Who opened the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1921. The secret of Tutankhamun

After the opening of the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922, members of the expedition suddenly began to die suddenly. A total of 22 people died. There was a report in the press that all the researchers were victims of the “curse of the pharaohs”. The public was in shock, the mystics - in indescribable delight.

The curse was believed until science took over. The researchers found that the "curse" has a real basis. However, not the kind that mystics would like to see. Mummies can actually kill.

Excavations of Tutankhamun's tomb

It all started with the opening of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922. For six years, an expedition led by antiquities collector George Carnarvon and Egyptologist Howard Carter roamed the deserts in search of the tomb. Interestingly, the Valley of the Kings - an ancient Egyptian cemetery - by that time had already been pretty dug up. In principle, the excavations could not bring anything new. However, the British archaeologist Howard Carter came across a mention of an ancient pharaoh, the son of the famous ruler Akhenaten. When he realized that Tutankhamun was not on the list of finds, he appreciated how big his trophy would be. But one thing was missing - funding.

Howard Carter

In 1906 Carter met Lord Carnarvon, a wealthy collector. And he agreed to sponsor the expedition. Not a single self-respecting Egyptologist believed in the success of the event. Despite ridicule, Carter drew up a detailed plan, where he noted the possible locations of the sarcophagus. However, the first attempt was not successful. The diggers got only a faience goblet. However, Carnarvon agreed to give the Egyptologist a second chance. In November 1922, archaeologists' shovels stumbled upon something hard, making a dull sound. When part of the sand was removed, the clear outlines of a sealed door appeared.

The press later called this discovery fatal. Newspapers were full of reports that the expedition had encountered a paranormal force. There was a reason for the heated discussion. The opening of the tomb was followed by tragic events. One by one the members of the expedition died.

The Curse of the Egyptian Pyramids

The first alarming message appeared in the press in December 1922. The authoritative New York Times magazine reported that his pet bird had died in Carnarvon's home. A cobra made its way into the cage to the pet, which brutally finished off the feathered creature. In Egyptian mythology, the snake is the enemy of the pharaohs. Thus Carter received a bad omen. The idea was picked up by Arthur Weigall, the supreme adviser of antiquities in Egypt. He became famous for creating many colorful biographies of the pharaohs and publishing several exciting novels.

George Carnarvon

At the moment when Carter discovered Tutankhamun, Weigall was working with a major newspaper, the Daily Mail. The journalist figured out what interest the public would cause the find. Moreover, he decided to fuel the curiosity of readers by occasionally revealing unique and chilling details. In particular, the journalist began to actively publish the stories of Egyptologists, somewhat reminiscent of the excavations of Tutankhamun. Of course, full of mysterious circumstances.

In addition, on the day of the opening of the tomb, Weigall noticed a strange scar on Carnarvon's cheek. As it turned out later, the trace was left after the bite of a large mosquito. The writer saw this as an ominous coincidence. According to him, the wound on the face of the Egyptologist exactly matched the wound that the mummy had. According to another version, which was also actively promoted by Weigall, on the day of the death of the lord, electricity was turned off throughout Cairo. Of course, the cause of the failure could not be established. Similar mystical moods were picked up by other figures of the pen. So, the already famous Conan Doyle was convinced that those who open the Egyptian tombs would inevitably be overtaken by the "curse of the pharaohs."

Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) discovered by Carter

The curse of the pharaoh - a figment of the imagination of writers

Few people mentioned that Weigall was at odds with Carnarvon. And it is not surprising, because the lord gave all the rights to cover the opening to the Times magazine, the sworn competitor of the Daily Mail. In addition, Weigall did not get along with Carter either. Here, research interests became the cause of the enmity. The High Councilor of Antiquities disapproved and openly ridiculed Carter's work. No one, of course, paid attention to the fact that the journalist had an underlying reason.

On the contrary, creative people picked up the impulse. In one of her works, which was published two weeks before Carnarvon's death, Maria Corelli mentioned the curse. She stressed that anyone who enters the tomb will face death. The New York Times ran the phrase. The effect was impressive.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle didn't have to prove anything. The writer has always believed in mysticism. He told the press that Carnarvon was a victim of Tutankhamun's "elementals". He emphasized that the creatures are peculiar guardians of the tomb. Even Benito Mussolini believed in the curse. When he learned of the death of the lord, he ordered the Egyptian mummy donated earlier to be removed from his palace in Rome. Thus, for several years, the press literally fanned a fire from a spark. The "curse of the pharaohs" seemed to be a real phenomenon.

One of the mummies

scientific explanation

And this continued until science intervened. The Egyptologists hit first. It turned out that in the ancient Egyptian language the word "curse" as such does not exist. In total, more than 800 mummies were discovered during the mass excavations. And the mortality rate among the expedition members suggests that there is no curse that takes lives. If we talk about a specific case, that is, the opening of the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun, then you should take a closer look at the members of the expedition. Six of the 22 investigators were over 70 at the time of autopsy. One of them is 84 years old. Imminent deaths in the light of such information no longer seem so mystical. In addition, Howard Carter lived after the discovery of the tomb for 16 years. His children, who were present at the opening of the sarcophagus, also lived to an advanced age. Why did the lord and other explorers suddenly die?

