The Return of the Mummy King

He is the king of ancient Egypt. At only 9 years old, he rules over an empire that stretches across hundreds of miles and has millions of inhabitants.

As befits a pharaoh, his head is shaved. When he walks, his heavy gold jewelry clanks together, a kind of soundtrack to announce his power and wealth. At night, his servants wave giant fans over him so the crushing heat does not keep him awake. Everywhere he goes, people bow to him. They say he can read the minds of the gods. 

But his life isn’t all glamour. He has an empire to run and it is one of the most powerful in the world. That’s a lot of pressure for a kid. Fortunately, he has advisers to closely guide him.

But then, tragedy strikes.

When he is about 18, his life comes to a mysterious end. All of Egypt mourns his passing. His body is taken to the priests, who spend 70 days performing the sacred ritual of mummification. 

After a grand funeral procession, he is buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, where many pharaohs before him have been laid to rest. Buried with him is a trove of treasures—jewels, statues, food, weapons—everything he might need in the afterlife.

But what no one could know is that he will have an afterlife here on Earth. Thousands of years from now, his name will be spoken around the world. Kids will study him in school. Researchers will dedicate their lives to unriddling the mystery of his life and death. Millions will travel great distances to gaze upon his treasures. 

His name is Tutankhamen. 

And he will be immortal. 

He is the king of ancient Egypt. At only 9 years old, he rules over an empire that stretches across hundreds of miles and has millions of people.

As is suitable for a pharaoh, his head is shaved. When he walks, his heavy gold jewelry clanks together, a kind of soundtrack to announce his power and wealth. At night, his servants wave giant fans over him so the crushing heat does not keep him awake. Everywhere he goes, people bow to him. They say he can read the minds of the gods. 

But his life isn’t all glamour. He has an empire to run, and it is one of the most powerful in the world. That’s a lot of pressure for a kid. Fortunately, he has advisers to closely guide him.

But then, tragedy strikes.

When he is about 18, his life comes to a mysterious end. All of Egypt mourns his passing. His body is taken to the priests, who spend 70 days performing the sacred ritual of mummification. 

After a grand funeral procession, he is buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, where many pharaohs before him have been laid to rest. Buried with him are treasures: jewels, statues, food, weapons—everything he might need in the afterlife.

But what no one could know is that he will have an afterlife here on Earth. Thousands of years from now, his name will be spoken around the world. Kids will study him in school. Researchers will dedicate their lives to solving the mystery of his life and death. Millions will travel great distances to see his treasures. 

His name is Tutankhamen. 

And he will be immortal. 

Tutankhamen—or “King Tut,” as he has been nicknamed—is a name known around the world. Just whispering “Tutankhamen” evokes images of mummies and curses and golden treasure. 

The story of how Tutankhamen came to be a celebrity in our world is just as fascinating as his long-ago life is mysterious. Today, we know that he became pharaoh at the age of 8 or 9, around 1332 B.C. We also know that his reign was short—only about a decade. In ancient Egypt’s more than 3,000-year history, there were more than 170 pharaohs. Tutankhamen is a drop of water in the ocean of history. 

Had he lived longer, Tut might have accomplished many things. But we’ll never know what might have been. 

In fact, most of us wouldn’t know his name at all if it weren’t for a team of archaeologists combing the golden sands of Egypt in 1922.

Tutankhamen is a name known around the world. (He has been nicknamed “King Tut.”) Just whispering his name brings to mind images of mummies and curses and golden treasure. 

The story of how Tutankhamen came to be a celebrity in our world is fascinating, and his long-ago life is mysterious. Today, we know that he became pharaoh at the age of 8 or 9, around 1332 B.C. We also know that he only ruled for about a decade. In ancient Egypt’s long history, there were more than 170 pharaohs. Tutankhamen is a drop of water in the ocean of history. 

Had he lived longer, Tut might have accomplished many things. But we’ll never know what might have been. 

In fact, most of us wouldn’t know his name at all if it weren’t for a team of archaeologists combing the golden sands of Egypt in 1922.

In the early 1900s, some 3,000 years after Tutankhamen was sealed in his tomb, a British archaeologist named Howard Carter was spending a great deal of time among the ruins of the Valley of the Kings. With his thick mustache and broad-brimmed hat, Carter would have been a familiar figure to the many others at work in the valley. 

