Pharaoh Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, died in 1323 BC at the age of 19.
A British archaeologist, Howard Crater, discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922. The pharaoh Tutankhamun died in 1323 BC at the age of 19. Most of the tombs of the kings were plundered in the olden days, but King Tut’s remained untouched for some unfathomable reasons.
The Earl of Carnarvon was a massive fan of the Egyptian dynasty. He financed the entire project and accompanied Crater to the burial chambers of the young king of Egypt. They ultimately discovered the mummified body of King Tut along with multiple religious objects, paintings, equipment, etc.
The discovery was covered by multiple news channels and spread like wildfire. Various organizations wanted to have more information regarding the excavation process. However, they were unaware of the death lurking over their heads.
To open or not?
Quite a lot of Egyptologists opposed the idea, though. They voted against the excavations as a strange tale revolved around King Tut’s tomb. It was believed to be cursed. The Earl of Carnarvon lost his life at the age of 56 during his stay in Egypt. Several other members of his team eventually died for one reason or the other. The world demanded answers from Howard Crater, and he, too, died soon after.
The ones that survived to tell the tale remained frightened throughout their lives. Multiple people died because they disrupted King Tut’s peace.
It is still unknown if the curse was real or if the people involved in excavations died naturally. However, the government and authorities demanded the tomb be sealed back. A civil conflict erupted, and the people of Egypt demanded the king be placed back into his burial chamber. They feared that they would die. They had all the reasons to believe King Tut’s tomb was indeed cursed.
A biological “curse”
Multiple researchers have suggested that the pharaoh’s curse was biological. The tombs or burial chambers sealed for thousands of years generally house pathogens, which can be hazardous or even lethal. This is likely why multiple people died.
The chamber was basically a mausoleum. According to certain experts and studies that were conducted afterward, some ancient mummies carry mold, including Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, which are known to cause congestion or bleeding in the lungs.
Science, science, and more science
Moreover, the bacteria that affect the lungs, such as Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus, also build on the tomb walls. Hence, the aforementioned substances make tombs extremely lethal. However, certain scientists speak against the idea.
It is still unclear what caused those deaths. The curse of King Tut‘s tomb took multiple lives, and it still lives. Scientists have not been able to identify the cause of death that happened because of King Tut’s tomb. The people who excavated the tomb died due to dissimilar reasons. The deaths, however, spread wild rumors throughout Egypt.
Science does not believe in myths and legends. Hence, various excavations still take place in different parts of Egypt. For example, the archaeologists are still after Cleopatra‘s tomb. They firmly believe that they’d be able to locate it one day. It’s significant to discover her resting place because, just like King Tut, she was also a famous Egyptian figure.
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