The first and most common version is a deadly virus. Dangerous diseases have been dormant for thousands of years. It is worth opening the sarcophagus, and viruses enter the human body. In addition to viruses, mold fungi could also have a destructive effect. It is known that Lord Carnarvon was treated for a pulmonary disease for a long time. Thus, the virus could aggravate its course. And as a result, Carnarvon's body simply could not cope.

Another, no less popular version is toxic substances and poisons. They could be placed in the tomb along with the mummies. Just so that those who like to profit from jewelry do not open the sacred sarcophagi. The people who opened the tombs most likely inhaled the poisons or came into contact with them through their skin. Once in the body, the substances caused severe complications. From the outside, everything looked like the very “curse of the pharaohs”. In addition, radioactive elements could accidentally get into the sarcophagi and tombs. When mummies were buried, people were not even aware of their presence. Mixing with the dust that the researchers inhaled, the elements led to the development of radiation sickness. As a result, the expedition members also died mysteriously.

E Expedition Howard Carter found a stone sarcophagus of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
Since ancient times, the high culture of Egypt has caused enthusiastic surprise among the peoples of the world. Scientists and philosophers of Greece came to Egypt in search of knowledge. Sick people were brought to the Nile Valley, as Egyptian doctors were considered the best healers of human ailments. But Egypt - a country of stone wonders - beckoned with its incomparable monuments of art. There are a lot of interesting photos from excavations in this post under CAT...

Tutankhamun's tomb, the only unlooted tomb, was discovered in 1922 by two Englishmen, Egyptologist Howard Carter and amateur archaeologist Lord Carnarvon. This find, which has come down to us almost in its original form after more than three thousand years, is considered one of the most important finds in archeology.

The tomb is located in the Valley of the Kings, where from the 16th century BC. e. to 11th century BC e. tombs were built for the burial of the pharaohs - the kings of ancient Egypt.

Luxor: King's Valley, Photgrapher: Peter J. Bubenik

The valley is located on the west bank of the Nile, opposite the city of Thebes (modern Luxor). Her search went on for a long time. Archaeological expeditions have been working in the Valley of the Kings for a long time, which seem to have unearthed everything that is possible, and no new finds were expected. However, Carter was sure that the tomb of Tutankhamen must be somewhere here. Scientists did not part with the hope that, perhaps, it would be possible to find the entire burial in its entirety.

Patron and excavation organizer Lord Carnarvon reading a book on the veranda of Carter's house in the Valley of the Kings. Around 1923

Carter had a reputation for being a pedantic scholar, meticulous in keeping records and caring for the preservation of antiquities. He divided the valley into squares and began to check them methodically. For several archaeological seasons, the Carter expedition excavated in the Valley of the Kings, but the results still left much to be desired.

In 1922, Lord Carnarvon, who had spent a fair amount of money on archaeological work and discouraged by failures, announced to Howard Carter his decision to curtail the search for a tomb in this area. And then Carter resumed excavations on a site he had previously left without attention near a group of destroyed huts. And luck smiled at them.

On November 4, 1922, the Carter expedition discovered a small step carved into the rock, and by the end of the next day, a whole staircase leading to the door was cleared of sand. Carter sent an urgent telegram to Lord Carnarvon, imploring him to come immediately.

Photo at the entrance to the tomb. They don't know what's waiting for them...

On November 26, in the presence of Lord Carnarvon, Carter made a hole in the corner of the door and, illuminating the opening with a candle flame, carefully looked inside.

Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and an Egyptian worker open the entrance to the massive sanctuary in the tomb's burial chamber and see Tutankhamun's sarcophagus for the first time. January 4, 1924

« At first it was impossible to see anything, the flame flickered slightly and fluctuated in the stream of warm air coming from the room. Only after a while, when my eyes got a little used to the light, the outlines of the room began to gradually emerge from the darkness, strange animals, statues and gold - the glitter of gold is everywhere". Howard Carter

It took Carter a full eight years for each item from the diverse and numerous inventory to be carefully documented and cataloged before the tomb was completely cleaned. In total, there will be about three and a half thousand different precious items.

A ceremonial bed in the shape of a heavenly cow, food supplies, and other items in a room that Carter dubbed the "antechamber" of the tomb. December 1922

Model boats in a room that Carter dubbed the "treasury" of the tomb. Around 1923

A gilded lion-shaped bed, a chest for storing clothes and other items in the "hallway". Statues guard the walled entrance to the tomb of the pharaoh. December 1922

Under the lion-shaped bed in the “hallway” are several boxes and crates, as well as an ebony and ivory chair made for Tutankhamun the child. December 1922

A gilded bust of the sky goddess Mehurt, depicted as a cow, as well as chests in the "treasury" of the tomb. Around 1923

Chests in the "treasury" of the tomb. Around 1923

Intricately carved alabaster vases in the "anteroom". December 1922

Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and Egyptian workers remove the partition separating the "entrance" from the burial chamber. December 2, 1923

On February 16, 1923, a British expedition led by archaeologist Howard Carter found the main treasure of the pyramid: the pharaoh's stone sarcophagus.

