The long sought after entrance to Tutankhamun's tomb. (Getty)
Of all the famous ancient Egyptian discoveries, the unearthing of King Tutankhamun in 1922 ranks as the most historic and culturally significant find ever. British archaeologist Howard Carter financed by Lord Carnarvon spent over 10 years searching the Valley of the Kings for the Boy King’s final resting place. Upon finally locating the centuries-old tomb of King Tut, Carter and Carnarvon unleashed a wave of Egyptian furor that percolated through every aspect of culture. From high fashion to architecture, the revelation of Tutankhamun permeated throughout the world. Even President Herbert Hoover got caught up in the hysteria, naming his dog after Tutankhamun. This is the whirlwind of King Tutankhamun’s discovery.
The Boy King began his reign at just nine year old. It lasted until his death roughly a decade later.
Howard Carter: The Relentless Searcher
Before Carter had even considered searching for the Boy King’s elusive tomb, the archaeologist spent decades working in Egypt. Starting at the age of 17 Carter painstakingly copied artistic wall scenes and inscriptions. Eventually, he was appointed Inspector-General of Monuments in Upper Egypt. Just three years later he quit to attempt a massive undertaking: finding the lost tomb of King Tut.
One of only two photos with two the men most responsible Howward Carter (left) and Lord Carnarvon (bbc)
Lord Carnarvon: The Rich Aristocrat
George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, did not begin life as an intrepid adventurer of artifacts. Rather, he loved racing expensive automobiles. When a nasty accident left him in poor health, he began spending winters in Egypt to avoid the damp cold of England. As a hobby, he took up archaeology. When his first season shifting through the sands of Africa turned up nothing more than a mummified cat, he decided to hire an expert: Howard Carter.
To think this pair almost gave up hope on ever finding King Tut.
An Ambitious Endeavor
Together they decided to search for King Tutankhamun, one of the last famous Pharaohs yet to be found. In order to help fund the quest, they contracted a deal with The Times newspaper. In return for financial support, the paper received sole rights to the discovery. The arrangement at the time was considered extremely unusual but necessary according to Cat Warsi, assistant archivist at the Griffith Institute in Oxford. “Because this was a costly excavation that in the end took almost 10 years,” continued media interest, and financial support was vital.
Carter kneeling before one of the significant finds of the 20th century. (bbc)
Five Years Of Fruitless Searching
While the project began with enthusiastic backing, that quickly waned when five seasons of searching turned up next to nothing. Carter painstakingly combed the Valley of the Kings using a grid system without success. Eventually, Lord Carnarvon opted to put an end to the search but Carter beseeched him for one last season and sickly noblemen agreed.
They began season number six by excavating around the workmen’s huts by the base of Rameses VI tomb. There, they found steps cut into the rock. Carter wrote in his diary, "The design was certainly of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Could it be the tomb of a noble buried here by royal consent? Was it a royal cache, a hiding-place to which a mummy and its equipment had been removed for safety? Or was it actually the tomb of the king for whom I had spent so many years in search?" He then reached out to Lord Carnarvon who excitedly made his way to Egypt.
The near pristine condition of the tomb enhanced the magnitude of the find.
Entering King Tutankhamun’s Tomb
Upon finding the sealed door 16 steps underground with Tutankhamun’s name inscribed, the archaeologists knew they were on to something great. However, they had no idea how great of a find lay behind that door. The three-room burial chambers revealed over 5,000 objects, ranging from golden statues and jewelry to food items and garlands of flowers. Most importantly, three coffins rested there, one made of complete gold that encased the Boy King Tutankhamun. The nearly undisturbed condition and quantity of items cemented the find as perhaps the most historic discovery of any ancient Egyptian. And thanks to the insatiable media coverage of King Tit, it started a cultural trend.
Carter over his prized find 10 years in the making. (time)
King Tut’s Impact
According to Paul Collins, a curator for the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, the ‘Egyptomania’ was fueled “by a perfect storm of technology. The moment when radio, telegram, mass-circulation newspapers and moving film came together so everyone could have a bit of Tut.” The Egyptian explosion quickly infiltrated society. Soon everything from fancy dresses to household furniture saw an Egyptian leaning.
King Tut died most like from an foot infection, caused by a broken bone.
The Most Famous Pharaoh
Roger Luckhurst of Birkbeck College reported, “The first journalist to see the face of the pharaoh Tutankhamun was John Balderston, who went on to write the script for the Universal horror film The Mummy [released in 1932].” The Boy King went from a lost treasure to a cultural touchstone in just under 4,000 years.