At the time, archaeology was a growing field. Its purpose was—and still is—to study ruins and artifacts that date back thousands of years. Like detectives analyzing clues, archaeologists pore over their finds, forming theories and drawing conclusions about how people lived in the distant past. 

Carter had moved to Egypt from England in 1891, when he was 17, for a job painting pictures of the colorful drawings and hieroglyphs on ruins. He went on to work on many excavation projects. 

These projects were enormous undertakings. Hundreds of people might work on a site where ruins had been discovered. In the Valley of the Kings, this work was performed mainly by the Egyptians who lived in the region. They prepared fragile artifacts for travel through the harsh desert and across the Nile River. They were experts in moving sand and rock. Children often helped too by hauling away dirt and rocks. 

By the time Carter was working in the Valley of the Kings, there had already been impressive finds in the area, including the tombs of many pharaohs. But the tombs had long since been emptied of their treasures: In ancient Egypt, tomb raiding was a big problem. In fact, the looting got so bad that the mummies of many pharaohs were moved out of their tombs to secret locations. 

In the early 1900s, long after Tutankhamen was sealed in his tomb, a British archaeologist named Howard Carter was spending a great deal of time in the Valley of the Kings. Carter would have been a familiar figure to the many others at work in the valley. 

At the time, archaeology was a growing field. Its purpose was—and still is—to study ruins and artifacts that date back thousands of years. Like detectives analyzing clues, archaeologists study their finds. They form theories and draw conclusions about how people lived in the distant past. 

Carter had moved from England to Egypt in 1891. He was 17. He took a job painting pictures of the colorful drawings and hieroglyphs on ruins. He went on to work on many excavation projects. 

These projects were huge jobs. Hundreds of people might work on a site where ruins had been discovered. In the Valley of the Kings, this work was performed mainly by local Egyptians. They prepared fragile artifacts for travel through the harsh desert and across the Nile River. They were experts in moving sand and rock. Children often helped too by carrying away dirt and rocks. 

By the time Carter was working in the Valley of the Kings, there had already been impressive finds in the area. These finds included the tombs of many pharaohs. But the tombs had already been emptied. In ancient Egypt, tomb raiding was a big problem. In fact, the stealing got so bad that the mummies of many pharaohs were moved out of their tombs to secret locations. 

In 1907, Carter was hired by a wealthy man from England named Lord Carnarvon, who was fascinated by ancient Egypt. Carter’s job was to catalog the many artifacts Carnarvon had acquired from the tombs of Egyptian nobles. 

Carter’s skill and attention to detail impressed Carnarvon. So in 1914, when Carnarvon secured permission from the Egyptian government to excavate in a new area in the Valley of the Kings, he asked Carter to lead the project.

Carter and his team searched tirelessly—and yet seven years later, they had nothing to show for their efforts. Carnarvon was getting impatient. He had already spent a small fortune funding the search. 

Had everything there was to find in the Valley of the Kings already been found? 

Carter didn’t think so. He managed to convince Carnarvon to give him just a little more time. 

But this would likely be Carter’s last chance.

In 1907, Carter was hired by a wealthy man from England. The man’s name was Lord Carnarvon. Carnarvon was fascinated by ancient Egypt. Carter’s job was to catalog the many artifacts Carnarvon had gotten from tombs of Egyptian nobles. 

Carter’s skill and attention to detail impressed Carnarvon. So in 1914, when Carnarvon got permission from the Egyptian government to dig in a new area in the Valley of the Kings, he asked Carter to lead the project.

Carter and his team searched tirelessly. Yet seven years later, they had found nothing. Carnarvon was getting impatient. He had already spent a small fortune funding the search. 

Was there nothing left to find in the Valley of the Kings? 

Carter didn’t think so. He convinced Carnarvon to give him just a little more time. 

But this would likely be Carter’s last chance.

On November 4, 1922, a member of Carter’s team named Ahmed Gerigar was supervising work clearing sand and rubble when something extraordinary was found buried in the sand: a single step. 

The workers eventually cleared the sand to reveal an entire staircase leading underground. And at the bottom of the staircase? 

