The Famous Britons: Howard Carter and the Tomb of Tutankhamun – Part II

Dear friends of “Training Centre Raya London,”
In our previous discussion, we left the renowned Briton Howard Carter at a pivotal moment—newly appointed by his generous and enthusiastic patron, Lord Carnarvon, to lead future explorations in the Valley of the Kings. With his extensive experience, Carter was an ideal figure to spearhead groundbreaking discoveries.

However, the First World War interrupted his archaeological pursuits for three years. During this period, Carter served as a diplomatic courier and translator for the British government. When the war ended, he eagerly returned to his mission—searching for the tomb of a previously mentioned pharaoh: Tutankhamun.

The years between 1917 and 1922 proved frustratingly unproductive, and Lord Carnarvon grew weary of the fruitless expedition. On the verge of withdrawing funding, he agreed to one final attempt. Carter turned his attention to an area that had previously been explored—ancient structures that had once served as workers’ homes. These were cleared away, along with the debris beneath them.

Then, on November 4, 1922, a breakthrough—one of the workers uncovered a set of steps leading downward beneath the sand. Excitement surged as they excavated further, revealing a doorway sealed with ancient clay, untouched and still bearing Egyptian seals.

Carter immediately summoned his patron from London, and soon, Lord Carnarvon arrived with his daughter, Lady Evelyn Herbert. Anticipation electrified the team as they pressed forward. When they finally reached the sealed entrance of the tomb itself, Carter, with trembling hands, made a small hole in the door using a chisel. Holding up a candle, he peered inside and froze.

“Can you see anything?” asked Carnarvon.

With breathless wonder, Carter replied with the now-legendary words: “Yes, wonderful things!”

By law, they were required to notify the Egyptian authorities before proceeding. However, unable to resist, Carter, Carnarvon, and Lady Evelyn quietly slipped inside, becoming the first contemporary individuals to step into a chamber untouched for over three millennia—filled with treasures and the stale air of history.

On November 27, 1922, with electric lights illuminating the tomb, they gazed upon a dazzling collection—golden statues, a magnificent throne, intricately designed altars, ornate vessels, and chests overflowing with burial gifts. As the excavation continued, two additional chambers were discovered. One contained the breathtaking golden figures of two life-sized pharaoh statues standing guard, and the other—the burial chamber itself.

Over 5,000 astonishingly preserved artifacts were carefully documented. The team deliberately slowed the process to study each item with scientific precision. Finally, on February 16, 1923, Carter and his team opened the burial chamber and laid eyes on what they had searched for so long—the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun. Resting within was the mummified pharaoh adorned with his now-iconic golden funerary mask.

Tragedy soon followed. In April 1923, Lord Carnarvon succumbed to blood poisoning, sparking rumors of the “Pharaoh’s Curse”—a legend that grew with every unexplained death linked to the excavation.

Despite these superstitions, Carter and his team meticulously documented and photographed every artifact before transferring them to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Though he was never officially recognized by the British government, Carter received Egypt’s Order of the Nile (Third Class), presented personally by King Fuad I. His discoveries became the subject of his books, and Yale University honored him with a Doctor of Science degree. The Royal Academy of History in Madrid also granted him honorary membership.

Howard Carter passed away at the age of 64 from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His funeral was a quiet affair, attended by only nine mourners. His tombstone bears a poignant inscription from an alabaster cup once owned by Tutankhamun:

“May your spirit live, may you spend millions of years, you who love Thebes, sitting with your face to the north wind, your eyes gazing upon happiness.”

Today, his name is forever intertwined with the wonders of Ancient Egypt, his legacy immortalized in the depths of the Valley of the Kings.

Author: Iveta Radeva