King Tut's Curse: Myth vs. Biological Explanations
This paper examines the legend of King Tutankhamen's mummy's curse following the 1922 discovery of his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. It traces the historical origins of mummy curses in ancient Egypt and details the mysterious deaths of individuals present at the tomb's unsealing, including Lord Carnarvon and several members of Howard Carter's team. The paper then evaluates scientific and biological explanations for these deaths, focusing on dangerous mold species such as Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, toxic gases found in sarcophagi, and statistical analyses suggesting that age and pre-existing health conditions — rather than any supernatural curse — better account for the mortality patterns observed among those exposed to the tomb.
- Introduction: Discovery and the Birth of a Legend: 1922 tomb discovery sparks mummy's curse rumors
- Origins of the Mummy's Curse: Ancient Egyptian curses predate Tutankhamen by centuries
- Deaths Associated with King Tutankhamen's Tomb: Mysterious deaths of people present at unsealing
- Mysterious Legends and Coincidences: Strange events surrounding Carnarvon's death and tomb
- Biological Explanations: Mold and Toxic Substances: Mold spores and toxic gases as scientific explanations
- The Role of Age and Pre-Existing Health Conditions: Statistical analysis shows age, not curse, explains deaths
- Conclusion: Curse or Coincidence?: Biological factors more likely than supernatural curse
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper balances popular legend with scientific evidence, presenting both the mythological narrative and measurable biological data without dismissing either out of hand.
- It uses specific names, dates, and statistical findings — such as Mark Nelson's 2002 study and Herbert Winlock's survival data — to ground claims in concrete evidence rather than vague assertions.
- The conclusion is intellectually honest, acknowledging uncertainty while still pointing toward the most plausible explanation, which demonstrates critical thinking appropriate for academic writing.
Key academic technique demonstrated
This paper demonstrates the technique of counter-argument integration: it presents the popular curse narrative fully and fairly before systematically introducing scientific explanations that challenge it. Rather than simply dismissing the legend, the author uses empirical data (survival statistics, microbiology findings, age analysis) to reframe the question, modeling how to engage respectfully with a popular belief while applying evidence-based reasoning.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with historical context about the tomb's discovery, then establishes the pre-existing tradition of Egyptian curses. It moves through a chronological account of suspicious deaths before cataloguing associated legends and coincidences. The second half pivots to scientific explanations — first mold and toxic gases, then age and health statistics — before a brief conclusion that synthesizes both perspectives. This two-part structure (legend then science) makes the paper easy to follow and rhetorically effective.
Introduction: Discovery and the Birth of a Legend
When Howard Carter uncovered King Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922, nobody expected that the historical significance of the find would be plagued by the rumor of a curse. King Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt, on November 4, 1922 (Handwerk, n.d.). On February 17, 1923, after months of excavation, Carter and approximately 20 other people gathered at the entrance of the tomb's antechamber and prepared to unseal King Tutankhamen's burial chamber (Dowdy, 2013). Shortly after entering the burial chamber, many of those present began to fall victim to strange and unusual circumstances that led to unexpected death. While much of this has been attributed to a "mummy's curse," several theories point instead to biological factors as the true cause of these deaths.
Origins of the Mummy's Curse
The concept of a mummy's curse can be traced back to at least 100 years before King Tutankhamen's death, and it is possible that curses inscribed in burial chambers in ancient Egypt were meant to deter people from desecrating and robbing these sacred spaces (Handwerk, n.d.). According to Salima Ikram, an Egyptologist, these curses have been found inscribed on mastaba walls — early non-pyramid tombs — in Giza and Saqqara (Handwerk, n.d.). These curses warned of divine retribution by a council of gods, and/or death by crocodiles, lions, scorpions, or snakes (Handwerk, n.d.).
Deaths Associated with King Tutankhamen's Tomb
It was only a matter of months before those present at the tomb's unsealing began to die under mysterious and unexpected circumstances attributed to the mummy's curse. The first person to die was George Herbert, Lord Carnarvon, the project's chief financier. During the spring of 1923, Lord Carnarvon was bitten on the cheek by a mosquito. Shaving aggravated the bite and it soon became infected, quickly developing into blood poisoning, which claimed his life (The Curse of the Mummy, n.d.; Conradt, 2009).
