The first in the tomb of Tutankhamen, after many centuries, entered the British archaeologist Howard Carter and Lord Karnarvon maecenas expedition. A month Karnarvon died of pneumonia. Over the next fifteen years, went from a life of 20 people, descended in the tomb or explore a mummy in Cairo. Deaths chain dubbed "the curse of Tutankhamen." They say the spirit of Pharaoh's revenge for all his worry calm.
Recently, in Luxor, Egypt, in the Valley of the Kings, to the public was offered a legendary mummy of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. It happened exactly 85 years after archaeologists discovered his tomb. Previously, visitors saw only the Valley of the Kings closed the gold sarcophagus, where the mummy and the death mask king. A boast that saw the true face of Pharaoh could only Egyptologist dozen scientists around the world. But a few years ago, the museum, followed mumiey have noticed that it began to crumble. It is believed that this happened because of climate change in the Tomb, which is daily visited by thousands of tourists. Therefore, embalmed body was taken out of the ark, and placed in airtight glass box, where the installation of climate control is respected around the clock routine humidity.
So now all tourists visiting Luxor, can look into the eyes of Pharaoh, which is surrounded by many myths and all kinds of mystical stories. But still, why the tourists were alive, and the first, researchers were not able to boast of longevity?
What lies behind "the curse of Pharaoh"?
The Tomb of Tutankhamen, built in approximately 1337 BC. e. - the only royal tomb, not looting pilferer. The secret, apparently, is that after about 200 years after its construction of a number of built tomb for the next ruler. And builders rubble just past the entrance to the burial place of Tutankhamun.
So when November 4, 1922 the British archaeologist Howard Carter cleared the entrance to the tomb and saw that the locks and seals on the doors are not moved, he came to frantically wave and sent a telegram to his patron in London - Lord Karnarvonu funded expedition. Two weeks later patron was already on the site of excavation. However, to the place where the sarcophagus had come a very long time. And only 16 February, 1923 Carter and Lord Karnarvon became the first in the last three thousand years, people later in the burial chamber of Tutankhamen.
And the king buried in a big way - in the Tomb, scientists have found gold ornaments weighing more than 1.2 tons. Among them was a medallion with the image of brutish creatures and strange inscription: "I am the one who drew zovom desert fled oskverniteley graves. I am the one who stands on guard of the tomb of the King."
But Lord Karnarvon artifact is no longer seen. He felt ill, and soon after went to visit the tombs of Cairo, where he died on April 5. But before his death reportedly said: "I hear the call of the desert, he called me."
The study lasted tomb. Mummy was transferred to the Cairo Museum. Transportation assistant led Carter - Arthur Mays. The man, who was the first broken doors Tomb. Soon on arrival in Cairo, he also died. In the same hotel, where Lord Karnarvon.
Another victim of "curse" has become a medic Douglas Reid. He denounced a mummy from the bandages and did X-rays remains. His body is found on the outskirts of Cairo without external damage. Again According to legend, his face frozen in a strange phrase at the same time radbsti and fear.
After that hearing about the "curse of Pharaoh" is on pages of newspapers. At the excavation workers rebelled, and the Carter announced that stops all work in the tomb, and wants it inhibited. And so it happened. But strange events continued to occur, and more. Over the next ten years 19 people have died among those who entered the tomb, or was engaged in research mummies. They should add the death of his wife and brother proponent digs Lord Karnarvona. A completed list of sad death of Howard Carter, who died in 1939 at the age of 66 years.
Why is the head of the expedition died last, the mysterious legends of fans have responded. Ostensibly, he has not given Karnarvonu remove the mummy in the UK and insisted that she did not leave Egypt. And Pharaoh responses showed kindness.
It's the "cave sickness"?
About this enigma heard by many. But not everybody knows that its scientists have long been permitted. This was in 1962 at a conference on the 40 th anniversary of opening the tomb of Tutankhamen, announced Dr. Biology, University of Cairo Ezeddin Taha. He studied for several years the health of archaeologists and officials of Cairo Museum of Antiquities, had to deal with mumiyami. And it turned out that many often complained about the inflammation of the throat. It turned out that the agent of the disease fungus was found in organic remains, which lie in the long corked premises - "cave disease". In the tomb of Tutankhamen, left untouched for more than three millennia, these fungi were предостаточно. To get them in the body of researchers. The first victim was the Lord Karnarvon suffering from chronic asthma. Dr. Taha, after examining the list of dead from the "curse", came to the conclusion that the more young and healthy were the scientists, the more they resisted the disease. And added that in the present time, all of them could have easily saved with the help of antibiotics.
A mystical story disclosed? Some believe the answer is no. After Ezeddin Taha told about his discovery, he was a week later died in a car. Another victim, or coincidence?
Why he died.
Tutankhamen ascended the throne at the age of ten years. And died in 19 years. History, to put it mildly, unusual. Therefore, the scientists immediately launched version that he died not his death. In the skull, scientists have found the mummy hole and logical to assume that the young man killed, embedded spear or something else in mind. But a new study conducted in 2003, gave different results. Scientists have discovered that Pharaoh was broken hip left leg.
- Perhaps, after an open fracture of the guys started gangrene, and save it, it was no longer possible - concluded the head of Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Havass.
And damage to the skull appeared because of the negligence of the priests, embalm the body, or the fault of Howard Carter when he was shot from the face of the mummy mask posthumous cast of 11 kilograms of pure gold.
On the skull mummy three independent laboratories in Egypt, France and the United States, with the help of computer tomography were very similar picture image young pharaoh. Tutankhamen was the growth of 165-170 cm, with soft facial features, large eyes and elongated back of the head. The latter is characteristic of all the pharaohs of his dynasty. But with the death of Tutankhamen royal race was interrupted. His wife's two sons were born dead. Both priests mummify and moved after the death of Tutankhamen in his tomb. Now scientists believe that the young Pharaoh crashed while hunting, fell from the chariot. This confirms the fact that the garland of flowers on mummies discovered cornflowers and daisies. These plants bloom in Egypt in March-April. Given that the pharaohs were buried after 70-day conservation, Tutankhamen died in December - January. In the midst of hunting season.
Incidentally, it also helped to antibiotics, which killed and the absence of the first researchers of the Tomb.
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