A door to a tomb. 

How quickly their hearts must have beaten when they realized what they had found. The seal on the door seemed to be intact. Did that mean this tomb had never been looted? Was it possible that it held the mummy of a pharaoh? 

In late November, Carter, his team, and Carnarvon opened the door. A rush of stale air engulfed them—air that had not been breathed in thousands of years. They descended into the darkness, with little more than the flickering light of a candle to guide them.

As the story goes, Carnarvon called down to Carter, “Can you see anything?”

Carter replied, “Yes, wonderful things.” 

As Carter’s eyes slowly adjusted, strange shadows took shape. 

“Details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold—everywhere the glint of gold,” Carter would later write in his journal. 

“For the moment—an eternity it must have seemed to the others standing by—I was struck dumb with amazement.” 

As they would soon learn, they had found the tomb of King Tutankhamen. 

On November 4, 1922, a member of Carter’s team named Ahmed Gerigar was supervising work clearing sand and rubble. Then something extraordinary was found in the sand: a single step. 

The workers eventually cleared the sand to reveal an entire staircase leading underground. And at the bottom of the staircase? 

A door to a tomb. 

How quickly their hearts must have beaten when they realized what they had found. The seal on the door seemed to be intact. Did that mean this tomb had never been looted? Was it possible that it held the mummy of a pharaoh? 

In late November, Carter, his team, and Carnarvon opened the door. A rush of stale air hit them—air that had not been breathed in thousands of years. They walked into the darkness, with little more than the flickering light of a candle to guide them.

As the story goes, Carnarvon called down to Carter. “Can you see anything?” he asked.

Carter replied, “Yes, wonderful things.” 

As Carter’s eyes slowly adjusted to the dark, strange shadows took shape. 

“Details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold—everywhere the glint of gold,” Carter would later write in his journal. “For the moment—an eternity it must have seemed to the others standing by—I was struck dumb with amazement.” 

As they would soon learn, they had found the tomb of King Tutankhamen. 

Tutankhamen’s tomb held thousands of objects unlike anything the world had ever seen. There were radiant blue rings and sandals made of gold. There were ornate couches, glittering jewels, and stunning statues of Anubis—the god of the dead. Eventually, some 6,000 items would be found within the tomb’s four rooms.

To archaeologists, the items were priceless treasures that helped create a vivid picture of ancient Egypt. Indeed, Tutankhamen’s tomb would prove to be one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. 

But perhaps the most thrilling discovery of all was Tutankhamen himself. It took more than a year to reach the chamber that held his mummy. It was encased in a gold coffin, held within two larger gilded coffins. Another two years of painstaking work would be needed to extract the mummy. 

Tutankhamen’s tomb held thousands of objects. The world had never seen anything like them. There were bright-blue rings and sandals made of gold. There were fancy couches, glittering jewels, and stunning statues. Eventually, some 6,000 items would be found within the tomb’s four rooms.

To archaeologists, the items were priceless treasures. They helped create a vivid picture of ancient Egypt. Indeed, Tutankhamen’s tomb would prove to be one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. 

But perhaps the most thrilling discovery of all was Tut himself. 

It took more than a year to reach the room that held the king’s mummy. It was inside of a gold coffin, held within two larger gilded coffins. Another two years of hard work would be needed to get the mummy out. 

But as fascination with Tutankhamen grew, so did a disturbing rumor. There were whispers of a “mummy’s curse.” It was said that anyone who dared disturb the tomb of Tutankhamen would meet a terrible fate.

A few months after the discovery, Lord Carnarvon was found dead. Two other English men died after visiting the site. After Carter gave one of his friends artifacts from the tomb, his friend’s house burned to the ground. 

Was Tutankhamen angry that he had been disturbed? Was he exacting his revenge? 

Probably not. 

Each tragedy had a reasonable explanation that had nothing to do with vengeful mummy kings. Carnarvon, who already had health problems, died from an infected mosquito bite, for example. And nothing happened to Carter at all. He passed away in England, 17 years after opening the tomb. If the tomb were cursed, wouldn’t he have been its number one victim? 

