkhkare, Tutankhaten became king at the young age of 8
- He was married to Akhenaten’s third daughter, Ankhesenpaaton
- After reigning for three years, Tutankhaten left Akhetaten and moved to Memphis near modern Cairo
- There he issued a decree restoring temples, images, privileges, as well as personnel of the old gods
How Tutankhamun Died
How the King Died
- King Tutankhamun died at the age of 19
- There are many theories behind how King Tutankhamun died
- These include:
- King Tutankhamun suffered from malaria, meaning it is possible he died from that
- Necrosis, which he had in his left foot (he supposedly walked with a cane as approximately 100 canes were found in his tomb)
- A bone disorder that he had overcame his body
- Also possible that he died from sickle-cell disease as it was found in his body
Skull X-Ray
Burial
- King Tutankhamun was mummified
- Then, he was taken and buried in a small tomb in the Valley of Kings (where other ancient royals rest)
- More specifically, King Tutankhamun was buried in tomb KV62
- Despite its unusually smaller size, the tomb was filled with approximately 5,000 artefacts upon discovery
Documentary
Video
Video or Documentary - the King's Life
King Tutankhamun - History Of An Egyptian Pharaoh Documentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8PcMwBkRNo
50 Insane Facts You Didn't Know About King Tut - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J1Y3FZAVnU
Video
Revealed: How King Tut Died - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gTpj3YmRDg
Video - the King's Death
Quiz
Once observing all of the information on this page, here is a short quiz that can be completed for fun!
Quiz
https://take.quiz-maker.com/QN52V1Z54
The Discovery and the Curse
The Curse
The discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb that unleashed the Curse that would rock the world
"The Excavation of King Tutankhamun's Mummy" National Geographic
Discovery of King Tutankhamun's Tomb
Discovery of the Tomb
King Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered on November 4th, 1922 by british archaeologist Howard Carter. The tomb, found in the Valley of the Kings, was guarded by a stone inscribed with "Death Shall Come on Swift Wings to Who Disturbs the Peace of the King". Following the discovery, a string of unexplainable deaths, injuries, illnesses and misfortune followed those who entered the tomb or were involved with its disruption.
The Curse - Media Sensation
Some six weeks after Tutankhamun’s tomb was opened, Lord Carnarvon, who had paid for the expedition, was dead. He had been bitten on the cheek by a mosquito and made matters worse by shaving over the bite, causing an infection, blood poisoning, pneumonia and death.
At the time of Carnarvon’s demise in a Cairo hotel, the lights went out across the city and in England the earl’s pet dog, Susie, howled and she fell down dead too.
Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes was a devoted spiritualist and claimed to have a direct line to Ancient Egypt. He thought doctors were being naive in declaring that the mosquito bite led to Carnarvon’s death. He believed in fact the earl died because he had desecrated the pharaoh’s tomb and unleashed the Curse of Tutankhamun, which sparked media interest in the “curse” around the world.
(see key events in the Timeline)
Videos
"Why the Curse of Tutankhamun Might Be Real"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcf6L-p4rqg
"The History Of A Cursed Ancient Egyptian Tomb | Channel 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxot6xmDymQ
Quiz:
Once observing all of the information on this page, here is a short quiz that can be completed for fun!
https://take.quiz-maker.com/QZ52V5Z54
Quiz
Timeline
A colourised version of a b/w photograph of Howard Carter cleaning Tutankhamun's inner gold coffin, lying within the colourful middle coffin
February 17, 1923
King Tutankhamun's burial chamber is opened
September 26, 1923
Colonel Aubrey Herbert
Half brother of Lord Carnarvon, Colonel Aubrey Herbert dies from blood poisoning
May 16, 1923
Howard Carter working on the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun
November 21, 1922
March 2, 1939
Lord Carnavon responds to Howard Carter's request for funding, and the excavation can continue
George Jay Gould dies from fever following visit to King Tutankhamun's tomb and a buzz surrounds the idea that the "curse" has taken another victim
November 19, 1924
Howard Carter, the discoverer of King Tutankhamun's tomb, dies in London
Timeline of the Curse
Sir Lee Stack is assassinated while driving through Cairo, a death affiliated with the "curse"
Lord Carnarvon with his daughter Lady Evelyn Herbert and Howard Carter at the top of the steps leading to Tutankhamun's tomb
Newspaper excerpt from May 17, 1923, detailing George Jay Gourld's death
April 6, 1928
April 5, 1923
November 4, 1922
O
A.C Mace (circled in red), a member of the excavation team, dies from arsenic poisoning
Lord Carnarvon dies suddenly, giving popularity to the "Curse of Tutankhamun,”. His death is likely explained by blood poisoning (progressing to pneumonia) after accidentally shaving an infected mosquito bite. Rumors spread that at the time he died, the lights in Cairo went out and city the people into darkness. Reportedly, at the same time, back at his home, his pet dog gave out a great howl and died.