Inside the massive sanctuary in the burial chamber, a huge linen cover with golden rosettes, reminiscent of the night sky, closes smaller arks nested in each other. December 1923

Howard Carter, Arthur Mace, and an Egyptian worker are carefully rolling up a linen cover. December 30, 1923

Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and Egyptian workers are carefully dismantling one of the golden sarcophagi inside the burial chamber. December 1923

Carter examines Tutankhamen's sarcophagus. October 1925

When the sarcophagus was opened in February, inside was a golden coffin with his mummy. The sarcophagus was gold and contained more than 100 kg of pure gold, and the body of the pharaoh located there was mummified.

Sarcophagus of Tutankhamun
1 - the first anthropoid coffin (tree); 2 - the second anthropoid coffin (wood, gilding); 3 - the third anthropoid coffin (cast gold); 4 - golden mask; 5 - the mummy of Tutankhamun; 6 - red quartzite ark

The room where the sarcophagus was located was filled with so many precious objects that it took five whole years to dismantle them. The sarcophagus with the mummy of Tutankhamun was left in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. All the treasures found there are now kept in the Cairo Museum.

Restorers Arthur Mace and Alfred Lucas examine the golden chariot from Tutankhamun's tomb outside the walls of the "laboratory" in the tomb of Pharaoh Seti II. December 1923

The pharaoh ruled for about 9 years, approximately from 1332 to 1323 BC (he died at the age of 19).

Curse of Tutankhamen

The first victim was a caged bird in Carter's Luxor home. After they found the tomb, it was eaten by a cobra - in the mythology of the Egyptians, an animal that strikes the enemies of the pharaoh. The interpretation spread in the press that this is a bad omen for the participants in the excavations.

Mold is now blamed for the mysterious deaths that follow archaeologist Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's intact tomb. It turned out that in the tissues of the lungs of the mummy lived the mold Aspergillus niger, which can be fatal for people with a weakened immune system or with a damaged pulmonary system.

The first victim of "Tutankhamun" - the organizer and sponsor of the excavations, Lord Carnarvon, long before the discovery of the tomb, had a terrible car accident in which he damaged his lung. He died of pneumonia some time after visiting the tomb.
Following him, another participant in the excavations, Arthur Mays, died, who, by a tragic accident, was seriously ill before the start of the excavations. His weakened immune system provided the perfect environment for the mold's deadly qualities to manifest. But people associate their deaths with a curse.

Howard Carter himself (pictured), who, it would seem, was the first to fall victim to the “curse”, died 16 years after the opening of the tomb, at the age of 64, and the adherents of the “curse” themselves do not deny the natural causes of his death. But with the curse, the whole story is more mysterious ...

(C) different internet sources

The discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun is the largest archaeological find in the history of human civilization. Most historians are of the opinion that Tutankhamun is only an insignificant Egyptian king who did not leave a noticeable mark in the annals, however, for the science of archeology, this pharaoh is an absolutely priceless figure who gained his iconic status in the fall of 1922 (do not miss the article about). During his life he was not famous for his grandiose achievements, but after his death he truly became great.

Opening of Tutankhamun's tomb

Excavation sponsor Lord Carnarvon, a year after the triumphant find, reads a book on the veranda of Howard Carter's house, 1923
The epochal event took place on November 4, 1922 - three thousand years after the death of the young pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of the New Kingdom. On this significant day, the team of archaeologist Howard Carter, during excavations near the city of Thebes (now this city is called Luxor), stumbled upon a step carved into the rock, which turned out to be the first element of an ancient tomb and surprisingly located just ten meters from the front door of the tomb of Ramses V - mega-popular places among the tourists who annually visit hundreds of thousands of Egyptian sights. Millions of feet trampled on a piece of land under which the pharaoh's mummy rested for thousands of years, until a successful archaeologist found him. Carter immediately telegraphed his patron that he was waiting for the arrival of the lord to begin a key stage of the enterprise. They seem to have found something promising, potentially very valuable, extremely important. Although even he, an experienced Egyptologist with a large collection of historical achievements behind him, at that moment did not realize that he had made the real archaeological discovery of the century.

The first step towards a sensational discovery was made in the spring of 1906, when for the first time the paths of two prominent British gentlemen crossed - the professional Egyptologist Carter and the famous philanthropist, amateur archaeologist George Herbert Carnarvon. The men got to know each other, discussed general archaeological topics, and after a little preparation began excavations in the Valley of the Kings. Previously, both managed to work on the territory of the necropolis of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, had their good moments, however, for a real breakthrough, the first lacked stable funding, and the second lacked knowledge, experience, patience, composure, finally. Now the team had the necessary theoretical knowledge and material means to conduct a successful archaeological campaign. Since 1902, the American eccentric millionaire Theodore Davis has been excavating in the Valley of the Kings, but in the first months of 1914 the American decided to retire, refused the concession, giving it to his British colleague Carnarvon. On the eve of this important stage, the Carter-Carnarvon team had already opened the tomb of Amenhotep I, belonging to the 18th dynasty, and was preparing for new epochal achievements in the Valley of the Kings.