But as fascination with Tutankhamen grew, so did a scary rumor. There were whispers of a “mummy’s curse.” It was said that something terrible would happen to anyone who dared disturb the tomb of Tutankhamen.

A few months after the discovery, Lord Carnarvon was found dead. Two other English men died after visiting the site. After Carter gave one of his friends items from the tomb, his friend’s house burned to the ground. 

Was Tutankhamen angry that he had been disturbed? Was he taking his revenge? 

Probably not. 

Each tragedy had a reasonable explanation that had nothing to do with angry mummy kings. Carnarvon died from an infected mosquito bite, for example. He had already had health problems too. And nothing happened to Carter at all. He passed away in England, 17 years after opening the tomb. If the tomb were cursed, wouldn’t he have been its number one victim? 

It’s likely that tales of the curse were hyped up to sell newspapers. Yet the stories of the curse raise deeper questions: Who did the tomb belong to? Who had the right to take its contents? And who decides the answers to these questions?

Carter and Carnarvon had hoped to take at least some of the items from the tomb back to England. But in Egypt, it was illegal to remove artifacts without permission, which Carter and Carnarvon did not receive. It’s suspected that they took many items anyway. 

The truth is, the theft of cultural artifacts had been going on for years in Egypt. The sale of antiquities was highly profitable. People would pay a lot of money for vases and coffins and other treasures from ancient times. These objects were regarded as status symbols for wealthy Europeans—sure to impress neighbors and party guests. 

It’s likely that tales of the curse were exaggerated to sell newspapers. Yet the stories of the curse raise deeper questions: Who did the tomb belong to? Who had the right to take its contents? And who decides the answers to these questions?

Carter and Carnarvon had hoped to take at least some of the items from the tomb back to England. But in Egypt, it was illegal to remove artifacts without permission. Carter and Carnarvon did not receive permission, but it’s suspected that they took many items anyway. 

The truth is, the theft of cultural artifacts had been going on for years in Egypt. The sale of antiquities could make a lot of money. People would pay a lot for vases and coffins and other treasures from ancient times. These objects were seen as status symbols for wealthy Europeans—sure to impress neighbors and party guests. 

It’s been 100 years since Tutankhamen’s tomb was opened—and Tut’s star shows no sign of dimming. A recent exhibit, “King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh,” began traveling the world in 2019, inspiring new generations with its wonders. (It was halted in 2020, when the pandemic struck.) It featured hundreds of objects, jewelry, and sculptures—some of which had never been allowed to leave Egypt before. When the brand-new Grand Egyptian Museum opens later this year in Giza, Egypt, it will house thousands of objects from Tutankhamen’s tomb, together for the first time in a century. 

Yet the boy king himself remains as fascinating and mysterious as ever. Tut’s life comes to us through the objects the pharaoh was buried with—the golden funeral mask with its serene gaze, the golden shoes, the statues and jars of food, the jeweled charms on his body. 

But who was Tutankhamen really? What made him laugh? What made him cry? There was a trumpet in his tomb. Did he play it or simply enjoy its music? 

We will probably never know the answers to these questions. But we do know this: The name Tutankhamen is part of our history now and will not be forgotten.

Tutankhamen has become immortal.

It’s been 100 years since Tutankhamen’s tomb was opened. And Tut’s star shows no sign of dimming. A recent exhibit, “King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh,” began traveling the world in 2019. (It was stopped in 2020, when the pandemic struck.) It featured hundreds of objects, jewelry, and sculptures. Some of these objects had never been allowed to leave Egypt before. When the brand-new Grand Egyptian Museum opens later this year in Giza, Egypt, it will house thousands of objects from the king’s tomb, together for the first time in a century. 

Yet the boy king himself remains as fascinating and mysterious as ever. Tut’s life comes to us through the objects the pharaoh was buried with—the golden funeral mask, the golden shoes, the statues and jars of food, the jeweled charms on his body. 

But who was Tutankhamen really? What made him laugh? What made him cry? There was a trumpet in his tomb. Did he play it or simply enjoy its music? 

We will probably never know the answers to these questions. But we do know this: The name Tutankhamen is part of our history now and will not be forgotten.

Tutankhamen has become immortal.

^{This article was originally published in the May 2022 issue.}

^{This article was originally published in the May 2022 issue.}