Howard Carter's team begins to excavate King Tutankhmun's tomb
Entrance to King Tut's tomb, in the Valley of the Kings (Thebes)
Newspaper excerpt from April 6, 1923, detailing Lord Carnavon's death
July 10, 1923
January 15, 1924
November 23, 1922
Prince Ali Kamel shot dead by his wife in Cairo, weeks after visiting the tomb, rumoured to be a result of the "curse"
Breach made in tomb door and Tutankhamun's treasure is discovered
1972 - Treasures of King Tut are transported to London for exhibition at the British Museum. Dr Gamal Mehrez scoffs at “curse” and dies that night.
Sir Archibald Reid, who supposedly x-rayed the pharaoh, dies mysteriously
X-ray of King Tutankhamun
Scenes showing King Tut's funeral and his journey to the afterlife were painted on the walls inside of his tomb.
What are some possible explanations for the Curse of Tutankhamun?
Theories
Could toxins and bacteria found inside the tomb of Tutankhamun be responsible for the deaths previously attributed to the "curse"?
Tomb Toxins
Part 1
Was Lord Carnavon, and other members of the team for that matter, killed by exposure to ancient, toxic pathogens from the sealed tomb? Recent laboratory studies have revealed that some ancient mummies do indeed carry mould, researchers having identified at least two dangerous species; Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. The moulds can cause allergic reactions, presenting symptoms from congestion to bleeding in the lungs.
Part 2
A whole range of toxins have been discovered inside King Tutankhamun’s tomb, many of which are likely to cause damage to the human body. Tomb walls were covered with Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus, bacteria which damages the respiratory system. Ammonia gas, formaldehyde, and hydrogen sulphide were sealed inside the sarcophagus, strong concentrations of the gases are able to cause severe pneumonia-like symptoms, and death .
Floral collar discovered in King Tutankhamun's tomb. Funghi spores have been found to grow on grain and other flora materials within the tomb, such as flowers.
Part 3
The various moulds and toxins can be particularly harmful for people with weakened immune systems, which Lord Carnavon had due to a chronic illness. Lord Carnavon also presented pneumonia-like symptoms before he died. However, it is argued that Lord Carnavon died a few months after his visit to the tomb, meaning if he was exposed to toxins while in the tomb, symptoms of illness would likely have presented themselves sooner. Researchers are left with determining whether the deaths of those who have visited the tomb can be accounted for by the mould or the mummy’s curse.
Museum of Egyptian Antiques in Cairo, Egypt - A Virtual Tour of the King Tutankhamun Exhibit
Egyptian Museum Virtual Exhibit
https://egymonuments.gov.eg/news/a-virtual-tour-through-the-tutankhamun-collection-at-the-egyptian-museum/
Bibliography Part 1
Bibliography
Nov 4, 1922 CE: Excavation King Tutankhamun’s Tomb Begins | National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Education.nationalgeographic.org. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/king-tuts-tomb-discovered
The Discovery of King Tut’s Tomb timeline. (n.d.). Timetoast Timelines. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/the-discovery-of-king-tuts-tomb
Mummy Mystery. (2016, August 8). History. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/king-tut#:~:text=HISTORIC%20DISCOVERY&text=Nearly%20a%20decade%20after%20coming
April Holloway. (n.d.). The Curse of Tutankhamen's Tomb: A Scientific Explanation? - Part 2. Www.ancient-Origins.net. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-africa/curse-tutankhamen-s-tomb-scientific-explanation-part-2-00747
Lovgren, S. (2006, December 1). King Tut Died From Broken Leg, Not Murder, Scientists Conclude. History. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/king-tut-died-from-broken-leg--not-murder--scientists-conclude
Digging up trouble: beware the curse of King Tutankhamun. (2014, July 23). The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/jul/23/mummy-curse-legend-discovering-tutankhamun-ashmolean-museum
Snapshot: King Tutankhamun’s Tomb. (n.d.). Www.inspiringvacations.com. https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au/egypt-tours/experience-articles/snapshot-king-tutankhamuns-tomb/425
Bibliography Part 2
Howard Carter stole Tutankhamun’s treasure, new evidence suggests. (2022, August 13). The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/aug/13/howard-carter-stole-tutankhamuns-treasure-new-evidence-suggests
Laser scan reveals hidden chambers at the tomb of Tut Ankh Amun. (2017, July 27). UFOToday.com. https://ufotoday.com/ancient-history/egyptian/laser-scan-reveals-hidden-chambers-at-the-tomb-of-tut-ankh-amun
King Tut X-Ray & CT scan | Two Views. (n.d.). Www.two-Views.com. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.two-views.com/celebrity/king-tut-xray.html
floyd. (2014, July 17). How Did King Tut Die? SlideServe. https://www.slideserve.com/floyd/how-did-king-tut-die
jela. (2012, March 31). King Tut & King Menes. SlideServe. https://www.slideserve.com/jela/king-tut-king-menes
EI-Tawil, S., & EI-Tawil, T. (2003). Lord Carnarvon’s death: the curse of aspergillosis? The Lancet, 362(9386), 836. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(03)14268-7