Unearthing Tutankhamun’s tomb became one of the most important discoveries in archeology, but the events that followed this revelation forced the world to switch attention from science to the supernatural. On November 4, 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter and his team discovered in the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaoh’s grave was hidden for thousands of years, practically untouched by grave robbers. Not to spoil anything, but things didn’t quite turn out as well as everyone expected, resulting in the mysterious death of the expedition’s patron.
The recent history is filled with mysterious deaths seemingly caused by the mummy’s curse, so let’s take a peek inside this killer sarcophagus.
1. Tutankhamun’s Curse (1922)
After Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s burial chamber, he immediately contacted his patron, Lord Carnarvon, to tell him the good news. The British aristocrat rejoiced and immediately wanted to open the sarcophagus. Who could have known that four months later, Lord Carnarvon would die of a single mosquito bite? Here’s the freaky part, there was a warning on Tut’s tomb that read: “Death shall come on swift wings to those who disturb the King’s peace.” Of course, this could have been a coincidence, but who can say for sure?
2. The Unlucky Thief (2007)
There are many uncertain parts of this story, but it probably went something like this: while visiting Egypt, a German thief sees this amazing relic on display and decides to get stupidly rich. He steals the artifact and smuggles it back to Germany. So far, so good. For some reason, he can’t sell it right away and keeps it hidden. Time flies by, and the thief starts noticing that everyone around him was suffering, including the man himself. Shortly after, he got a fever, which resulted in paralysis and swift death. The mystical artifact was sent back to Egypt by a family member with a note containing an apology. Hopefully, the curse had ended with that.
3. King Tut’s Deadly Hand
Sir Archibald Reid was not an archaeologist, nor was he anywhere near the mummified remains of the infamous Egyptian pharaoh. Well, maybe except for the mummy’s dried out hand. Reid was a radiologist who was sent the severed body part for X-ray testing. Sadly, in less than 24 hours after unwrapping his last gift, he got gravely sick and kicked the bucket a week later, becoming yet another victim of Tut’s curse.
4. Mysterious Annual Deaths
People who don’t believe in curses usually change their minds when some morbid pattern appears in their life. Something like family members dying one by one on the same day, year after year. That’s exactly what happened to a famous Egyptologist, Zahi Hawas, after he transported some mummy relics. First, his aunt passed away, then exactly one year later, his uncle, and his cousin the year after. Coincidence? Very likely, yes.
5. You’re Next, Hugh!
Hugh Evelyn White was a famous archaeologist back in the day. He and his colleagues/friends had been working with mummies for a while until they started dropping like flies. White was the only one of the group left alive. After watching his friends die, he couldn’t take the pressure and committed suicide. He also left a note written in his own blood that said Hugh had succumbed to the curse and had to disappear, whatever that may mean.
6. Do not Anger Osiris, the God of Death (1971)
During an expedition in Sakkara in 1971, Walter Bryan Emery unearthed a tiny statue of Osiris. He was carrying the artifact back to the camp, but nature’s call was too strong. Walter went to the bathroom and never came back out. His assistant found him inside paralyzed sometime later, probably due to a stroke. A few hours later, Emery went to face the God of Death himself, and by that, I mean he died.
7. The Mummy that Killed 1500 People
This story is probably just an urban myth, but it’s too good to pass us. One of the British museums had an Egyptian exhibit with a real mummy as the main attraction. At night strange sounds were coming from the sarcophagus, and then one of the night guards suddenly died. Trying to avoid any more victims, the cursed mummy was shipped to the US. Try and guess which ship it was. That’s right, it was the freaking Titanic.