As we know, 1914 is the year of the First World War. The threat of a terrible catastrophe hung over the planet, then the fateful day came on June 28, the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand happened - a spark that ignited the infernal all-devouring fire. The planet plunged into chaos, the British experts were not up to archeology, excavations, dead Egyptian kings. The archaeologist-Egyptologist was not called to the front, but the work was frozen until better times. The long-awaited change came after the end of hostilities in Europe. By this time, the philanthropist had somewhat lost interest in the expensive enterprise, and was even ready to abandon the idea of ​​making a revolution in archeology. But Carter was not going to stop, fanatically believed in his star, was eager to go all the way to the end, for which he was generously rewarded and immortalized in history.

Photo report of Tutankhamun's tomb

Death mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun
The photographs were taken immediately after opening the sealed grave. Historical footage clearly proves a remarkable fact: for 3,000 years, robbers have not been able to climb inside, plunder the tomb and steal the treasures with which the young pharaoh was escorted to the afterlife. Having unearthed a step, the legendary archaeologist stepped back, waited for the arrival of a patron of the arts, together with whom they entered the ancient halls to make an epoch-making discovery.

With these words, the legendary archaeologist describes his first impressions of the place where the remains of the ancient ruler rested:

When the sealed door opened, at first I saw nothing - streams of hot air rushed out, extinguishing our candles. After a little while, the thick fog dissipated, and the greatest sight opened up to eyes that were accustomed to darkness: statues of people and strange animals, interesting objects hung on the walls and the brilliance of gold, with which literally everything was trimmed.

Howard Carter, along with two of his assistants, open the doors of the room where Tutankhamun's sarcophagus is located.

Sky Cow - A ceremonial bed filled with food supplies and other items

Interesting articles

A lion-bed in gilding next to other objects of the hallway guarded by a black statue of Ka

Collection of canoes inside the tomb

Gilded lion bed and inlaid breastplate among other objects in the antechamber

Boxes, chests, an ebony and ivory chair that Tutankhamun used as a child

Gilded bust of the Heavenly Cow Mehurt

Subscribe to our page facebook- it will be interesting!

Treasure chests inside the tomb

Decorative vase made of alabaster, found in the front room

Restorers Arthur Mays and Alfred Lucas clean the statue of Ka

Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and an Egyptian worker wrap one of the Ka statues for transport

Restorers Arthur Mays and Alfred Lucas work on a golden chariot from King Tut's tomb.



Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and two workers remove the partition between the anteroom and the pharaoh's burial chamber

In the burial chambers, the second ark is located inside the first outer ark

Howard Carter and his assistants roll the linen from the ark

Carter, Callender and workers are dismantling the golden ark inside the burial chambers.



Howard Carter and his greatest discovery - the mummy of Pharaoh Tutankhamun

The story of the tomb of Tutankhamun, the world-famous ancient Egyptian pharaoh, is summarized in this article. The report on the tomb of Tutankhamen can be supplemented with interesting facts.

"Tomb of Tutankhamun" brief message

Tutankhamen was the pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of the pharaohs of Egypt, and he ruled the kingdom from 1347-1337 BC. This young ruler became a symbol of ancient Egyptian civilization and the most famous pharaoh thanks to the discovery of his tomb. She was the only one in the Valley of the Kings, to which the hands of the robbers practically did not touch.

The tomb of the pharaoh was discovered in the Valley of the Kings. And this is the only tomb that came to the researchers in its original form. This despite the fact that thieves obviously hid it twice. The tomb was discovered in 1922 by two Englishmen - Egyptologist Howard Carter and amateur archaeologist Lord George Carnarvon. Here they found a lot of jewelry, a gold sarcophagus with the body of a mummified pharaoh. But more about everything.

The history of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun

The search for the tomb of Tutankhamun began in 1916. The idea of ​​the archaeologist Carter and Lord Carnavon seemed utopian to everyone, because until that time the Valley of the Kings had been shoveled up and down. But the British stubbornly for 6 years went to their goal. Having dug up all the sites, they did not affect a small part of the territory, where, in their opinion, were the huts of the tomb builders.

Under the first shack, Egyptologists discovered a step leading down. Having begun to clear the stairs, the archaeologists below saw the walled door of the tomb. It was a sensation. The opening of the tomb of Tutankhamun happened on November 3, 1922. The first phase of this work has been completed. Carter decided to wait for Lord Carnarvon, who was in London.

November 25, 1922 they went down to the tomb. Having reached the door, Carter realized that the tomb of Tutankhamun had already been opened before him, and more than once, since the entrance was not walled up and sealed. In the corridor of the tomb, Egyptologists noticed broken and whole jugs - another fact of the robbers' activity. But inside they were waiting for a real surprise-mystery: why did the pharaoh's treasures remain untouched? The surprise of archaeologists knew no bounds. After doing numerous jobs, Carter arrived at a room full of various items.

So what was found in Tutankhamun's tomb? In the first two rooms, vases, a golden throne, caskets, writing materials, lamps, a golden chariot, numerous golden ornaments, precious stones, household items, and sawn ships were found. Carter was particularly impressed by the black sculptures of the pharaoh standing opposite each other, in gold sandals and aprons, with wands, maces and a sacred cobra on his forehead. He also saw a beautiful feather fan, which crumbled into dust at the touch of hands.

Archaeologists, when they came to their senses after seeing the amount of treasures, found that there was no sarcophagus in these rooms. So, there is still a burial room.

