Howard Carter opens king Tut‘s tomb

Mummys, Pharaohs and pyramids have become symbols of mystery and grandeur. Since the early 19th century and the rise of so-called “Egyptomania “, it has firmly grasped the imagination of the Western world. In a way, I can understand. Just think about it: some of these tombs had to survive their bearer for over 3,000 years. A staggering amount of time. So many things had to go right for us to be able to appreciate these doorways to another era. Today, as a way to emblematize this wonder, I want to take you back to the most famous discovery in Egyptology - the discovery of Tutankhamun‘s tomb by Howard Carter. Hopefully, you will better understand and appreciate how he felt about it.

They had excavated for six seasons in the Valley of Kings. It was supposed to be their last one. They had found nothing and were ready to turn tail. They started northeast of the tomb of Rameses IV and dug southwards to uncover what looked like ordinary ‘huts‘ as Carter called them. When Carter woke up on the fourth day, the silence in the camp told him all he needed to know. They found a stone staircase underneath one hut filled with sand. Even then Carter was full of doubts as they had previously dug out empty or unfinished tombs. His opinion would change when they uncovered the sealed door. Think about it - egyptomania had persisted in Europe for more than a century at this point. People had found relics, yes, tombs, yes, but in doubtful condition if not previously sacked or emptied. Carter had now in front of him the chance at one such tomb in pristine condition almost a first in his field and certainly not a feat they saw every decade.

Then, he saw the royal seal. A winning lottery ticket if I have ever seen one. What was entombed remained a mystery for a while. Only later would Carter realize that Tutankhamun‘s (or we should say Tut-Ankh-Amen) seal was directly on the door, only concealed. Just think about his excitement. Tut-Ankh-Amen was not the most important ruler in the new empire (you heard me right: NEW empire), but he was part of one possibly the most interesting and culture-rich eras of pharaoh rule. His father, Akh-En-Aten, was a big deal too - famous for introducing a new religion based around Aton, the god of the sun. Now, to his sadness, he couldn‘t in good conscience open it right away. Lord Carnervon, his mentor and sponsor of the expedition wasn‘t in Egypt at that moment. Lord Carnervon was both his sponsor and mentor, first digging with him in 1990 (when 18). Reluctantly, he chose his most trusted workers as guards for the night and ran back to Cairo to share the news with Carnervon. With great effort, he calmed himself enough to write this cable to his mentor: “At last: have made wonderful discovery in Valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact; re-covered same for your arrival; congratulations“. He then made the effort of filling back in everything they dug to conceal the tomb until Carnervon‘s return. Carnervon would arrive in Luxor two weeks later. Think about the impatience.

Anyway, he could finally continue his investigation… for the worse. They found evidence that the apparently sealed doorway had been opened before (and the seal replaced) and pillaged. Furthermore, they found scrolls referencing multiple monarchs - evidence that it might be a cache and not a tomb. In any case, they had an underground staircase to dig out to find the truth of the matter. At this point convinced that it was a cache, Carter breached the chamber and lit it with candlelight. The glint of gold answered back. They had literally struck gold after all.

As their eyes got used to the darkness, the tomb‘s content became clear. Three gilt couches, two life-sized black and gold statues of kings, exquisitely painted caskets, vases, a portrait of another king and even the rest of some flowers. It was only at this point that they realized there wasn‘t any coffin in there, rather there was a second sealed doorway between the two statues. Opening it was almost irresistible, but they had to clear the antechamber they were in to not damage any artifact. They had work to do.

During that time, they found another small doorway in the antechamber - clearly made by plunderers. The room they found on the other side (the Annexe) was quite a different site. Messy, stacked with broken discarded things. Properly and squarely plundered. They were lucky that what they found first wasn‘t. Better understanding the size of their task, they prepared the ground to guard it against robbers, notably barring the entrance with steel bars. Then came the official opening with The Times. Only three months later would their task be complete. It was finally time for that other doorway. By the way, Carter slept one night in the antechamber during that time. Uncanny.

This time the doorway was followed by a stone wall, which was dealt with a crowbar. After only removing a few stones, the mystery of that wall became clear. It was a shrine covering the door to protect the sarcophagus. It was the burial chamber. Just a glance at it proved that that was what this tomb was about. A gold monument faced Carter on the other side of the room. Next to it, four statues of the goddesses of death. There was also a figure of the god of death himself - Anubis. It goes without saying that opulence poured from every corner of the room.

Let‘s leave Carter here for the day. As I said, Carter himself considered Tut-Ankh-Amen quite an overrated pharaoh. Yet, this fact could not diminish just how incredible his discovery of a burial chamber of that age still in pristine condition. Men, their stories and their structures will inevitably all but fade away with time. This is why, we should appreciate and wonder every time we can reach backward in time closer to another era. Carter appreciated that fully and so should you.

On that, see you next time.

References

Carter, Howard; Mace, Arthur (1923). The tomb of Tut Ankh Amen, volume 1. London.