In a recent article, Dr. Zahi Hawass, the Egyptian former Minister of Antiquities, addressed the enduring myth of the Curse of the Pharaohs.
Explaining the origins of the myth, Hawass pointed out that the texts written by the ancient Egyptians on the walls of their temples were inscribed to ensure that tombs would be kept away from thieves. “These curses are like anyone today who prays against someone and says, ‘If you do such and such, may God take revenge on you.’ They are just wishes,” he said, emphasizing that these warnings were meant as deterrents rather than actual supernatural threats."
Hawass believed that the notion of the curse arose from the fact that tombs had been closed for hundreds of years and contained mummies or organic materials that release invisible germs, which can harm anyone who enters unprepared. “These mummies and organic materials release invisible germs that kill anyone who enters the tombs,” he explained, according to Youm7. This natural phenomenon, rather than any mystical force, accounts for the illnesses and deaths associated with tomb explorations.
In the early days of archaeology, many researchers were eager to make swift discoveries and often entered tombs without proper precautions. “Archaeologists initially wanted to make quick discoveries, and many of them were adventurers, which led to many deaths because the tombs had not been ventilated,” Hawass noted. Ventilating a tomb is crucial and “may take hours or a whole day, depending on the condition of the tomb,” he added. Once the stale air is replaced with fresh air, entering the tomb becomes safe, and no accidents happen to the discoverers.
Reflecting on the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, Hawass pointed out that many of those who died afterward had no direct connection to the excavation. The only person who died shortly after was George Herbert, the Earl of Carnarvon, who passed away five months after the tomb's unveiling. “The spread of stories about Earl Carnarvon's death being related to a curse was fueled by journalists needing something to write about,” Hawass said, emphasizing the role of media sensationalism in perpetuating the myth.
He further mentioned that journalists even claimed a cobra caused Lord Carnarvon's death, an assertion without basis in fact. The fascination with the curse has also been fueled by Hollywood producers, leading to many films that dramatize and exaggerate the legend.
In his career, Hawass has discovered many tombs and mummies, including the Valley of the Golden Mummies. His extensive experience has led him to conclude that there is no curse known as the Curse of the Pharaohs or the Curse of Tutankhamun. He asserted that “science cannot accept that the Pharaohs' mastery of magic continues to this day,” urging a rational understanding of historical events.
Hawass also shared a story told to him by Dr. Tarek El-Awady during the revolution: that the war trumpet of King Tutankhamun, when used by someone, supposedly causes a curse. According to this tale, the trumpet was used before the 2011 protest in the Tahrir Square in Egypt.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.