Between the sculptures of the pharaoh, a sealed third room was discovered. and Carter decides to mothball further research in order to carry out organizational work and negotiations with the Egyptian government. In December, he returned to work and began to describe, preserve and transport treasures from the tomb. On December 27, the first batch of finds was brought to light. It was not very easy to do this, because some things made of fabric, leather or wood almost decayed.

Study of the burial room

The burial room was lined with upholstered gold plates and decorated with blue mosaics. It opened in mid-February. They also found a case in which the sarcophagus was located. On one side of the case were folding doors, bolted, though without a seal. Behind them is another, smaller one, without a mosaic, but with a pharaoh's seal. Hanging over it was a cloak of sequined linen, fastened to wooden cornices. After the archaeologists dismantled the last case, the cover of a large sarcophagus made of yellow quartzite was opened before the researchers. Lifting the lid, Carter found a huge gilded relief portrait of Tutankhamun. In fact, it was the lid of a two-meter coffin with the contours of a male figure.

The golden sarcophagus contained the darkened and petrified mummy of Tutankhamun. His chest and face were covered with a mask of gold. Since that time, the world has learned about the great pharaoh of Ancient Egypt - the young and mysterious Tutankhamun.

Where are the items from the tomb of Tutankhamen?

Items from the tomb of the pharaoh are in different museums of our planet. Today, most of the exhibits are at the Grand Egyptian Museum. The pharaoh's posthumous golden mask and sarcophagus are exhibited in the Cairo Museum.

Tomb of Tutankhamen: interesting facts

Tomography of the body of Tutankhamun in 2005 showed that the pharaoh had a height of 180 cm) and ate well.

Tutankhamun and his wife had no children, although Ankhesenpaaten had miscarriages twice. The bodies of two stillborn baby girls were mummified and placed in Tutankhamun's tomb in small coffins.

There is a legend about the curse of Tutankhamun's tomb. The tomb is associated with a series of deaths of several researchers who studied the burial. Lord Carnarvon, who financed the excavations, was the first among the explorers to die. He died almost five months after the opening of the tomb, on April 5, 1923.

Journalists counted 22 victims of the curse, 13 of whom were directly present at the opening of the tomb. And Howard Carter, who led all the work in the tomb, was the last to die, in 1939 at the age of 66.

We hope that the "Tomb of Tutankhamun" report helped you prepare for the lesson. And what you know about the tomb of Tutankhamun, you can leave through the comment form below.

Episodes from the history of the great archaeological discovery

“O mother Neith! Stretch your wings over me, eternal stars...
Tutankhamun's sarcophagus inscription

Robbers invaded the tomb of Tutankhamun already ten to fifteen years after his death. By some chance, the first, superficial robbery left the tomb largely undisturbed.

Photo detail / November 1925. Tutankhamun's burial mask. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamichrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

In 1902, the Egyptian government allowed the American Theodore Davis to excavate in the Valley of the Kings. Davis dug for twelve consecutive winters. He was lucky: he discovered the extremely interesting and important for science tombs of Thutmes IV, Sipt, Horemheb, the mummy and sarcophagus of the great "heretic king" Amenhotep IV. In the year the First World War began, this concession passed to Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter, who later revealed to the world the Pharaoh Tutankhamen.

The third car registered in England belonged to him: motor racing was his passion. This passion led to a radical change in his life - at the very beginning of XX [in book: "current"] century, he gets near Bad Langenschwalbach, in Germany, in a car accident: he rolls over in his car. In addition to a number of serious injuries, the consequence of the disaster was the defeat of the respiratory tract; real attacks of suffocation make it impossible for him to stay in England in the winter. So, in 1903, he first came to Egypt with its milder climate, and here - for excavations that were carried out by various archaeological expeditions. A wealthy independent man, who had not previously had a definite goal in life, he saw in this activity a truly magnificent opportunity to combine his passion for sports that had not left him with serious art classes. In 1906, he starts excavations on his own, but in the same winter he comes to the conclusion that his knowledge is completely insufficient. He turns to Professor Maspero for help, and he recommends young Howard Carter to him.

The cooperation of these people was unusually fruitful. Howard Carter was an excellent complement to Lord Carnarvon: he was a well-rounded explorer and, even before Lord Carnarvon invited him to oversee all his excavations, he had already gained a lot of practical knowledge from Petrie and Davies. But for all that, he was by no means a fantasyless registrar of facts, although some critics reproached him for excessive pedantry. He was a man with a practical mindset and at the same time a rare brave man, a real daredevil. "

"Carnarvon and Howard Carter began to work together. Only in the fall of 1917 did they manage to increase the scale of work so much that there was hope for success. At the same time, something happened that we have repeatedly met in the history of science: from the very beginning they managed to attack the place where, in fact, the discovery was subsequently made. However, a number of external circumstances - critical reflections, delays, doubts and, above all, "instructions from specialists" slowed down the whole thing and led to the fact that it almost burst altogether. "

4.


Plan of the tomb on The Discovery of King Tut exhibition website

"Starting excavations, Carnarvon and Carter during the winter removed almost the entire top layer of debris and rubble inside the planned triangle and brought the excavations to the foot of the open tomb of Ramesses VI. "Here we came across a number of huts for workers - several shacks that were built on a pile of fragments of flint, which, as is known, always serves in the Valley as a sure sign of the proximity of some tomb.

