Mummification was a complex process, refined over time, and allowed those who could afford it to be embalmed with style. Perhaps it is surprising then, that the reality of burial for many people in Ancient Egypt was much less elaborate. Mummification Was Not for Everyone Ancient Egyptian mummified body, via Wikimedia CommonsĪsk anyone about Ancient Egypt, and chances are that one of the first things they think of is mummified human remains in tombs. Nevertheless, our love of a good story and our fascination with Ancient Egypt means that the ‘curse’ lives on.Ģ. Only a handful of people who were there at the opening died within the next decade and Howard Carter, who led the team to discovery and excavation, died in 1939, aged 64. More recent research has thoroughly debunked the idea that those present at the opening met an untimely end. The cause of death was an infected cut, but the media could not resist adding to the curse story. The most notable was the death of Lord Carnarvon, who funded the excavation, on April 5, 1923.
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There were also a series of illnesses, accidents, and other events which the papers attributed to the opening of the tomb.
Readers bought into the idea of a curse with relish. This played on post-Victorian familiarity with spiritualism, an interest in the gothic in literature, the growing obsession with Ancient Egypt and the trend for travelers’ souvenirs, which often included mummified remains or other objects from tombs. The Times had the exclusive rights for reporting on the excavation, so speculative stories were published by other newspapers, including the rumors of a curse.
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