Mummy's Curse That Never Was
Sun Herald
Sunday June 20, 1999
We're still learning about the ancient Egyptians - 4000 years after they lived, writes Dr Stephen Juan*.
One of this century's greatest archaeological events also spawned one of its greatest myths: The so-called "curse" of King Tut. This "curse" was supposedly responsible for the premature deaths of many people associated with opening King Tut's tomb in 1922. The "curse" has been part of our folklore for nearly 80 years.
But it can now be proved no such "curse" exists. In fact, as a group, the "Tut 22", those who were most closely involved in discovering, opening, and excavating King Tut's tomb, lived to an average age of 73.
This is one year longer than the life expectancy at the time, based upon actuarial tables for persons of their social class. King Tut's "curse" of an early death turns out to be more of a blessing of a slightly longer life.
King Tutankhamen was a minor Egyptian pharaoh who died about 1350BC at age 19. In 1922, his tomb was discovered, pristine and untouched by grave robbers, in an excavation by Howard Carter. Carter invented the story that a "curse" had been placed upon anyone who "violated the repose" of the "boy king" as a means of keeping the press and the curious at bay.
However, the "curse" took on a seeming reality after the man who financed the excavation, Lord Carnarvon, died only four months after the tomb's opening at 57. It did not seem to matter that Carnarvon was already ill when he arrived from England to view the triumphant discovery.
If the "curse" had any validity, the "Tut 22" involved should have died much earlier than they did.
For example, Carter, who discovered the tomb, opened it, and removed King Tut's mummy, died 16 years later, age 66. Richard Adamson, who guarded the tomb for seven years and who often slept inside it, died in 1987, age 87. Lady Evelyn Herbert, Carnarvon's daughter who was present during the tomb opening, died 57 years later, age 78.
Other than Carnarvon, only one of the 22 lived less than five years after the tomb's opening. Georges Benedite of the Louvre in Paris, died of a heat stroke three years after the opening, age 69. The remaining 17 lived the following number of years after the tomb's opening:
0 to 10 years, 1
11 to 20 years, 7
21 to 30 years, 4
31 to 40 years, 1
41 to 50 years, 3
51 to 60 years, 1
The youngest died at age 58, the oldest at 92. Thus, none of the tomb's "disturbers" died prematurely.
Furthermore, hundreds of labourers were involved in the tomb's excavation. If the "curse" affected them at all, it passed without notice. One labourer died in 1992, 70 years after the tomb's opening. A few are supposedly still alive.
Perhaps we can now bury the King Tut "curse" forever.
Ancient Egyptians were sexier than we thought
The ancient Egyptians were just as sexually promiscuous as the ancient Greeks and Romans. While the latter two had orgies and flaunted their sexual romps with abandon, the ancient Egyptians had previously been thought to be far more restrained. The ancient Egyptians have usually been portrayed as humourless, morbid, death worshippers - not willing to have much to do with sex.
But recent research published in the archaeology journal, Acta Orientalia, by Dr Lise Manniche of the University of Copenhagen revealed hieroglyphics showing variations in sexual positions practised by the ancient Egyptians. These hieroglyphics constituted an ancient Egyptian equivalent of the Kamasutra. Like the Greeks and Romans they proved that when it came to sex, the ancient Egyptians knew a lot - and practised what they knew.
Mystery of the stoned pharaoh
A French toxicologist recently discovered "irrefutable proof" that at least one ancient Egyptian king was a user of tobacco and cocaine. Dr G. Balanova said in the French magazine Telerama that his analysis of the remains of Pharaoh Henut Taui proved both drugs were present in ancient Egypt. Previously, it was believed both substances were only found in North and South America and did not cross the Atlantic for another 2000 years. Earlier studies had found tobacco leaves associated with the mummy of Ramses II.
Mummy had first knee surgery
There is archaeological evidence that the ancient Egyptians performed brain, eye, and stomach surgery. There was even a physician in pharaohs' courts called "the guardian of the anus". Evidence suggested the ancient Egyptians 2,600 years ago performed complicated knee surgery that would rival the work of today's orthopaedic surgeons. Such surgery even involved the use of screws to keep bones together to allow better movement of the leg. Archaeologists from Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City, Utah, made this discovery after X-raying the legs of the mummy of Usermontu, an Egyptian high priest. The mummy's kneecap also showed evidence of surgery.
Ancient Egyptians were sophisticated chemists, too
French chemist, Dr F. Walter, argued that recent research showed that ancient Egyptians were knowledgeable chemists. They were able to create complicated chemical compounds and used them for making cosmetics. For example, they made laurionite and phosgenite. These are "extremely rare in nature" and must have been manufactured, claimed Dr Walter in an article earlier this year in the scientific journal, Nature.
It seems we are never too old to learn from our mummies.
*Stephen Juan, PhD, is an anthropologist in the Faculty of Education at Sydney University and author of The Odd Body and The Odd Brain.
© 1999 Sun Herald
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