The events of the next few years gradually became more and more tense.

Because of the tourists, or rather, because further excavations would interfere with the inspection of the tomb of Ramesses, which is willingly visited by tourists, Carnarvon and Carter decided to stop the excavations in this place until more favorable times. Thus, in the winter of 1919/20, they excavated only at the entrance to the tomb of Ramesses VI and found there in a small cache some items of mortuary equipment of known archaeological interest.

“Never in our time in the Valley have we been so close to a real discovery,” Carter later wrote.

Now they have "toppled", as Petrie would say, the whole triangle, except for that patch of land on which the workers' huts stood. And again they leave this last section untouched, again go to another place, to a small hollow adjacent to the Valley of the Kings, to the tomb of Thutmes III, dig there for two years in a row and in the end do not find anything of value.

Then they gather and quite seriously discuss the question of whether after all, after such insignificant results of long-term research, the excavations should not be moved to a completely different place. As before, only that patch of land remains unexcavated, where the workers' shacks stand and there is a pile of flint fragments - a small piece of territory at the foot of the tomb of Ramses VI. After much hesitation, they finally decide to dedicate one more, this time really last, winter to the Valley of the Kings. "

"On November 3, 1922, Carter (Lord Carnarvon was in England at that time) began to demolish the shacks - these were the remains of dwellings from the XX dynasty. The next morning, a stone step was discovered under the first shack. By the evening of November 5, after they had been removed mountains of garbage and rubble, there was no longer any doubt that they had managed to find the entrance to some kind of tomb.

However, it could also be some unfinished or unused, empty tomb. And if there was a mummy in it, it was possible that this tomb, like many others, had long been defiled and plundered. Finally, to sort through all the pessimistic options, let's say that the tomb could not belong to the king at all, but to some courtier or priest.

As the work progressed, so did Carter's excitement. Step after step was released from under the debris and rubble, and by the time the sun suddenly set, as always in Egypt, everyone saw the twelfth step, and beyond it “the upper part of the closed, plastered with lime and sealed door.” "Sealed door! So, really ... This moment could excite even an experienced archaeologist.

5.

Plan of the interior of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen. From the book of K. Kerama "Gods, tombs, scientists", M., 1963.

Carter examined the seals: they were the seals of the royal necropolis. Consequently, there, in the tomb, rested the ashes of some really high-ranking person. Since the dwellings of workers had already closed the entrance to the tomb since the XX Dynasty, it, in any case, from now on, should have become inaccessible to thieves. Carter, trembling with impatience, made a small hole in the door, large enough to put an electric light through, and found that the whole passage on the other side of the door was blocked with stones and rubble; this once again proved that they tried to secure the tomb as much as possible from uninvited guests.

When Carter, leaving the dig under the protection of his most loyal men, returned home by moonlight, he had to enter into a difficult struggle with himself.

“Anything could be behind this passage, literally anything, and I had to call on all my self-control to resist the temptation to immediately break the door and continue the search,” Carter wrote in his diary after he looked into the hole he made in the door. Now, as he rode his donkey down the slope of the Valley of the Kings, a burning impatience seized him. An inner voice whispered to him that after six years of fruitless labor he was finally on the threshold of a great discovery; and yet it is hard not to admire this - he decides to fill up the excavation and wait for the return of Lord Carnarvon, his friend and collaborator.

6.


King Tutankhamun tomb "s hidden chamber discovered through testing temperature. dailymail.co.uk

On the morning of November 6, Carter sends a telegram to Carnarvon: “A remarkable discovery has finally been made in the Valley. Magnificent tomb with intact seals; before your arrival, everything is backfilled. Congratulations". On the eighth, he receives two answers: "I will arrive as quickly as possible"; "I expect to be in Alexandria on the 20th."

On November 23, Lord Carnarvon arrived in Luxor with his daughter. Carter spent more than two weeks in burning impatience, in agonizing expectation in front of the newly filled tomb. Already two days after the discovery, a hail of congratulations fell upon him, but on what, in fact, they congratulated him - on what discovery, whose tomb? Carter did not know this. If he had continued to excavate just a few centimeters, he would have seen an absolutely clear and distinct impression of the seal of Tutankhamen. “I would sleep better at night and save myself three weeks of agonizing uncertainty.”

7.

December 1922. Ornately carved alabaster vases in the antechamber. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

By the afternoon of November 24, workers had cleared all the steps. Descending from the last, sixteenth, Carter found himself in front of a sealed door. He saw the prints of the seal with the name of Tutankhamen and at the same time what almost all the researchers of the tombs had to face: the traces of the robbers, who managed to get ahead of the scientists here too; here, as in other places, the thieves had time to do their work.

“Since the whole door was now visible, we were able to see what had previously been hidden from our eyes, namely: part of the walled passage was opened twice and closed up again; the seals we found earlier - a jackal and nine captives - were attached to that part of the wall that was being opened, while the seals of Tutankhamen, with which the tomb was originally sealed, were on the other, lower, untouched part of the wall. Thus, the tomb was not at all, as we hoped, completely untouched. The robbers visited it, and even more than once. The huts we have already mentioned testified to the fact that the robbers were active even before the reign of Ramesses VI, and the fact that the tomb was sealed again indicated that the robbers were not able to clean it completely. "

8.


