Tutankhamun's tomb, located in the Valley of the Kings was not discovered for almost 32 centuries. They reached him, nor thieves, nor the scientists studying the surrounding burial places of Egyptian kings. Only in 1926, archaeologist Howard Carter, from Great Britain, and the founder of the whole project, Lord Carnavon reached the lost tomb.
Tutankhamen was born in Akhetaten. His father was a pharaoh named Akhenaten, his mother was sister Pharaoh. Tutankhamen was the result of incest. At that time it was common practice by the pharaohs. Close kinship parents had an impact on the health of the young pharaoh. Tutankhamen ascended to the throne at the age of nine, in 1333 B.C. Tutankhamen died at the age of nineteen, in 1323 BC, leaving no living descendant, as successor to the throne of Egypt. Tutankhamen was buried in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings along with valuables, near the tomb of Ramses VI.
Tutankhamen death at a very young age is a mystery. The discussions were dominated by three threads talking about the causes of death of the young Pharaoh, accident, murder or disease. The first people who carried out the study of the mummy of Tutankhamen were Howard Carter and professor of anatomy Douglas Derry. Unfortunately, their research methods were rather amateurish and during the test made serious damage to the mummy. But they saw near the left ear of the mummy of Tutankhamen on the cheek circular recess, which resembled a scab. This place is suggested that the cause of death of Tutankhamen could be bitten by an insect.
As a result of x-rays revealed no sternum and several ribs, which could be the cause of death as a result of a fall from a horse or chariot. The researchers also found that the cervical vertebrae of Pharaoh are incorrectly connected which meant that Tutankhamen to look back he had to turn his whole body. It was also discovered deformed metatarsal of the disease Tutankhamen had to use a cane to walk. However, only genetic research indicated that, the pharaoh was infected with a deadly type of malaria spread by insects. DNA tests ended speculation about the death of the young king.
Tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered in early November 1922 in the Valley of the Kings, where archaeologists dug to the top of the stairs leading to the tomb. Nov. 24, researchers reached the passageway leading to the door of the chamber tomb with intact seal from ancient times and saved the hieroglyphic name of Tutankhamen. To the tomb entered Howard Carter, Carnarvon, Lady Evelyn, and Callender. Sudden deaths of members of the expedition gave rise to a rumor of a curse thrown by Tutankhamen on persons who have violated the peace of eternal rest Pharaoh.
Six months later, Lord Carnarvon died. The reason of death was an infection caused by a mosquito bite. Lord Carnarvon died in Cairo. According to legend, the archaeologists in the course of their work they ignore the carved inscription on the door of the tomb, which contained curse risk of death for persons disturbing the eternal dream of the king. Soon after cobra eat canary belonging to the second head of the expedition, Howard Carter. Apparently, on the date of the death of Count Carnarvon died his dog.
The sudden death of Count Carnarvon would launch a series of mysterious deaths of people associated with the discovery of the tomb. In 1930, among people involved with grave discoveries remained alive only Howard Carter. The press constantly reported about the next victims of the curse, which was supposed to be a total of more than 20. Among the names mentioned were: present at the opening of the burial chamber A.C. Mace, a half brother of Count Carnarvon Aubrey Herbert, mummy X-ray screener Douglas Reid, Egyptologist Arthur Weigalla, as well as Lord Westbury and his son. Within a few years, they all died as a result of illness, accident or committed suicide.
The legend of the "curse of Pharaoh" was created in the 20s by the press and can be partly explained rationally. Count Carnarvon was already seriously ill before going to Egypt, and was mosquito bite proved fatal. Also A.C. Mace was sick for a long time and because of health problems resigned from participation in the excavations. The story of the engraved on the door of the tomb's curse is untrue. Most of the inscriptions contained the wishes of a good afterlife for the deceased. In the tomb of Tutankhamun any inscriptions with curses were not there. It is speculated that some of the deaths translated "curse" could cause present in the burial chamber some types of dormant bacteria or fungi, as well as possible radioactive chemicals.
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