The pharaoh’s curse is a topic full of mystery and legend. Whoever disturbs the sleep of the pharaoh will evoke the god of death to spread his wings and descend on that person’s head. The curse on the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun warned that whoever disturbed the pharaoh’s sleep would suffer misfortune and illness, which could be fatal.
Tutankhamen’s tomb and the first occurrence of the pharaoh’s curse
Despite these warnings, British archaeologists Howard Carter and his team opened Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, launching the modern era of Egyptology. As the expedition progressed, the shadow of death began to loom over them. George Herbert, or Lord Carnarvon, who financed the excavation, took the brunt of it and died of an infection in 1923 at 56 years of age.
He was always in good health, but one day he was bitten by a mosquito on his left cheek. This small wound became infected and he died just six weeks after the tomb’s opening. According to the doctor’s report, who examined the pharaoh’s mummy later, the mummy also had a scar under his left cheek. The archaeologist Moser of the expedition team was responsible for tearing down a wall in the tomb to find the mummy of Tutankhamun.
Soon, he suffered from a strange disease of insanity and died in pain, followed by the tragic death of Howard Carter’s most important assistant, Arthur Mays, and the end of Lord Carnarvon’s wife within a short period. In total, 22 people directly or indirectly associated with Tutankhamun’s tomb died an unnatural death. These events may lead us to wonder if supernatural forces are at work.
Scientific explanations
In 1962, Dr. Iserdin Taya, a Cairo University student with a Ph.D. in physics, concluded through various studies on the explorers’ corpses that the fungus koji killed them. But further research under an electron microscope later revealed that the fungus was not the final answer to the mystery of the pharaoh’s spell because many people who died after entering the tomb did not suffer from the symptoms of the infection.
According to the Daily Star, scientists explain that the mummy’s curse is due to the harmful substances in the mummy that can cause harm to the human body. When people enter the pyramid tombs, inhaling large amounts of toxic substances in the mummies will affect the respiratory system, thus causing symptoms of discomfort.
These symptoms include shortness of breath, headaches, and vomiting. In addition, these harmful substances can also affect the immune system, which can cause infections and cancer.
Ramy Romany’s nightmare
However, some still believe the mummy’s curse is real. For example, Ramy Romany, an Egyptian documentary director, said he experienced the curse and emphasized that the curse is genuine. Romany revealed that he was part of an archaeological team investigating the Amarna Egyptian capital in Central Egypt.
The site of the ancient capital, built by Pharaoh Akhenaten of the 18th dynasty of ancient Egypt, later became one of Romany’s nightmares. Romany said he entered the tomb, which had not seen the light of day for 600 years, to learn more about Pharaoh Akhenaten. In addition to the sound of writhing snakes, there was a weird smell in the air after entering.
“My body was warning me not to breathe,” Ramy Romany said, recalling the situation. The next day, he suddenly fell ill with a 106°F fever and continued to experience hallucinations and coughing up blood. None of the doctors knew the cause of his illness, Romany said, although he improved after taking antibiotics prescribed by them.
Skeptics’ view
However, skeptics have pointed out that many others who visited the tomb or helped to discover it lived long and healthy lives. The most outstanding example is Howard Carter, who opened the tomb in 1922 and died in 1939 at the age of 64.
The mystery of the pharaoh’s curse
The mystery of the pharaoh’s curse has attracted the attention of scholars and experts. Some biologists have made the interesting point that ancient tombs and mummies may contain pathogens that have survived for over 3,000 years and that infection could have fatal consequences. These phenomena are a chilling mystery.
In addition to the scientific explanations, there are some supernatural explanations for the curse of the mummy. Some people believe that the curse is caused by the gods of ancient Egypt, who are angry at those who disturb the tombs of the pharaohs. This belief is based on the fact that many people involved in excavating the tombs have died in mysterious ways.
Conclusion
The mystery of the pharaoh’s curse has been a source of fascination for centuries. While some believe it is a supernatural phenomenon, others believe that the harmful substances in the mummies cause the illnesses and deaths. Whatever the cause, it is clear that the curse of the mummy is a chilling mystery that will continue to fascinate people for years to come.
Translated by Audrey Wang
