Mummy Murder Cover-Up

The podcast explores the remarkable discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter and the challenges faced during its excavation and study.

The serendipitous discovery of Tut's untouched tomb by Howard Carter in 1923

In early 1923, Howard Carter and Arthur Mace experienced the serendipity of uncovering King Tut's tomb, a find that had remained unseen for nearly 3,000 years. Concealed under sand and without any visible markers, the tomb's discovery was nothing short of a stroke of luck. The pristine condition of the tomb indicated that it had escaped the hands of grave robbers.

Carter's initial telegram to his financier, Lord Carnarvon, described the tomb as untouched with seals intact. This later presented a controversial contradiction to his claim of a break-in, as mentioned in Egyptologist Bob Breyer's book, "The Murder of Tut'n Common."

Carter and his team were the first to enter the tomb in nearly 3,000 years, uncovering a wealth of ancient treasures and artifacts.

Carter's team spared no time in meticulously documenting each artifact before its removal, a process stretching over the subsequent three months. By February 1923, they had cleared a path to access the second chamber, which was expected to house the sarcophagus.

The challenges and bureaucratic obstacles faced by Carter's team in excavating and examining Tut's mummy

Carter's discovery was not without its challenges, chief among them being the bureaucratic hurdles imposed by the Egyptian authorities.

Carefully documenting and removing the tomb's contents over several months

To comply with Egyptian laws, which restricted the removal of artifacts from untouched tombs, Carter argued that the tomb had been previously entered by robbers, who had taken items so insignificant that their absence was nearly unnoticeable. However, this process of securing agreement from the authorities took an entire ...

The enduring legend of the "Mummy's Curse" suggests a supernatural punishment befalls those who disturbed the resting place of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. This narrative has been bolstered by numerous untimely and often strange deaths associated with the excavators of King Tutankhamun's tomb.

The sudden deaths of several individuals involved in the excavation, raising suspicions of a supernatural curse

Accounts of psychic warnings and ominous occurrences preceding the deaths

Before the uncovering of King Tutankhamun's tomb, psychics reportedly issued stark warnings to Lord Carnarvon, the expedition's financier, cautioning him against the endeavor. They foretold doom, asserting that his visit to Egypt and the pharaonic tomb would hasten his death and that a terrible fate awaited anyone who dared violate the young king's eternal slumber.

Examination of the suspicious causes and timing of the deaths, including illnesses, accidents, and assassinations

Following the tomb's reveal, a series of untimely deaths occurred among those linked to the excavation. These deaths fueled suspicion and fascination with the idea of a curse, each demise adding to the enigma:

• Lord Carnarvon succumbed to an infection from a mosquito bite shortly after the tomb opened.
• George J. Gould contracted pneumonia after a visit to the tomb.
• Sir Archibald Douglas-Reed, a radiologist who X-rayed King Tut’s mummy, perished from an undefined illness.
• Prince Ali Kamel Fahmy Bey was murdered—shot by his wife.
• Sir Lee Stack, the Governor-General of Sudan, was assassinated in Cairo.
• Hugh Evelyn White, a witness to the events, ended his own life, reportedly driven by haunting inscriptions of curses.
• The Egyptologist Erin Ember died in a biz ...

Investigations into King Tutankhamun's death have intrigued both the public and scholars alike, as initial examinations revealed anomalies and signs that pointed toward potential foul play.

Initial examination of Tut's mummy in the 1920s, revealing anomalies and signs of potential foul play

The examination of King Tut's mummy initially sparked debates about the cause of his death. British doctor Douglas Derry and Egyptian doctor Saleh Behamed conducted an early examination but could not reach any firm conclusions. Notably, the mummy’s body had an erect penis, which is unusual, and the heart was missing. In ancient Egyptian belief, the heart was essential for the transition to the afterlife, suggesting that whoever buried Tut may not have intended for him to make this journey. The condition of the mummy’s body also suggested possible tampering post-mortem.

Inconclusive findings by the examining doctors regarding the cause of Tut's death

The examining doctors were experienced anatomists, but the task of determining King Tut's cause of death was daunting, and they felt overwhelmed. They were unable to provide conclusive findings regarding how Tut died, leaving many questions unanswered and opening the door to speculation and further inquiry.

Renewed scientific investigations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries

Continued curiosity and the advancement of technology led to new studies of King Tut's mummy, providing clearer insights into the young pharaoh's death.

The 1968 X-ray examination that uncovered evidence of a potential head injury

Dr. Ronald Harrison and a team of British and Egyptian scientists used X-ray technology to scientifically examine the mummy for the first time since the initial assessment in the 1920s. The X-ray revealed small bone fragments loose inside Tut's skull. This discovery led to th ...

Professor Ray Johnson's discovery of ancient carvings on medieval masonry in Luxor brought to light a concerted effort to erase King Tutankhamun's legacy from Egyptian history.

The rise to power of Vizier Ay and General Horemheb following Tut's death

Following King Tut's death, Vizier Ay and General Horemheb became powerful figures in Egypt, and both had a hand in shaping the narrative of the past pharaoh's legacy.

Ay's potential involvement in Tut's death and subsequent marriage to Tut's widow, Ankhesenamun

Ay, acting as Vizier and regent during Tut's reign, may have been involved in his death. He potentially orchestrated the deaths of Tut's father Akhenaten and brother Smankhare, paving his way to become Tut's regent and solidify his power. As Egypt urgently needed a new leader after Tutankhamun’s death, Ay maintained his hold on power by marrying Tut's widow, Ankhesenamun, who had limited options for survival.

In the backdrop of these power struggles, Queen Ankhesenamun sought an alliance with the Hittites, possibly to counter Ay’s influence. Furthermore, Ay's unusual depiction on Tut's tomb murals, performing the duties of a priest, suggests he tried to present himself as the righteous successor to Tut's throne. Speculation surrounds his actions as potentially leading to Tut's death through poison or other means, as he feared that Tut would not remain a puppet ruler.

Horemheb's systematic removal of references to Tut and other preceding rulers to establish his own legitimacy

After Ay's death, General Horemheb came to power and actively sought to erase the mentions of Tut and his recent predecessors. Horemheb demolished temples and renounced the records of rulers like Akhenaten, Smenkare, Tutankhamun, and Ay by defacing monuments and statues to establish himself as the rightful successor to Amenhotep III, ignoring those who came before him.

The rediscovery and reconstruction of Tut's legacy by modern archaeologists and Egyptologists

The uncovering of ev ...