George Jay Gould, who had also visited the tomb, fell sick and died a few months later. Audrey Herbert, Lord Carnarvon's brother, developed blood poisoning after a surgery intended to restore his eyesight and died five months after his brother (Conradt, 2009). Hugh Evelyn-White and Lord Westbury — Richard Bethell's father — both committed suicide. American Egyptologist Aaron Ember, who was present when the tomb was unsealed, died in a house fire. Richard Bethell, Howard Carter's secretary, died in 1929. Archibald Douglas Reid, who x-rayed King Tutankhamen's mummy, died within four days of taking the x-ray. The deaths of A.C. Mace — Carter's partner — and Lady Elizabeth Carnarvon have also been linked to the mummy's curse (Dowdy, 2013).
Biological Explanations: Mold and Toxic Substances
Despite these mysterious circumstances, many researchers believe that biological factors — such as age and mold — can explain why some people in close contact with King Tutankhamen's mummy and tomb became ill. According to Herbert E. Winlock, director of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, of the 22 people present at the tomb's opening, only six had died by 1934; of the 22 people present at the sarcophagus's opening, two had died within 10 years; and of the 10 people present when the mummy was unwrapped, all survived until at least 1934 (Krystek, 2012). The key dates of potential exposure are February 17, 1923 (third door opened), February 3, 1926 (sarcophagus opened), November 11, 1926 (mummy examined), and December 10, 1926 (coffin opened) (Dowdy, 2013).
One widely proposed explanation is that those who entered the tomb were exposed to dangerous molds. Ancient meat, vegetable, and fruit funerary offerings — as well as preserved human remains and other organic materials — have been known to harbor molds such as Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, both of which can cause allergic reactions leading to congestion and bleeding of the lungs (Dowdy, 2013). Bat guano found in tombs is also known to cultivate fungus that can cause histoplasmosis, an influenza-like respiratory disease (Handwerk, 2005). Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus bacteria have also been found growing on tomb walls (Handwerk, n.d.). Sarcophagi are further known to contain formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia gas, which can cause burning of the eyes and nose, pneumonia-like symptoms, and — in the most severe cases — death (Handwerk, 2005). In 1999, German microbiologist Gotthard Kramer analyzed 40 mummies and found potentially harmful mold spores on each one (Krystek, 2012).
Conclusion: Curse or Coincidence?
While it is romantic to associate these deaths with a curse, no one will ever know with certainty what contributed to the numerous deaths of those associated with King Tutankhamen's tomb. It is, however, very possible that age and molds such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus had a significant negative impact on the individuals who entered the tomb and handled the mummy. Since no other tomb as intact as King Tutankhamen's has been found, it is difficult to determine the precise degree to which these potential molds affected those present or how many spores were inhaled when the tomb was unsealed. Surprisingly, Howard Carter — who had the most contact with the tomb and the objects sealed within — lived until 1939, outlasting the majority of those said to have fallen victim to the "mummy's curse."
References
Conradt, S. (2009, Nov 20). The Quick 10: Nine victims of King Tut's curse (and one that should have been). MentalFloss. Accessed 25 April 2013, from http://mentalfloss.com/article/23321/quick-10-nine-victims-king-tuts-curse-and-one-who-should-have-been
Dowdy, S. (2013). Was there really a curse on King Tutankhamen's tomb? HowStuffWorks. Accessed 25 April 2013, from http://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs.-myth/king-tut-tomb2.htm
Handwerk, B. (n.d.). Curse of the mummy. National Geographic. Accessed 25 April 2013, from http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/curse-of-the-mummy/
Handwerk, B. (2005, May 6). Egypt's "King Tut Curse" caused by tomb toxins? National Geographic News. Accessed 25 April 2013, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/05/0506_050506_mummycurse.html
Krystek, L. (2012). Howard Carter and the curse of Tut's mummy. The Museum of Unnatural History. Accessed 25 April 2013, from http://www.unmuseum.org/mummy.htm
The Curse of the Mummy. (n.d.).
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