The “curse of the pharaohs” is the idea that anyone who disturbs the tomb of an ancient Egyptian king will die. It became famous after the opening of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, but it owes much more to newspapers and novels than to the ancient Egyptians.
How the legend began
In April 1923, a few months after the tomb was opened, Lord Carnarvon, who had paid for the excavation, died in Cairo of an infected mosquito bite. Reporters, shut out of the tomb by an exclusive deal with The Times, filled their pages with stories of a curse. Writers such as Marie Corelli and Arthur Conan Doyle added fuel.
What the facts say
Howard Carter, who spent ten years working in the tomb, lived until 1939. Studies comparing the people present at the opening with others found no difference in how long they lived. Ancient tombs did sometimes carry warnings against robbers, but no curse was written in Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Mold and bacteria?
Some scientists have suggested that molds or bacteria in sealed tombs could cause illness, especially in people with weak immune systems. It is possible, but there is no evidence that it caused any deaths among Egyptologists.
See the tomb for yourself in the Valley of the Kings on our Luxor tours.