Treasury / C. 1923. An assortment of model boats in the treasury of the tomb. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

“The decisive moment was coming,” writes Carter, “with trembling hands, we made a small hole in the upper left corner ..”

Taking an iron rod, Carter passed it through the hole; the rod met no barrier. Then Carter lit a match and brought it to the hole: no sign of gas. He began to widen the hole.

Now everyone crowded around him: Lord Carnarvon, his daughter Lady Evelyn Herbert and the Egyptologist Callender, who, having barely learned about the new find, hastened to offer his services as an assistant. Nervously striking a match, Carter lights a candle and with a trembling hand brings it to the hole, but the hot current of air escaping from the hole almost blows it out, and in the flickering light Carter does not immediately manage to see what is behind the door. Gradually, his eyes get used to, and he distinguishes first the contours, then the first colors, and when at last the contents of the chamber located on the other side of the door become clear to him, a triumphant cry freezes on his lips ... he is silent. For those who stand waiting beside him, this moment seems like an eternity. "Do you see anything there?" Carnarvon asks him, unable to bear the uncertainty any longer. Slowly, as if spellbound, Howard Carter turns to him. “Oh yes,” he says heartily, “amazing things!”

9.


December 1922. A ceremonial bed in the shape of the Celestial Cow, surrounded by provisions and other objects in the antechamber of the tomb. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

“There is no doubt that in the entire history of archaeological excavations, no one has yet managed to see anything more magnificent than what our lantern pulled out of the darkness,” said Carter, when the first excitement subsided and explorers, one by one, were able to calmly approach the hole made in the door. His words were confirmed when the door was opened on November 17 and a beam of light from a strong electric bulb danced on a golden stretcher, on a massive golden throne, on two large matte gleaming black statues, on alabaster vases, on some extraordinary caskets. The heads of strange beasts cast monstrous shadows on the walls; like sentries, two statues stood one against the other “with golden aprons, in golden sandals, with clubs and wands. Their foreheads were wrapped around the golden images of sacred snakes.

10.


December 1922. A gilded lion bed and inlaid clothes chest among other objects in the antechamber. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

And among all this luxury of the dead, which it was impossible to capture with a glance, traces of the living could be seen: near the door stood a vessel half-filled with lime, not far from it was a lamp black with soot, in another place a fingerprint was visible on the wall, on the threshold lay a garland of flowers - last tribute to the deceased. As if spellbound, Carnarvon and Carter stood looking at all this dead luxury and traces of life preserved for so many millennia; a long time passed before they woke up and were convinced that in this room - a real museum of treasures - there was neither a sarcophagus nor a mummy. Was it really supposed to resurface the question that had already been discussed more than once: a tomb or a hiding place?

However, going around step by step all the rooms, they found between the sentries one more, third, sealed door. “In our minds, we already imagined a whole suite of rooms similar to the one in which we were, also filled with treasures, and we were breathless.” On November 27, they examined the door, and by the light of the strong electric lamps that Callender had managed to install by that time, they were convinced that almost at floor level, next to the door, there was a passage, also sealed, though later than the door itself. So, the robbers managed to visit here too. What could be hiding in this second chamber or second corridor? If there was a mummy behind this door, in what form? Was she whole? There were many mysteries here. The layout of this tomb was also strange, unlike any of those found earlier. Even more strange was the circumstance that the robbers tried to get through the third door, not paying any attention to the riches that were in front of them. What were they looking for if they calmly passed by a pile of golden things lying in the first room? "

"... Carter had enough of a cursory glance to understand: a thorough study of all these treasures "will lead to a change, if not a complete revolution in all previous views and theories."

11.


December 1922. A gilded lion bed, clothes chest and other objects in the antechamber. The wall of the burial chamber is guarded by statues. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

Soon, the researchers made another important discovery: in the chamber, among other things, there were three large boxes. Looking under one of them, one of the researchers found a small hole. He called the others. Lighting the hole with a lamp, they saw a small side chamber, smaller than the first, but also filled to overflowing with all sorts of household items and jewelry. As far as this could be judged, everything in the tomb remained in the form in which the robbers left it; they passed here "like a good earthquake." And again the question arises: the robbers rummaged through everything here, they (we can talk about this quite definitely) transferred some things and objects from the side chamber to the front one, they damaged something, broke it, but stole almost nothing - even what, so say, it just fell into their hands. Perhaps they were spooked?

Up to this point, everyone - Carter, and Carnarvon, and the rest - were as if in a daze and had little idea of ​​what they were doing. But now, having seen the contents of the side chamber, guessing that something completely unusual awaits them behind the third door, they begin to understand the complexity of the scientific task facing them and how much work and strict organization its solution will require.

It was impossible to understand this find, even only in what they had already managed to find, in one season! "

12.


December 1922. Under the lion bed in the antechamber are several boxes and chests, and an ebony and ivory chair which Tutankhamun used as a child. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

"When we now hear that Carnarvon and Carter decided to fill up the newly excavated tomb, we know that this had nothing to do with similar actions of their predecessors, who quickly dug out, but also quickly filled up their finds."

