Tutankamun's tomb and death mask.

~TUTANKHAMEN~

Tutankhamen was the Egyptian Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, his name means the ‘living image of Aten’. In 1922 he was discovered by Howard Carter and George Herbert, and his burial mask remains a popular symbol in today’s world. In 2010 results found he was the son of Akhenaten and Akhenaten’s sister.

Tutankhamen was the prince and he went to the throne 1333 BC at age 9 or 10. He died at around 18, though there were no surviving records of Tutankhamen’s final days. People say he was assassinated, and people say he may of had Malaria and Leiomyomas combined led to death after he badly broke his leg and became badly infected.

Tutankhamen’s mummy is still in his tomb in the Valley of the kings, where the pharaoh’s were buried. It stands on the west bank of the Nile. The valley consists of 2 parts, the east valley, which is where most of the royal tombs are buried.

In 2008, a discovery of 2 more tomb entrances, which contain 63 more tombs and chambers.

The Royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and pictures of animals and townspeople. Most of the tombs have been robbed, leaving nothing but the actual tomb itself.

Tutankhamen’s tomb was unknown until the 1920’s, and is one of the most travelled artefacts in the world. The treasures of Tutankhamen Tour started in 1972 and ended in 1979, this was one of the longest tours in the world. In total of 1.6 million visitors, some people had to queue up for 8 hours just to have a glimpse of his tour.

OPENING OF KING TUTANKHAMEN’S TOMB:

The ‘Curse of the Pharaohs’ was believed to occur when people entered the ancient tombs. So the first people who found his tomb, Howard Carter and George Herbert (as mentioned before) died at an early age. This belief refers to if any person disturbs the mummy of an Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh is placed under a curse. People believe that a deadly fungus could have grown in the enclosed tomb, and when Carter and Herbert opened it, they weren’t wearing masks or anything to hide them from the bacteria in the tomb. Air samples were taken from the tomb, by drilling holes which showed that high levels of ammonia, formaldehyde and hydrogen sulphide were found. Each of these gases are toxic, based on strong odours. Hydrogen Sulphide can kill with a single breath.

Victims whom have died relating to the ‘Curse’:

Lord Carnarvon

       -Died April 5th, 1923

       -Mosquito bite and became infected

       -4 months and 7 days prior to opening the tomb.

George Jay Gould

        -Died May 16, 1923

        -Fatal Fever

•Howard Carter

        -Opened Tomb February 16, 1923

        -Died March 2, 1939

    (George Herbert’s history is unknown)