One thing was clear to Carter: in no case should one rush to excavate. Not to mention the need to firmly establish the original location of all the objects found (this was important for dating and other definitions), one should also take into account the fact that a significant part of the utensils and many jewels were damaged, and before touching them, it was necessary to take measures to preserve them, that is, to process and pack them accordingly. an appropriate amount of packaging materials and various preparations.

13.


Laboratory / December 1923. Arthur Mace and Alfred Lucas work on a golden chariot from Tutankhamun's tomb outside the "laboratory" in the tomb of Sethos II. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamichrome for the Exhibition “ The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

It was necessary to consult with specialists and create a laboratory where they would immediately study those important finds that could not be saved. Just cataloging such a large number of finds already required a lot of preliminary organizational work. All these problems could not be solved by sitting still. Carnarvan needed to go to England, and Carter - at least to Cairo. It was then that Carter decided to fill up the excavation. Only such a measure could, in his opinion (although Callender remained in place for the watchman), secure the tomb from the modern followers of Abd al-Rasul. Moreover, as soon as he arrived in Cairo, Carter ordered a heavy iron grill for the inner door.

14.

January 1924 In a "laboratory" set up in the tomb of Sethos II, conservators Arthur Mace and Alfred Lucas clean one of the sentinel statues from the antechamber. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

The thoroughness and precision with which these most famous Egyptian excavations were carried out was largely due to the often selfless help that Carnarvon and Carter received from the very beginning from all parts of the world. Subsequently, Carter expressed in print his gratitude for the comprehensive assistance rendered to him, and he had every reason to do so. He began by citing a letter sent to him at one time by a certain Ahmed Gurgar, who led the workers who took part in the excavations. We will also quote this letter, because we do not want to glorify intellectual help alone. Here it is:

Mr. Howard Carter, zskv.

Honorable Sir!

I am writing you a letter in the hope that you are alive and well, and I pray to the Almighty that He will not leave you in his cares and return you to us in good health, safe and sound. I take the liberty of informing Your Grace that Warehouse No. 15 is in perfect order, the treasury is in order, the northern warehouse is in order, and the house is in order, and all the workers are doing what you ordered in your instructions.

Hussein, Gaz Hassan, Hassan Awad, Abdelad-Ahmed and all send you their best wishes.

I send my best wishes to you, to all members of the Lord's family and to all your friends in England.

Looking forward to your soonest arrival, your obedient servant
Ahmed Gurgar.

15.


Nov. 29, 1923 Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and an Egyptian worker wrap one of the sentinel statues for transport. Image: Harry Burton . The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

In response to a timid plea for help from Carter to members of an expedition operating in the Thebes region, Lysgow, head of the Egyptian department of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, put his photographer Harry Burton at his disposal, despite the fact that he was deprived of such the image of the worker he needs; in his reply to Carter, he wrote: “Glad to be of some help. I ask you to fully dispose of Burton in the same way as any member of our expedition. As a result, the draftsmen Hall and Hauser and the head of the excavations in the area of ​​the Lisht pyramids, A.K. Mace, also migrated to Carter. The director of the Egyptian State Department of Chemistry, A. Lucas of Cairo, put himself and his three months' leave at Carter's disposal. Dr. Alan Gardiner took up the inscriptions, and Professor James G. Breasted of the University of Chicago hastened to apply his knowledge to date the ancient seal impressions found by Carter.

16.

Sculptural portrait of Tutankhamun on the second golden sarcophagus. A garland of flowers is visible, still retaining their natural color by the time the sarcophagus was opened / Harry Burton photograph of King Tut wearing a floral collar similar to the ones on view in the exhibition; The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Somewhat later, on November 11, 1925, Saleh Bey Hamdi and Douglas E. Derry, professor of anatomy at the Egyptian University, began to study the mummy. A. Lucas wrote an extensive monograph "Chemistry in the Tomb" about metals, oils, fats and tissues. P. E. Newberry examined the wreaths and garlands of flowers found in the tomb and managed to establish what flowers grew three thousand three hundred years ago on the banks of the Nile. Moreover, he even managed to determine by flowers and berries what time of the year Tutankhamun was buried: knowing when the cornflower blooms, when the mandrake ripens - the “apple of love” from the Song of Songs - and blackberry nightshade, he came to the conclusion that Tutankhamun was buried no earlier than mid-March and no later than the end of April. "Special Materials" was also explored by Alexander Scott and H.J. Plenderleith.

This creative community of specialists (some of them were specialists in fields far removed from archeology and the history of the ancient world) was a sure guarantee that the scientific results of these excavations turned out to be more significant than any previous ones.

Now we could get to work. December 16 the excavation was reopened. On December 18, photographer Burton took test shots, and on the 27th, the first find was brought to the surface.

Solid work takes time. Excavations in the tomb of Tutankhamen continued for several winters. "

Text from the book: Keram K. "Gods, tombs, scientists." A novel of archeology. / Per. from German A.S. Varshavsky - St. Petersburg: "KEM", together with the publishing house "Nizhny Novgorod Fair", N. Novgorod, 1994. S. 60, 156-184.